Easy Recipes with Five Ingredients

By Food & Wine
Updated May 15, 2017
Sometimes, streamlined is best. To that end, we're presenting a collection of 15 of our favorite low-stress recipes: Made with only five ingredients or less, they're quick and easy—but still packed with flavor.
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Watermelon Salad with Mint and Lime

Credit: John Kernick
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Matt Neal calls this supremely simple fruit salad the ultimate refresher on a hot day. For a grown-up version, he adds splashes of rum. "It's even more satisfying, then," he jokes.

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2 of 15

Mustard-Baked Chicken with a Pretzel Crust

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For a crisp topping, it's essential to use thick, hard pretzels, such as sourdough or handmade versions.

3 of 15

Fusilli with Creamed Leek and Spinach

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Pairing suggestion: Luscious, aromatic Chardonnay from Italy's Friuli region.

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Grilled Ham and Cheese with Strawberry-Red-Wine Jam

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The secret to Chris Kronner's delectable sandwiches is the jam spiked with Pinot Noir.

5 of 15

Fudgy Chocolate-Walnut Cookies

Credit: PHOTO © QUENTIN BACON
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New York pastry chef François Payard's divinely gooey chocolate cookies are flourless, which makes them ideal for Passover baking.

6 of 15

Bucatini with Pancetta, Pecorino and Pepper

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The rich sauce that coats this pasta pairs best with a red wine that has substantial tannins to help cut through the fat, such as a Southern Italian red grape variety.

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7 of 15

Garlic-Crusted Roast Rack of Lamb

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Chef Kenny Rochford's favorite way to prepare a rack of lamb is to simply rub it with plenty of garlic, rosemary, olive oil and salt before roasting.

8 of 15

Açai Super Smoothie

Credit: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS
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Brazilian surfers first popularized this freakishly nutritious Amazonian berry. Now it has gone mainstream. The smoothie here, by F&W's Grace Parisi, boosts açai's healthfulness with pomegranate juice.

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Austrian Cheese Spread with Pumpkin Seed Oil

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Pumpkin seed oil from southern Austria gives this spread its nutty flavor.

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Espresso Date Log with Greek Yogurt

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Sticky, dried dates are supersweet, so Maura Kilpatrick simmers them with espresso to make a thick paste, which she molds and freezes. When she slices the log to serve, she tops it with pistachios and tangy Greek yogurt.

11 of 15

Irish Brown Bread

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Even though this bread is dense, hearty and complex-tasting, it requires no yeast and therefore no rising time.

12 of 15

Sardine Toasts

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This outstanding snack is so simple to make: good-quality sardines; a basket of oiled toasts, sweet balsamic glaze and flaky salt.

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13 of 15

Swordfish with Orzo, Pistachios and Olives

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Meaty swordfish steaks top zesty orzo in this easy summer dish.

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Cabbage, Kielbasa and Rice Soup

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Sometimes the simplest dishes have the boldest flavors. These 10 recipes—such as this wonderfully smoky soup—each use just five or fewer ingredients, not including pantry staples like salt, pepper and oil.

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Cranberry Panna Cotta

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This elegant, low-fat panna cotta requires only five ingredients: cranberries, sugar, gelatin, water and buttermilk (instead of the usual cream).

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