Hetty Lui McKinnon

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

While asparagus shines with light spring-like flavors, it also carries bigger and bolder seasonings extremely well. Here, tender asparagus is quickly seared to unlock its juiciness and then tossed with a salty, spicy and funky Chinese black bean sauce. Known as dou si (Cantonese) or dou chi (Mandarin), fermented black soy beans are made by inoculating cooked black soy beans with a mold similar to koji (which is used to make miso paste), followed by salting and drying them. While they look like wrinkled and shriveled watermelon seeds, they are intensely savory, with multidimensional umami that also hints at sweetness and bitterness. While store-bought black bean sauce is an easy convenience, making your own at home using fermented black beans allows more control over salt and spice levels (see Tip). This sauce will quickly become a weeknight workhorse, a quick way to inject a savory kick to vegetable or meat stir-fries, stews like mapo tofu and even salad dressings.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Inspired by the savory heat of pad krapow, the popular Thai dish of stir-fried ground chicken or pork with chiles, garlic and basil, this tofu version is just as robustly seasoned and satiating. The traditional dish uses holy basil, but Thai or everyday sweet basil will work here. The cooking of this dish happens quickly, so have all your ingredients prepped before cooking. Tear the tofu into chunky pieces, as it will naturally break down further while being stir-fried. Keep the flavor of the basil bright and the color green by adding it right at the end, so the leaves are barely kissed with heat. Thai chiles are spicy, so add according to your taste: Two is a good choice for those who like spicy food, or three if you like it fiery.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

In this meal-prep friendly twist on bibimbap, the kaleidoscopic Korean mixed rice dish, simple vegetable sides seasoned with sesame oil or soy sauce (called namul) are served with nutty soba noodles, and lavishly tossed in a spicy-sweet gochujang dressing. Blanching is a great way to lock in the vibrant hues, distinct textures and fresh flavors of vegetables. While it’s a very simple process, it does require some precision to ensure optimal results: Season the blanching water generously, cook the vegetables briefly, and, after cooking, expel as much water as possible. The different vegetables and noodles are prepared separately, so they can be easily packed away individually, ready for assembling a quick weekday lunch or a future dinner. Use whatever vegetables you have on hand. (Carrots, daikon, broccoli, kale and corn would also work well.) For extra heartiness, top with a fried egg.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

This simple one-pot broccoli rice is a cozy weeknight option that will delight both adults and children alike. When cooking a simple bowl of rice, adding oil and salt to the cooking water is an easy way to bring indulgence, and, in Cantonese home kitchens, this is often a way to repurpose oil previously used for deep-frying. Oil imparts a silky mouthfeel to the rice while preventing the rice from sticking, resulting in slick, pearly, separated grains. Finely chopped, crisp-tender broccoli adds a fresh, subtle sweetness and hearty texture to the rice. Complete the dish with a hearty fried egg, drizzled with an easy soy sauce and oil seasoning to add savoriness that is not overly salty. If you’re lucky enough to have any leftover broccoli rice, it can easily be repurposed into fried rice.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Inspired by the flavors of crave-worthy yamitsuki, a Japanese cabbage dish named for its addictive qualities, this broccoli soba salad is an assured crowd pleaser. A brief marination in salt tenderizes the broccoli, making it more receptive to a humble yet powerful trio of seasonings: salt, garlic and sesame oil. The unlikely addition of vegetable stock paste or bouillon powder bolsters the emphatic umami of this dish; if you have MSG in your pantry, you could add a few pinches of that instead. Using both the flower and stalk of the broccoli adds both texture and crunch to the foundation of nutty soba noodles. This is the perfect prep-ahead dish, as it benefits from chilling to allow the flavors to meld and the soba to become firmer and less fragile.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

In this deconstructed vegetarian take on pot pie, this lush and velvety stew-like soup is served with a loose golden puff pastry lid, which makes a perfect instrument for dipping. Baking the puff pastry separately ensures all-around shattery crispiness. The earthy sweetness of the butternut squash is lightened up by frozen peas, which add pops of color and brightness, while sour cream which imparts a subtle tart creaminess. Roughly mashed cannellini beans are used to thicken up the soup, adding flavor, body and richness without any extra heaviness. To cut down on prep time, you can use store-bought precut chunks of butternut squash.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Awaken the palate with this boldly seasoned, gochujang-spiked tofu and broccoli dish. With its signature smoky sweetness, tangy heat and deep fermented flavors, the gochujang glaze becomes viscous and silky thanks to butter and sticky maple syrup. Dusting the tofu in cornstarch gives it more body, with a crisp, crusted exterior that readily absorbs the full bodied sauce, while the interior remains tender and moist. The broccoli florets also carry this sauce confidently, though you could substitute with another hardy, crisp vegetable like cauliflower, green beans or green cabbage.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · Linger

Larb is originally from Laos but also popular in the northeastern and northern regions of Thailand. Traditionally a meat salad seasoned with fresh herbs, this vegan version features finely chopped cauliflower, which soaks up the spicy, citrusy sauce like a sponge. The ground rice is a traditional addition and, while it may seem fussy at first, takes only 5 minutes to do and really transforms the texture of the dish, adding a lovely aroma and nuttiness while also thickening up the sauce. You can skip it if you’re short on time. I have served this with lettuce leaves for a light salad, but I eat it with sticky rice (or white rice) for a more substantial meal.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Inspired by the jaunty pasta dish, spaghetti al limone, here’s a new way to make a memorable meal from humble cans of chickpeas; just add lemon, olive oil and Parmesan. The chickpeas are braised in their own sweet and nutty brine, also known as aquafaba, which becomes thick and silky as it cooks down. Much like starchy pasta cooking water, the aquafaba helps the lemon juice and oil emulsify into a silky sauce. Burrata adds another touch of richness and creaminess to this already elegant dish, but you could easily swap a jammy egg in its stead. Eat these beans with bread, to mop up the lemony sauce.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

This spicy, tangy and bold dish is a vegan take on chile paneer, the popular Indo-Chinese stir-fry (the fusion cuisine arose from Chinese immigrants in Kolkata, India, adapting their cooking style to suit Indian palates). Here, tofu is dusted in cornstarch before pan-frying, locking in its moisture so that it stays bouncy, while also creating a crispy exterior that holds onto the sauce. The aromatic base of ginger, garlic, green chiles and soy sauce is combined with sharply acidic additions of ketchup, sriracha and rice vinegar to create a punchy sauce that is salty, sweet and piquant. Serve with rice for a simple yet exciting weeknight meal. Watch Hetty Lui McKinnon make this dish in this video.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

There’s a reason creamed corn elicits childlike wonder: It’s comforting, indulgent and a joy to make. Grating the corn extracts the soupy milk from the cob, which magically thickens when cooked with the kernels to create a creamy, porridge-like dish. This vegan recipe shows the adaptability of creamed corn, with the addition of ginger for a warm, spiced afterglow, and fragrant coconut milk, which emphasizes corn’s natural sweetness. There are many ways to eat this: for breakfast, with a fried or jammy egg; for lunch, with pan-fried halloumi or salad fixings like avocado, cherry tomatoes and tender leaves piled on top; or for dinner, as a base for a curry or stir-fry.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Served at a luncheon for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, coronation chicken (or Poulet Reine Elizabeth, as it was written on the official menu) is a salad of cold chicken coated in a creamy curry sauce. In this regal vegan take, adapted from my cookbook “Linger: Salads, Sweets and Stories” (Knopf, 2025), cauliflower and chickpeas step in for the chicken. While classic recipes typically feature cream and mayonnaise, coconut yogurt lightens things up and adds sweetness and a tropical tang that pairs well with the curry flavor. Dried fruit is a common addition to “coronation-style” dishes, with some recipes calling for dried apricots or raisins; this one opts for the former, along with optional mango chutney for liveliness and subtle spice. This salad tastes even better the next day — and any leftovers make a stellar sandwich — so feel free to prep ahead.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

A low-effort crustless quiche can be adapted to the seasons, as perfect for weeknight dinner as it is for weekend brunch. This one is flecked with zucchini, salty cheese and fragrant scallions, and though it feels sunny and summery, it can be prepared year-round. Grating the zucchini is key to achieving the supple texture, allowing the liquid to be easily squeezed out while retaining just enough moisture to keep the egg base light and silky, with an irresistible custard-like consistency. Like French clafoutis, this crustless quiche has a touch of flour, which stabilizes the custard and delivers a firm-yet-jiggly texture. Feta’s sharp tang enlivens zucchini’s mellow earthiness, while Cheddar, preferably aged, brings essential saltiness. Serve this dish warm or at room temperature, alone or with a side salad.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Turns out, dan dan noodles work well as a salad, in this recipe adapted from my cookbook “Linger: Salads, Sweets and Stories to Savor” (Knopf, 2025), as the signature punchy sauce made with sesame paste and chile oil transforms nicely into an assertive dressing. Curly and chewy ramen noodles cling perfectly to the sauce, but you could really use any noodle you like, including instant noodles, udon or thick rice noodles. Adapt this salad throughout the year by adding seasonal vegetables such as mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, sugar snap peas, snow peas, spinach or green beans.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

This superquick corn and black bean salad is enlivened with crackly corn chips, in the spirit of salads like fattoush, panzanella and crispy noodle salad. When corn is at its peak, its subtly sweet raw kernels are plump and juicy, and the perfect addition to salads. Corn pairs beautifully with earthy black beans and this sprightly cumin-lime vinaigrette. The corn, black beans, cilantro and vinaigrette can mingle up to 4 hours ahead, so this make-ahead dish is perfect for a picnic, potluck, cookout, or simply dinner. For best results, toss in the corn chips and avocado just before serving.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Bright with citrus and mint and sweetened with peas, the colorful dip ties all the ingredients together. Crisp sugar snap peas get a quick toss in the skillet to unlock their sweetness, while peas deliver tiny pops of juiciness. (Frozen peas work just fine, but use fresh if you have them.) Shelf-stable gnocchi are best here, developing a crunchy golden exterior in the skillet, with a center that stays pillowy and chewy. As the seasons change, the sugar snaps can be substituted with fresh tomatoes, smashed cucumbers, charred green beans or grilled eggplant or peppers. Watch Hetty Lui McKinnon make this recipe on Instagram.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

The earthy and tangy flavors of tabbouleh serve as the loose inspiration for this lemony and herbaceous salad. Fresh parsley and mint are bright and grassy, offering a lovely textural contrast to the silky pearl couscous; dried mint adds depth. Juicy and sweet sugar snap peas supply a fresh crunch, with just a rough chop needed to release the inner peas. Allspice brings a moment of intrigue, both warm and complex, but you could substitute with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves or a little of each. This salad can be prepared up to several hours in advance (kept at room temperature); the flavors will meld and improve over time.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

A trendy addition to baked goods and desserts, hojicha steps in for espresso in this fun take on tiramisù. Hojicha is a Japanese green tea like matcha, but this roasted tea has a distinct chestnut brown color with a full-bodied nutty, toasty flavor that is akin to coffee and cocoa. Available from Japanese grocery stores, online and popping on more supermarket shelves, hojicha is sold either as tea leaves or as a finely ground powder, which is best for baking and desserts like this one. (If you can only find the tea leaves, simply blend them into a powder.) This simplified tiramisù forgoes eggs, instead opting for a mixture of mascarpone and Greek yogurt, which delivers an airy texture and a tartness that compliments the earthiness of the tea. If you can’t find hojicha, use matcha powder, cocoa or Earl Grey tea. The flavor and texture of this dish will improve overnight, as the ladyfingers soak up the hojicha, making it the perfect make-ahead dessert.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

In this weeknight dish, caramelized mushrooms are bathed in a satiny glaze of honey and butter, delivering the winning trifecta of sweet, savory and earthy. Cremini mushrooms are the hardest workers of the fungi world; they are inexpensive and accessible, and while they may not feel as fancy as some wild varieties, with some time in the pan, they burst with complex flavor. (Button mushrooms also do the job well.) Chubby udon are the ideal carriers for the luscious sauce, but for the most satisfying results, use fresh or frozen noodles, rather than the thinner dried strands. (Though in a pinch, they work, too). To get vegetarian recipes like this one delivered to your inbox, sign up for The Veggie newsletter.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Thanks to its high water content, zucchini reliably delivers super-moist easy-mix breads. This zucchini loaf swings savory, confidently cheesy from sharp Cheddar with a gentle acidity and peppery heat from store-bought pickled jalapeños. There is no need to squeeze out the excess water from the grated zucchini, as the water from the squash is essential to hydrating the thick batter, resulting in a light and tender crumb. A great option for picnics, potlucks and gatherings, this zucchini bread is robust enough to be buttered like bread and can be eaten as a snack, or served with salad for an easy meal.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

This recipe takes a peak comfort dish—laksa noodle soup from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia—and transforms it into a satiating salad you’ll crave. Every bite of this spicy and fragrant salad brims with exciting textures, thanks to smooth noodles, pillowy tofu and crunchy bean sprouts. The star of this recipe is the ultrasimple dressing that only needs two ingredients to assert big, bold flavors: Packed with complex concentrated aromatics, red curry paste is combined with sweet and nutty coconut milk for a powerhouse dressing. Curry pastes vary greatly in saltiness and spice from brand to brand, so taste it and add more or less as needed. This is an adaptable salad that is suitable for eating all year round, as the vegetables are flexible: The broccoli can be swapped with green beans, snow or sugar snap peas, bok choy or other available options. For an even heartier salad, consider serving with a halved boiled egg.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Inspired by Cantonese-style lemon chicken, this vegetarian version features crispy tofu and broccoli coated in a citrusy sweet and savory sauce. This lemon sauce is neither overly sweet nor tart, but has a soft umami hum thanks to the addition of miso paste. The simple technique of dusting the tofu with cornstarch before pan-frying delivers crispy tofu that is light yet robust enough to carry the sauce. (The tofu and broccoli can also be cooked in an air-fryer with comparable results; see Tip for instructions.) Once the crusted tofu hits the sauce, it will soften and become velvety, though if you prefer more crunch, you can serve the lemon sauce on the side for dipping.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

When an ice cream craving hits at home, you’ll find near-instant joy in this quick, fruity mango soft serve. Juicy, creamy, tangy or anywhere in between, any frozen fruit will work here; strawberry, peaches, raspberries and blueberries are also excellent choices. Condensed milk delivers body and richness, transforming the fruit into a creamy concoction that mimics the whipped, airy texture of commercial soft serve. While this soft serve can be eaten right after blending, it will achieve a firmer texture closer to that of ice cream after a brief stint in a freezer. There’s room for add-ins too: Lime zest goes well with the mango, or, if using other frozen fruits, pair with vanilla extract, a touch of rose water, or even spices like cardamom or ginger. Make it vegan by using a nondairy condensed milk.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

The flawless flavor pairing found in the popular Japanese dish miso-glazed eggplant serves as inspiration for this bold and textural salad. For high-temperature roasting, cutting the eggplant into chunky pieces optimizes golden, crisp edges with a buttery and silky interior. The vinaigrette is a standout, punchy from the ginger, intensely savory from the miso, with a sweet hum from the mirin. The simplicity of a salad founded on just eggplant and chickpeas makes this an excellent weeknight option, but there are also many ways to add more heft: Incorporate a few handfuls of spinach, add some pan-fried or baked tofu, or toss with some cold soba noodles.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

The tender crumb and slight chew of this brownie sets it apart from others. Mochiko, or sweet rice flour, is made from a short-grain rice also known as “sticky” or “glutinous” rice, and gives baked goods a unique bounce and lightness. It works particularly well in this brownie, giving a fudgy texture that is delicate yet intensely rich. This brownie comes together effortlessly, requiring just one bowl and five ingredients. Best of all, it’s also naturally gluten free.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Eaten in Turkey, Armenia and across Central Asia, manti are typically meat-filled dumplings, which can be boiled, steamed or baked, and they’re served with a variety of sauces ranging from yogurt and sour cream to melted butter and spiced tomato sauce. The name is said to be derived from the Chinese word mantou, a meat-filled bun (though today, mantou usually refers to a plain steamed white bun). This vegetarian manti is inspired by the Turkish version, here filled with herby mushrooms, and served with a sharp garlicky yogurt and a spiced tomato sauce. While traditional manti are small and made with a flour-egg-olive oil dough, this recipe uses the shortcut of wonton wrappers, resulting in a more conventionally sized dumpling. You could use just one type of mushroom, but employing a variety will add more chew and texture (fresh shiitakes combined with creamy creminis make an excellent pairing). Prep a large batch and freeze for future meals (see Tip below).

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

All the usual suspects found in a vegetarian bean chili appear in this salad — canned beans, tomato, bell pepper, red onion and spices — but there’s no cooking-with-heat required. The tomatoes are salted to tenderize and coax out their sweet, umami juices. Cumin, coriander, smoked paprika and dried oregano inject smoky earthiness and complexity. While black and pinto beans are used here, it is absolutely viable to use whatever beans you have on hand for this pantry-friendly recipe. Best of all, the salad can be dressed up with the usual chili toppings such as avocado, sour cream and cheese. Eat as is, or with tortillas or corn chips on the side.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Inspired by the timeless combination of chickpeas and short noodles in the classic Roman dish pasta e ceci, this lively leafy salad is just right for the warmer months. Keep things light with a generous ratio of chickpeas and greens to orzo, along with a tart, vivacious lemon dressing. No need to massage the kale; you can simply toss it into the dressing and let it soften while the orzo cooks. There’s Parmesan in the salad for saltiness, but vegans can use nutritional yeast instead. Cut down on your dishes by making the dressing in a mixing bowl that is large enough to fit the entire salad.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · Tenderheart

My love for macaroni soup runs deep. It’s an evocative dish, a reminder of my mother’s devotion to cooking hearty breakfasts every morning and the quick lunches we would share when it was just the two of us at home. It is also a dish that captures her time in Hong Kong, where she lived for several years before her passage to Australia was made possible. Macaroni soup is the quintessential breakfast served in Hong Kong’s cha chaan teng (this translates to “tea restaurants”), where eclectic Asian-style Western meals are served. It comes with a variety of toppings, including thick slices of ham, often with a fried egg on top. Some versions feature a tomato-based soup (there’s a recipe in my book To Asia, With Love). My mother’s version is simple: macaroni swimming in a stock made with chicken bouillon cubes, dotted with frozen three-vegetable mix (peas, corn and carrot) and cubes of Spam, topped with Maggi seasoning sauce (of course). I adore the sweet, plump peas in this version, which p

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Those who love salt and vinegar chips already know that potatoes thrive when paired with acid, and this recipe shows that this same formula also works in a salad. Pickles bring lively acidity, imparting their classic tang to lighten potato salad. The mustard dressing is punchy, and sharpened by the addition of pickle brine. Dill pickles vary in sweetness, saltiness and acidity, so taste your brine and add accordingly. Dill, chives or parsley freshen the potatoes, but consider this as an opportunity to use up whatever soft herbs you have around. Boiled eggs make this potato salad feel more like a main meal than a side, but there are many ways to customize; crispy chickpeas or crumbled feta achieve similar effects.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

While preserved lemons are often used as a background flavor to invigorate stews, soups and salads, they take on a starring role in this zesty and lively pasta. Fresh lemons add brightness, but cured ones bring deep, complex umami to a dish, brimming with heavy floral notes from the tamed peel. While some recipes suggest using the peel only, whole lemons are used here, minced so finely they almost melt into the buttery sauce. The brine is a valuable ingredient too, and incorporating a couple of tablespoons adds tang, further reinforcing the pickled attitude of this dish. You can also use preserved lemon paste, where the whole fruit has been puréed, incorporating it in the same quantity (no brine necessary). While there is no substitute for the deep funky saltiness — or silky texture — of preserved lemon, in a pinch, see the tip below on how to make a quick version.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

If your love of peanut sauce knows no bounds, it’ll surely extend to this recipe, adapted from my cookbook “Linger: Salads, Sweets and Stories to Savor” (Knopf, 2025). It’s inspired by a Mexican peanut mole that is traditionally served with chicken in the dish pollo encacahuatado. The term mole stems from the Nahuatl word “molli,” which means sauce or concoction. Mole — not just one dish but a whole category — is used in different ways: as a dressing or sauce for meats or roasted vegetables, or smothering enchiladas or rice. Here, this dark, intense peanut sauce is served with cumin-scented roasted carrots. Bunches of small carrots are ideal, as the carrot greens make an herby addition to the dish, but you can simply substitute fresh carrot tops with parsley, if your carrots are lacking.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

This recipe is a great example of how to create a salad that feels like a main meal, as it builds layers of flavor and textural contrast via each element of the dish. Cauliflower and onions are liberally dusted with spices before roasting, capitalizing on the opportunity to inject warmth and complexity. (Remember this for future vegetable roasting!) The lentils are cooked with a garlic clove, which gently flavors them while they soften, gradually melting away into the legumes. Spinach adds freshness and crispness, but you could also substitute with peppery arugula or robust kale, tweaking to suit your taste. Tart and velvety Greek yogurt ties everything together, but adding some olive oil to it yields a creamy whipped texture and a richer flavor. This big and bold salad also keeps well for meal prepping and midweek lunches.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Sweet, fruity jarred roasted peppers power this hearty cannellini bean salad that comes together with almost no preparation. Like many jarred vegetables, store-bought roasted peppers are a timesaver without any sacrifice in flavor; opt for fire-roasted ones, if available, for smokier notes. Here, the succulent texture and vibrant hue of roasted peppers pair beautifully with tender cannellini beans and creamy mozzarella. You can put down that knife: As there’s no chopping required, you’ll create a range of textures by simply tearing the peppers, mozzarella and herbs. If you’ve got a glut of fresh summer bell peppers available, you can take advantage of them at their prime by roasting them for this salad, using any color or variety; check the Tip for instructions.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

High on comfort and loaded with hearty slabs of roasted squash, this indulgent split pea stew is accented with fresh ginger along with pantry spices like cumin, turmeric and smoked paprika. Split peas take some time to cook, but the lengthy simmer provides a chance to make a tasty vegetable topping. Roasted winter squash, tossed with a little maple syrup or honey to bring out its natural sweetness, transforms the split pea stew experience. Thin-skinned varieties of winter squash like kabocha or acorn save on prep time, as the skin is edible, becoming tender after roasting. Nutty, roasted pumpkin seeds add a flavorful crunch to the final dish. For a stew that edges toward soup, loosen it up with up to 1 cup of water, depending on what your cravings dictate.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Transform store-bought ravioli and a mélange of tomatoes into this low-effort, high-reward sheet pan dinner. Roasting the ravioli at high heat gives the pasta pockets crispy edges and delivers bursting tomatoes that collapse into a rich, tangy sauce. Use whatever tomatoes you have on hand: Small cherry, Sungolds or grape varieties can be left whole, while larger ones like beefsteak or Roma can be cut into irregular chunks to help them fall apart. The ravioli and tomatoes are finished off with grated pecorino and lots of black pepper, reminiscent of cacio e pepe.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Shira-ae is a Japanese side dish of creamy mashed tofu mixed with an umami-rich sesame sauce. The tofu shines in this dish: It’s heavily seasoned with sesame seeds, miso, soy sauce and mirin, then crushed into a creamy, chunky coating that clings to the blanched green beans. Traditionally, toasted sesame seeds are pounded using a Japanese-style mortar and pestle, but you can use any mortar and pestle — or even opt for sesame paste or tahini as a shortcut. The type of tofu matters: Soft (not silken) or medium-firm tofu will give you the creamiest results, but if you can only get firm or extra-firm, you can boil the tofu in water for three minutes, which softens it and delivers a bouncier texture. Make sure to drain the tofu well and pat it dry so it doesn’t make a wet mash. This dish can be prepared 24 hours ahead, stored in the fridge, and is best served cold.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

With cues from wafu pasta, the Japanese-style style of cooking that brings together global and Japanese flavors, this indulgent weeknight dish delivers a powerful umami kick thanks to the combination of butter and soy sauce. Maximize the potential of butter by browning it to produce a headier sauce with nutty notes; adding soy sauce produces a caramel-like richness. A stainless steel skillet, or one with a light colored cooking surface, is preferred so you have a visual cue of the milk solids darkening. Slicing the brussels sprouts helps them cook quickly, while also giving more surface area and edges for browning. This is an adaptable recipe, so it is possible to add other or more vegetables to balance the richness of the buttery soy sauce; mushrooms, spinach, kale and broccoli are all good options.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

This chickpea salad, adapted from my cookbook “Linger: Salads, Sweets and Stories to Savor” (Knopf, 2025), mirrors the humble ingredients but standout flavors of harira, a North African soup that is steeped in tradition. Like the hearty tomato and legume soup it derives from, this salad is made from simple ingredients but achieves great depth of flavor by roasting the onions, celery and tomatoes with spices. It’s delicious as soon as it’s prepared, but like so many salads, this one keeps well, as its flavors continue to deepen over time.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

If fried rice and tteokbokki had a love child, it might taste a lot like this quick, perky rice cake stir-fry. Made in the style of fried rice, rice cakes bring a satisfying pillowy chew. Rice cakes come in several shapes — sliced flat ovals, longer cylindrical segments or even chewy, gnocchi-shaped pieces — and any of them will work for this recipe. A boon to any freezer, frozen mixed vegetables bring instant color and healthy heartiness. Designed as a meat-free alternative to oyster sauce (and sometimes labeled as vegetarian mushroom oyster sauce), vegetarian stir-fry sauce is a glossy brown sauce with a rich umami flavor that is available from Chinese or Asian grocery stores. It brings subtle savory-sweet notes and shines here. Bulk this recipe up by adding crumbled tofu or more veggies.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Frozen potstickers get the stir-fry treatment in this speedy, comforting weeknight dinner that comes together in one pan. A wok, with its curved sides and excellent ability to distribute heat, is always the superior stir-fry vessel, and for this recipe, it allows for the dumplings to be tossed easily and cooked evenly. A large, preferably nonstick, skillet will also do the job, but make sure to handle the dumplings gently, shaking the pan to keep them moving. The Cantonese salt and pepper seasoning, more commonly used in dishes like salt and pepper tofu, is not a typical seasoning for dumplings, but it injects an aromatic salty-sweet note that makes earthy green beans and the pillowy dumplings feel fresh and new.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

This hearty curry delivers big flavors quickly, thanks to hardworking pantry staples. Humble yet bold, peanut butter is a true weeknight cooking hero, imparting sweet and toasty richness to this sauce while thickening it to add body. (You could substitute the peanut butter with other nut or seed butter butters such as almond, cashew or sunflower.) Curry powder comes in many varieties, with fluctuating degrees of heat and intensity, and while most will work here, opt for any with a vibrant golden color — and turmeric toward the front of the ingredient list — to give your dish a warm glow. While this stew is naturally sweet from the potatoes, peas and coconut milk, the addition of soy sauce instantly brings a sharp and salty balance.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Dotted with hearty black beans, juicy corn and crunchy bell peppers, this tofu scramble is a valuable recipe to have in your weeknight dinner repertoire. Staple spices of cumin, turmeric and paprika deliver powerful flavor and color to the clusters of tofu. The corn and bell peppers are not cooked, but are simply tossed with the hot tofu, allowing the residual heat in the pan to soften them just enough to remove the raw taste. The spices are bloomed briefly in the olive oil to awaken and intensify their flavors, but take care to add the tofu promptly to avoid the spices burning. This is an adaptable and versatile dish that can be eaten as an easy lunch or dinner, with tortillas on the side, tossed with some baby spinach as a snacky salad, or with a fried egg on top for breakfast.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Tomato and burrata couple up nicely for a light summer meal, and they get an instant makeover with the addition of chile crisp. A powerful weeknight tool, the condiment is made with a heady mix of spices suspended in a fiery red oil, brimming with complexity and umami. In this recipe, the chile crisp both seasons and dresses the salad. Every brand of chile crisp will vary in spice, heat and saltiness, so vary the amount accordingly. The spicy oil is tamed by the milky, buttery burrata, though you could also substitute with fresh mozzarella or ricotta. Be generous with the cilantro, as it brings a bright, floral note to the tomatoes. This makes an excellent main-meal salad served with bread, or can be enjoyed with noodles or pasta.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Inspired by the beloved, homestyle Chinese dish stir-fried tomato and eggs, this recipe takes a fresh approach by using uncooked tomatoes. While the kid-friendly, sweet-and-salty flavor profile of the original dish is present here, the seasoning of salt, sugar, soy sauce and sesame oil also doubles as a quick pickling liquid for the tomatoes, softening them and drawing out their tangy juice. The ginger is recommended, but is optional to accommodate picky palates. Soft eggs are the key, so cook them quickly and briefly, and add them straight to the tomatoes as soon as they are ready to stop them from cooking further. The tomatoes can be marinated up to 24 hours ahead and stored in the refrigerator, which can draw out even more flavor. (If doing this, bring the tomatoes back to room temperature for 30 minutes before adding the eggs and noodles.) This dish is best served at room temperature.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

This hearty one-pot stew makes the most out of kitchen staples thanks to some smart cooking strategies. Carrot, celery and onion are familiar vegetables for creating an aromatic base, but here, cutting them slightly larger gives them a more prominent presence and flavor in the stew. Thinly sliced potatoes are arranged on top, creating a protective covering that allows the lentils to become extra tender. Dill introduces a herbal perfume, but there’s room to substitute with whatever herbs you have on hand; parsley, cilantro or mint would each work well here.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Tender and juicy hakurei turnips, sometimes known as Japanese turnips, always feel like a treat. With a crisp flesh that is reminiscent of apples, they can be eaten raw, sliced thinly and adding a nice crunch to salads, or cooked, which coaxes out a buttery flavor. That said, if you can’t find hakurei turnips, radishes will do, in this recipe adapted from my cookbook “Linger: Salads, Sweets and Stories” (Knopf, 2025). Pan-frying turns turnips juicy, tender and extremely easy to eat. The whipped pistachio feta is joyous: creamy and nutty, a perfect base for not only these turnips, but also for just about any roasted vegetable. If you can find a vegan feta that you like, use it here, as it works just as well as dairy-based feta. If your turnips have tops, reserve them to use in this salad. Turnip greens are mild and crisp, similar in taste to bok choy, and can also be stir-fried, so never throw them away.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Inspired by tacos al pastor, this peppy vegan version gives a firm nod to the smoky, savory and sweet flavors of the famed Mexican street food. The shortcut adobo (marinade) forgoes dried Mexican chiles and instead uses canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, plus fresh pineapple and additional spices. While the addition of soy sauce may be unconventional in al pastor, tempeh has a mild flavor that appreciates aggressive seasoning and the extra injection of umami. Pineapple, a signature ingredient of al pastor, is used two ways, adding sweetness to both the marinade and the bold salsa topping.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Mapo tofu, the classic Sichuan dish that is now a Chinese American staple, receives a summery twist with the addition of tomatoes. Its signature tingly and assertive flavors are intensified by the umami tanginess of tomatoes, which also add a hint of fresh acidity. When you add the tofu, it will look like there’s not enough liquid, but rest assured, the tomatoes do break down during the cooking process, providing a soupy base. Not all brands of doubanjiang are created equal, so look for ones that come from Pixian, in Sichuan, as they tend to be the most flavorful thanks to a long period of fermentation under sunlight, resulting in a reddish-brown color with a deep and complex umami.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Pickling celery for just fifteen minutes is a game changer: The acid tames its grassy notes, brings out savoriness and transforms its texture from simply crunchy to crisp-tender. Here, celery is quickly pickled with red onion to create a sweet-and-sour foundation for this hearty cannellini bean salad. The cumin seeds are optional, but they add a deeply earthy and aromatic edge to the pickles; feel free to substitute or experiment with other whole spices such as caraway, coriander, fennel or star anise. Creamy and salty feta balances the sharpness of the pickles. This is a great no-cook dish for easy weeknight eating, but it also improves with age, so can be made ahead for potlucks, picnics or other gatherings.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

As the temperature thaws, asparagus becomes the vegetable workhorse that makes weeknight cooking easy yet exciting. In this simple yet visually arresting tart, the flowering spears are enlivened with a tangy sour-and-sweet glaze. Yuzu juice (available online or at Japanese and Asian grocery stores) brings a surprising acidity to the asparagus, with fruity, floral notes that pair harmoniously with the miso paste. Glazing the asparagus both before and after baking gets the spears crisp while keeping them moist. Feta delivers sharp saltiness, but there’s room to try other soft white cheeses: Ricotta will deliver creamier results, while goat cheese imparts a lovely tang. Puff pastry is easiest to work with when it is cold, so thaw in the fridge overnight and use it straight from the fridge. No yuzu juice? Simply substitute with another citrus, such as lemon or lime.

Hetty Lui McKinnon · NYT Cooking

Make a dent in your glut of summer zucchini with this weeknight-friendly pasta. Grating the zucchini, a technique embraced by Julia Child, allows it to become so tender that it melts into the buttery, cheesy sauce. Cooking the zucchini with vegetable stock over low heat highlights the fruit’s sweetness and prevents it from caramelizing, giving the sauce a creamy rather than charred finish. Once the butter and Parmesan are added, give the mixture a good stir to encourage the zucchini to melt into the liquid. As always with zucchini, its mellow earthy flavor lays dormant until it is seasoned, so be generous with salt, pepper and lemon juice.