Recipes

Yossy Arefi · NYT Cooking

These big, crunchy clusters of peanut butter granola are sweetened with honey and fortified with extra protein in the form of egg whites and hemp seeds. The egg whites do double duty here, not only providing protein, but also helping to hold the big glorious clusters together. A handful of chopped peanuts add texture and you could also stir a cup or so of dried fruit into the cooled granola to give it even more flavor and texture. Make sure to bake the granola until golden brown all over to ensure it stays crunchy on the counter. Serve the granola over yogurt and fruit for hearty and delicious breakfast parfait.

Yossy Arefi · NYT Cooking

This simple, satisfying soup relies on Italian sausage as its flavorful base. Mild or spicy sausage will work equally well, so choose whichever you prefer. Brown the sausage in the pan, then sauté shallots in the drippings for extra flavor. Add potatoes and white beans for heft plus a big handful of greens for brightness and you have a winning dinner on your hands. If you are making the soup ahead of time, wait to add the greens until you’re ready to serve to preserve their fresh flavor.

Yossy Arefi · NYT Cooking

This supermoist, dairy-free, gluten-free almond cake has a lot going for it. The cake is flavored with a bit of lemon zest and finely grated carrots that seem to melt into the cake, adding moisture and a pleasantly chewy texture. The tangy lemon glaze and toasted almonds dress it up visually and add a crunch to each bite, but the cake is also delicious with just a simple dusting of powdered sugar. This cake keeps well at room temperature, so feel free to bake it the day before you plan to serve it and glaze it when you’re ready to enjoy it. If making this for Passover, you can seek out baking powder that is kosher for Passover.

Yossy Arefi · NYT Cooking

Don’t let the short ingredient list of this soup fool you — it is packed with savory richness. Roasting the cauliflower and potatoes brings out their natural sweetness and deepens the flavor. Miso adds a fullness and umami to the broth and a squeeze of lemon at the end ensures that it doesn’t feel too heavy. Puree the soup, but make sure to leave a few larger pieces to give the soup additional texture.

Yossy Arefi · NYT Cooking

These sweet and salty bars are a low-effort, high-reward treat that upgrades your average Rice Krispies treat. The nutty bitterness of tahini is tempered by marshmallows, a generous amount of vanilla, salt and graham cracker crumbs, which add a toasty note. The resulting texture is somewhere between fudgy halva and a Rice Krispies treat. Pack them in a lunchbox or enjoy a square as an afternoon snack—no special equipment or skill is required.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

This chicken and potato dish is a low-effort, one-pot weeknight dinner inspired by the rich, warming aroma of Indian curries and the slow cooking style of Moroccan tagines. Like many tagines, this recipe calls for first simmering the chicken gently, covered, then cooks it further, uncovered, to reduce the liquid and concentrate its flavors. Though the meal takes time to cook, set a timer and it becomes a set-it-and-pretty-much-forget-it situation. Chicken parts are braised in coconut milk laced with cumin, turmeric and fresh ginger until tender and falling off the bone, making this dish a comforting, cozy meal for any time of year. Serve with rice or bread to soak up the flavorful liquid. You can mix baby spinach into leftovers the next day to keep it feeling new.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

The dressing in this 30-minute recipe is inspired by green goddess dressing and mast-o khiar, a Persian side dish of cucumbers and yogurt. Here, thick yogurt is combined with fresh herbs, tangy feta and crunchy Persian cucumbers. If you have trouble finding Persian cucumbers, they can be swapped for similarly sweet-skinned English cucumbers or peeled regular cucumbers. Flaking the salmon into the salad evenly distributes it and is a nice alternative to serving a fillet for dinner. Leftover salad can be enjoyed cold for lunch the next day, freshened up with a squeeze of lime juice and more fresh herbs.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

Inspired by the bright, refreshing flavors of ceviche, this recipe takes advantage of an abundance of winter citrus to season pan-cooked shrimp, cooking it until tender and warm rather than curing it simply using salt and acidity and without the application of heat, as classic ceviches do. Shallots and jalapeños quickly bathe in orange and lime juice to cut the rawness and heat of each. You can substitute chopped scallions for the shallots, and white fish or scallops are easy stand-ins for shrimp. Best enjoyed with rice and a simple lettuce salad with avocado and a mustard vinaigrette, this vibrant, colorful dish can brighten up even the dreariest of cold days.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

This is a true oven-to-table sheet-pan dinner full of tender, crunchy brussels sprouts and crispy, lemony chicken. A simple lemon-and-herb compound butter seasons both the chicken and sprouts, which are then topped with thin lemon slices that become crunchy in the oven, offering a nice textural element and a bright splash of color and flavor. The key is to cut the lemon rounds almost paper-thin, so they can crisp up and lose their bitterness. This recipe is easily adjustable for a larger batch: Add 4 drumsticks (about 1 ½ pounds) to the chicken thighs, increase the butter by 1 tablespoon and adjust seasonings as needed.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

A mixture of chile crisp, soy sauce and honey coats salmon bites that roast alongside scallions and asparagus for a quick and colorful weeknight dinner. While the salmon doesn’t need to be cubed, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to eat it; the bite-size pieces can be served over rice, cooked grains or big salads. Much like a grain bowl component, this recipe is versatile, and works as an add-on or base. Finish it as you’d like: Try some gently torn fresh cilantro, toasted sesame seeds, flaky sea salt, lime slices or an extra drizzle of chile crisp.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

Seasoned with pickled jalapeño juice and honey, these juicy thighs have a tangy, spicy-sweet flavor profile that evokes Tex-Mex toppings and salty soy sauce chicken. In this mostly one-pot meal, broccoli florets steam in the heat of the skillet alongside the chicken, so be sure to cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces that will cook in the time it takes the chicken to finish. (Chopped asparagus would be an easy swap for the broccoli.) Though the dish is vibrant on its own, adding some minced garlic or ginger to the honey mixture and finishing with fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley can brighten it even further.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

Drawing on some of the sunny flavors of the Mediterranean, this recipe coats boneless chicken thighs in yogurt, lemon juice, oregano and garlic, then cooks them with some lemon slices to infuse them with bright flavor. Paired with juicy, charred tomatoes, silky red onion and an array of toppings, this sheet-pan feast is perfect for piling into a pita pocket. Adding some of the feta to the reserved yogurt dip is encouraged, as is serving this with thinly sliced cucumbers for a cooling, refreshing bite.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

The star of this speedy supper is the golden-topped, lightly scorched feta that remains irresistibly spreadable and melty when sliced. Thanks to the direct heat of the broiler, charred and burst tomatoes add juiciness to the sheet pan, along with tender zucchini spears. You could also scatter some arugula or baby spinach over the ingredients, gently tossing to wilt, and eat this dish right out of the pan with some bread for a warm, late-summer salad. During other times of year, you could swap the zucchini for asparagus or broccolini.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

A back-pocket recipe for tired weeknights when you don’t want to cut an onion or mince garlic, this one-pot pasta is coated in a flavorful sauce thanks to a simple base of olive oil, tomato paste, fiery Calabrian chile paste and pasta water. Crushed Calabrian chiles blended with oil, salt and sometimes vinegar comprise this Italian chile paste that offers both heat and flavor, though a chile-garlic paste or hot pickled chiles can be used if you have trouble finding it. (Err on the side of caution with the chile, as you can always top your bowl with more.) Serve the arugula two ways: Add a tangle of it to the bottom of each serving bowl and toss it with the hot pasta to soften and cut the rawness, or pile it on top, drizzle with your nice olive oil and some grated cheese for a salad and pasta combination.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

A simple yet surprising cast of ingredients creates a deeply flavorful one-pot meal made primarily from chicken thighs, white wine, ginger, apricot and spices. It’s reminiscent of long-simmered, well-spiced stewed dishes but comes together quickly. The earthy, warm spices contrast the sweetness of the silky red onions and apricots, which soften and plump in white wine, leaving a pool of flavorful liquid at the bottom of the skillet. Dried figs or prunes would be easy substitutes for the apricots. To take advantage of the fragrant pan sauce, serve with bread, lightly oiled orzo or rice.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

This hearty vegan dish uses miso and soy to add a tremendous amount of depth and flavor to a relatively quick, one-pot mushroom barley soup. Quartering the mushrooms allows them to retain bite, but you can thinly slice them if you’d prefer everything to be soft and tender. Resist the urge to salt heavily during the bulk of the cooking, as the miso and soy — both sodium-heavy ingredients — will be added at the end to bring the soup together. This is a soup that will thicken, so add more water or broth when reheating. It’s as accommodating as it is comforting: You can empty your pantry or fridge by swapping the barley for farro and spinach for chopped bok choy or other greens.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

With charred skin and crispy bits, this irresistible side dish embodies the beloved dichotomy of smashed potatoes or tostones — soft inside and crunchy outside — but with the natural sweetness of the sweet potato. The key is to cut the sweet potatoes at just the right thickness — about ½ inch — so they can spread out when smashed. The optional step of sprinkling a thin layer of cheese on top before the final broil gives each piece a slight salty finish, with additional texture: Any bits that fall onto the pan become crisp and frico-like. A tangy, lime-mustard-yogurt dip or drizzle would also be welcomed.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

This sheet-pan recipe cooks chicken thighs much like roast chicken, setting the thighs in the center of a pan to cook slowly, seasoning the surrounding vegetables with their drippings as they turn golden. The chicken thus cooks in the oven, undisturbed — ideal for multitasking needs and tired nights — until the skin is impossibly crisp. It’s not necessary to push the vegetables around halfway, as the exposed parts might look crisped, but inside they are soft and full of delicious flavor as they cook in a light, mustard-flavored broth that ensures sauciness. Substitute other hearty vegetables like potatoes, brussels sprouts or mix and match with what you have lingering in the fridge.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

Set in a shallow pool of briny, gingery oil, mild fish fillets cook effortlessly on a sheet pan, layered with bold lemon, olives and capers, similar to a deconstructed tapenade. The mixture is brightened even further with the addition of grated ginger, which provides a zingy contrast to the salty, meaty olives. (But this recipe is flexible: Sliced garlic or anchovies would also work nicely, taking a more savory turn.) Nestling the delicate fish in oil helps it stay moist in the oven, and creates a no-effort pan sauce that is best served with bread, to soak up every delicious drop.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

These sweet and salty honey-garlic chicken breasts are perfect for when you want big flavor, but you’re short on time. To ensure golden-brown chicken breasts that stay plump and moist, start with a hot pan and pat the chicken dry to avoid adding extra moisture, then allow the chicken to sear properly. Once your chicken has taken on color, set it aside and create a simple pan sauce of honey, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and butter. When the sauce is glossy, return the chicken to the pan and turn it until coated in the satiny honey-garlic sauce. Serve with roasted potatoes, rice or bread to soak it all up.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

An upside down take on typical skillet meatballs, these juicy garlic-and-herb filled ones are smothered in greens rather than being cooked on top or alongside them, an ingenious trick to streamline efforts for weeknight cooks. The meatballs first brown in the pot for both color and flavor, then are covered with a mound of greens, which achieves two feats: It gently finishes cooking the meatballs while the chard and lemon slices steam and collapse on top, draping themselves over these hidden delights. Scoop them up with a soup ladle, spooning the lemony pan sauce over everything.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

Nature’s candy, plump and lush medjool dates add sweetness to this creamy and tangy weeknight pasta. Eggplant is roasted with cumin, oregano and crushed red pepper on a hot sheet pan, then tossed with the dates, using the residual heat to warm them so the flavors blend together. Mixed with cooked pasta, feta and bright mint, it’s a hearty yet light dish, perfect for summer nights. To streamline this dish, use the eggplant-cooking time to prep the finishing touches (the dates, cheese and mint). Bring any leftovers to room temperature, then refresh them with a drizzle of oil and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

A study in contrasts, this textured salad tops mild, gentle zucchini with a bold, invigorating mix of fried capers and toasted bread crumbs. First, you’ll soak diced zucchini in a tangy lemon-mustard dressing. While the zucchini soaks up flavor, you prepare the toppings, sautéeing capers, garlic and bread crumbs until crispy and crunchy. A dusting of Parmesan completes the dish. Serve this zucchini salad one of two ways: You can mix it all together after layering, so that the bread crumbs soak up the dressing, or divide among plates, drizzling any remaining dressing in the bottom of the bowl over everything.

Yasmin Fahr · NYT Cooking

A snappy skillet dish well-suited to warm weather eating and snacking, this garlic shrimp recipe is a sunny mashup of shrimp scampi and gambas al ajillo, leaning on the lighter side. A hefty dose of smoked paprika adds a spirited color and dynamic smoky flavor to both the garlicky shrimp and chickpeas. The canned chickpeas gain extra depth and texture from sizzling in the pan until crunchy, then simmering in white wine until tender. Use a wine that you’d like to sip alongside this dish, and serve with some crusty bread to wipe your bowl (and even the pan). If you’d like some greens to round out your spread, simple sautéed spinach with garlic would be a delightful addition.