main-dishes

This fiery stew is one of those beloved comfort foods that’s named after the ingredient itself: rajma means red kidney beans in both Hindi and Punjabi. While it’s possible—and quicker—to use canned beans (see tip for instructions on this), it’s worth the prep time to experience just how creamy kidney beans taste when cooked from dried.

This quick, one-pot riff off soondubu—a Korean tofu stew—is made simple with a rice cooker. I make it often for a WFH lunch, and sometimes eat it straight out of the bowl.

This recipe is wonderful for many reasons: A whole head of cauliflower caramelizes in a skillet before being simmered with heavy cream, black pepper, pecorino cheese, and a bit of lemon zest, breaking down into a special (and yes, decadent) sauce to coat the pasta shape of your choosing...it’s all very dreamy. But really, it’s the pecorino breadcrumbs we’re here for, and that’s okay—they’re magnificent. A crunchy, oily, salty vehicle for more cheese and much-needed texture, they’re the ideal finish to a saucy pasta such as this, but please don’t stop there. Use them as tiny croutons to finish a Caesar salad or scatter them over the top of a pot of saucy beans. Once they’re in your life, you’ll never want to be without them.

No matter how you arrange the asparagus on this simple, peppery tart, it always ends up looking pretty.