This bright, herbaceous porridge from cookbook author Naomi Duguid is a staple of Persian home cooking. Traditionally called ash, this soup can be made days in advance and reheats beautifully. Simply swirl in the tangy pomegranate molasses, then let the tiny lamb meatballs simmer in the soup for 10 minutes before serving. Slideshow: More Soup Recipes
Advertisement
I love this style of cooking chicken for both its flavor and its ease. The chicken is cut into pieces and rubbed with salt and lemon juice, kind of a quick marinade, before being shallow-fried until golden. But there’s no worry about whether the frying cooks the chicken completely, because it then simmers in water with a little onion, turmeric, and cumin until tender and cooked through. Slideshow: More Fried Chicken Recipes
The Persian dishes called borani are a genius combination of cooked vegetable and thick drained yogurt. They are generally topped with fried onions, and often with a scattering of lightly toasted walnuts. People rave whenever I serve them, especially this spinach version. Slideshow: More Spinach Recipes
This lightly pickled condiment can be served on its own as a palate-refreshing side salad as well as on sandwiches. Peeled daikon radish can be substituted for half of the carrots.Plus: More Vegetable Recipes and Tips
To turn Japanese Rice into Sushi Rice, simply cook the rice with a little less water and flavor it with vinegar, sugar and salt. You can wrap sushi rice in nori (seaweed) for a quick snack or use it to make the Brown Bag Sushi. Delicious, Quick Side Dishes
Choy sum—sometimes called Chinese broccoli or flowering cabbage—is a small green-stemmed Chinese vegetable similar to broccoli rabe, with a few yellow flowers. Our children, who are not the world's most daring eaters, love it stir-fried until it's bright green and still a little crunch. You can find it at Asian produce markets and in some large supermarkets, or you can substitute another Asian green, such as bok choy.Plus: More Vegetable Recipes and Tips
Advertisement
Rice-Bowl Rice is plain white Chinese rice. Notice that no salt or oil is added during cooking; all the flavor comes from cai, the dishes eaten with the rice. Delicious, Quick Side Dishes
These sandwiches are standard street fare throughout Southeast Asia, from Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh to Vientiane. The baguettes, meats, mayonnaise and butter were introduced by the French; the coriander, seasoned carrots and hot chile give the subs their distinctive Southeast Asian character. Great Comfort Food Recipes