100 Best Recipes Ever: Grains, Legumes & Vegetables

By Food & Wine
Updated February 27, 2017
F&W's editors combed through the more than 10,000 recipes we've published in our 35 years of existence to find the very best. We only had room for the 20 Best Ever Recipes in print, but here we present the full 100 greatest dishes of all time.
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Eggplant and Lentil Stew with Pomegranate Molasses

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A summer staple from the coastal town of Antakya, this light stew is a favorite of Musa Dagdeviren’s wife, Zeynep, who was born there. To keep the textures and flavors of the vegetables distinct, Musa layers the eggplant in a pot with tomatoes, lentils, chopped onions and garlic, then slowly cooks it, covered, without stirring. The stew is best when made ahead and allowed to mellow for at least a few hours.

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2 of 11

Herbed Polenta and Parmesan Gratin

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Maria Helm Sinskey, culinary director of Robert Sinskey Vineyards in Napa Valley and author of the phenomenal cookbook The Vineyard Kitchen, created this indulgent baked polenta, made with plenty of Parmesan. It’s just as good when made ahead and reheated as it is when it comes straight out of the oven.

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Roasted Delicata Squash with Quinoa Salad

Credit: John Kernick
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To create a terrific vegetarian main course, Michael Symon tosses quinoa with arugula, apple, raisins and fresh herbs, then spoons the salad into a halved baked squash (a great source of iron and vitamins A and C).

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4 of 11

Indian-Spiced Chickpea Salad with Yogurt and Herbs

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Chef Jerry Traunfeld, inspired by a trip through India, flavored this creamy chickpea salad with aromatic herbs and Indian spices, among them mustard, cumin and fennel seeds.

5 of 11

Sunchoke-Kale Hash with Farro

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Among the appealing things about this earthy winter hash is its many textures, including crispy, caramelized sunchokes, silky oyster mushrooms, tender kale and chewy farro. It’s wonderful with grilled skirt steaks, but also good on its own as a vegetarian main course.

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Mushroom Kufteh with Green Harissa and Asparagus Pesto

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7 of 11

Eggplant Parm

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New York City’s Torrisi Italian Specialties uses only American ingredients in virtually all of its dishes. Its basil-rich eggplant parmesan, also delicious on a toasted roll, calls for Progresso Italian Style bread crumbs and SarVecchio parmesan from Wisconsin.

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Root-Vegetable Gratin

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Use a mandoline to cut the vegetables into thin slices; they will turn tender when baked with chicken broth and a little cream.

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Spicy-and-Garlicky Brussels Sprouts

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The staff at Myers + Chang restaurant call these sprouts “green candy” because they get so sweet as they brown in the skillet.

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10 of 11

Roasted Potatoes with Olives

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Parboiling the potatoes before roasting makes for a fluffy interior and a crisp golden brown surface. Olives and garlic are added at the end of roasting so that their flavors remain vibrant.

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Spicy Braised Escarole

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Andrew Carmellini prepares this dish with homemade bread crumbs and hard-to-find Sicilian oregano. Home cooks can simplify by topping spicy greens with crispy panko (packaged Japanese bread crumbs) and a touch of supermarket oregano.

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