Recipes

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Coconut milk does double duty here in this light yet hearty rice dish that straddles the line between side salad and pilaf-like main. First the rice is simmered in creamy coconut milk, then the remaining milk is used to make a soothing dressing spiked with lime juice, peanut butter, toasted peanuts and garlic, with a little added heat from chile sauce. Fresh cherry tomatoes and chopped herbs turn it all into a rice salad that can be a flavorful side for grilled chicken or the base for fried eggs.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

This summertime pasta of lightly sizzled garlic and tomatoes with torn basil is satisfyingly easy and delicious. It’s also a reminder that with really great ingredients, not a lot of cooking is necessary to create a stand-out meal. Melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto and dollops of ricotta add a little richness to contrast with all the freshness, leaving you with a colorful main that doesn’t really need much else, but a sprinkle of crushed red-pepper flakes or a few thin rings of jalapeño or sweet red pepper could be welcome additions.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Part quick and rustic bean stew and part deconstructed pesto, this pesto-inspired one-pan meal requires no blender and minimal slicing. It all starts out by sizzling nuts with a little turmeric in olive oil until golden. The Parmesan cheese makes a creamy base for softened shallots and tender beans; then freshly torn basil leaves and lemon juice are stirred in at the end so they stay vibrant and fresh. Top with the beautifully toasted nuts, golden olive oil and a bit more Parmesan. Serve with crusty bread or garlic bread on the side.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

The bold, savory, spicy flavors of mapo tofu are paired with the creamy richness of scrambled eggs in this hearty and comforting anytime-of-day meal. The dish comes together quickly and all in one skillet: Ginger, scallions and spiced pork are first sizzled and simmered, making way for eggs that are soft-scrambled then folded into the tofu mixture. Round out this superfast meal with a sprinkling of freshly sliced scallions or chopped herbs and some buttered toast.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Give in to the convenience of already poached shrimp in this bright main-dish salad, perfect for lunch or a light dinner. The core is easy and uncomplicated: Fresh ginger and chiles are married with sesame seeds and oil in a tangy vinaigrette for tender shrimp, crisp cucumbers and a bed of peppery arugula. It’s decidedly unfussy and very easily adaptable — add scoops of avocado or soft-boiled eggs for extra richness or simply serve with buttered toast and make open-faced sandwiches. Individual chiles have their own heat ranges, just like our taste buds. Use the amount in the recipe as a guide, but trust your instincts to adjust.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

This simply marinated and roasted salmon is lemony, garlicky, gingery and all with a hint of heat. Inspired by the Northern Vietnamese dish, cha ca la Vong, salmon fillets are first rubbed in a simple garlic, ginger and turmeric-based marinade then baked hot and fast. A sauce made with scallions, fish sauce, red pepper and olive oil is poured over the fish, so each bite has a huge pop of flavor. Great with rice noodles and sliced cucumbers, you can also serve with grilled bread or rice and a side green salad. If you feel like grilling this fish, the direct heat will only deepen the marinade’s impact. Chopped nuts are optional and add a textural crunch.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Simple and satisfying chicken thighs get a delightfully vibrant and spicy kick from a marinade of hot mustard — made with brown mustard seeds — plus soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and ginger. After marinating, the chicken is grilled, adding depth and char to the chicken as well as to the marinade. Colman’s English mustard (which is made with a mix of brown and white/yellow mustard seeds) is a reliable brand found at most supermarkets, however you could also use prepared Chinese-style hot mustard, found at Asian grocery stores. Serve this with grilled green beans or asparagus or a bracing cucumber salad with rice.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

This fall salad radiates vibrancy and texture: crunchy red cabbage and almonds, crisp-sweet apple, tangy dried cranberries and a vinaigrette that’s zesty with orange and red pepper. It would pair equally well with super rich pork chops and sausage or lean roast turkey. Add chickpeas or salty cheese to turn it into a bright main dish.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Brussels sprouts and bacon are proof that opposite flavors can attract. In this easy sheet-pan recipe, the earthy, green sprouts are roasted with rich and smoky bacon so their flavors mingle while they cook. The bacon’s robust flavor seeps into the sprouts’ leaves, helping them caramelize and adding textural contrast to each bite. Shallots are roasted alongside too, adding sweetness as they brown. A little garlic, lemon, some red pepper and perhaps an herb add brightness and spark to this simple side.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Sweet, savory, and full of flavor, this easy weeknight noodle soup takes a cue from the warmly comforting northern Thai dish khao soi, with a curry-spiced coconut broth and toppings that offer crunch and contrast. First, the butternut squash is simmered in the fragrant broth until very tender. Then the squash is mashed, becoming one with the coconut milk before stock and sweet and savory seasonings are added (to keep the soup vegetarian, use soy sauce instead of fish sauce and use vegan curry paste). You can use any type of egg noodles here, from wide dried egg noodles to flat fresh egg noodles (sometimes labeled as wonton noodles). Ladle the flavorful squash broth over the noodles and garnish with as much garnish as your heart and stomach desires. Those toppings can be — but are not limited to — a lot of lime juice to cut the richness, cilantro, sliced fresh shallots, crispy shallots, fried noodles, chile oil or pickled mustard greens.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

This vegan main dish, both simple and delicious, is a guide to the art of slow-roasting eggplant to a tender, custardy texture and creating a flavorful, protein-rich sauce. Eggplant halves are gently scored, coated in oil, and slowly cooked at a high heat with chickpeas that become crispy and super nutty. Roasted cashews are pureéd with lemon, orange and a little garlic, transforming them into a super flavorful, buttery spread that pairs really well with delicate eggplant. While roasting, keep in mind that the eggplant will brown quickly, so be keen to check in on it.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Hummus, with its nutty and garlicky flavor, makes a fantastic dip, spread or even a salad dressing, but it can also be a great base for a pasta sauce. A little garlic and shallot sizzled in olive oil, along with fresh lemon juice and zest, help amp up premade hummus. With a little water, the hummus thins out enough to become a creamy sauce to fully coat noodles. You can add chickpeas, fresh herbs, za’atar or almost any roasted or fresh vegetable to this pasta and it will feel like your own.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Combining sweet and spicy flavors in savory, satisfying weeknight meatballs, this recipe calls for a generous amount of crushed red pepper to contrast with the deep caramel honey-like chopped dates. A hefty dose of herbs and citrus zest serves to lighten and brighten. Medjool dates can be easier to find, but if you can obtain a variety called deglet noor, the dates will be a little drier and easier to chop. Serve the meatballs with warm couscous, a couscous salad or a simple green salad.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Spicy and sweet, with a cooling dip to dunk them in, these chicken wings are simple to make. Smoky chipotle chiles in adobo sauce are blended with sour cream, honey, garlic and a couple spices to make a flavorful coating for the wings while the oven heats up. Then with just a quick roast on a wire rack over a parchment-lined sheet pan (so your pan stays relatively clean), the wings are ready. Orange zest adds a fruity brightness, but is optional.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Hearty and almost stew-like, this comforting soup is filled with potatoes and tender leeks (including the green parts) and gets a jolt of freshness from lemon and dill. For a zesty kick, stir in some finely grated garlic at the end, which preserves its bright flavor. Don’t skip the sour cream — its dairy tang adds an essential richness. A fresh crusty baguette or some garlic bread is all you might need to complete the meal.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Bright and zippy, rich and savory, this streamlined take on ramen wakes your palate like a sunbeam streaming through the curtains on a lazy morning in bed. It’s superfast yet it tastes as if you've just spent hours simmering it. Simply make a quick garlicky broth enriched with soy sauce and enhanced by the bones and skin from a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Cook noodles right in the broth and then add the shredded chicken, fresh citrus juice, cilantro, sesame and a little more soy. If you’d like, serve with the juiced lime and lemon halves in the bowl to add more vibrancy to this satisfying meal.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Golden seared chicken, florets of broccoli and a quick pan sauce made of garlic, anchovy and lemon, create a weeknight meal that evokes the flavors of Caesar salad. Parmesan is grated over everything, adding richness. Serve this with garlic bread or torn croutons to add crunch and help soak up the sauce. If you’d like to double this recipe, cooking the broccoli separately from the chicken is the key to success.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Juicy, buttery and well-seasoned, the ground-chicken lule cutlets that the Armenian American chef Armen Martirosyan serves at Mini Kabob in Glendale, California are comforting, savory and incredibly versatile. After culinary school, Mr. Martirosyan learned to make chicken lule from his father at his family’s 290-square-foot restaurant. The chicken mixture is simple, with just five ingredients; fragrant white pepper adds an earthy, grassy flavor and the generous amount of onion helps the patties stay moist and light. Sometimes Mr. Martirosyan grills the lule kebab on wide metal skewers, but here they’re hand-formed into patties and seared in butter until golden brown and tender. Serve them with roasted tomatoes, hummus, rice or parsley and sumac-marinated onions. Christian Reynoso

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Rich, buttery scallops contrast beautifully with the crunchy, vibrant bread crumb and herb salsa in this recipe for two, inspired by a version that is frequently served at San Francisco’s Zuni Café. Though this dish feels special enough for a date night in, it’s also simple enough for a weeknight. Serve with sautéed green beans, steamed broccoli or perhaps a kale salad. The herby, briny salsa is worth keeping in mind for future meals: It pairs well with a variety of proteins.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Tender, crispy chicken and big hand-torn chunks of toasty bread are the main elements here for this laid-back sheet-pan dinner. To make sure the chicken is thoroughly flavorful, a quick sauce of warm garlic oil, vinegar and oregano is spooned over. The croutons also become saturated in the sauce, creating a double texture of crunchy and chewy. Golden raisins offer little surprise bursts of sweetness and tang, too. When you’re choosing bread for this, something hearty with an open and airy crumb works well. Try ciabatta, Pugliese, a rustic sourdough loaf or even a baguette. Enjoy the croutons however you like – with your hands, a fork, or straight from the baking sheet. A sprightly salad or roasted zucchini would round this meal out nicely.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Rich and creamy, herbaceous and garlicky, homemade ranch dressing serves as a marinade for chicken that gets charred on the grill outside, or in your kitchen on a grill pan. To freshen things up, make a crunchy, lemony radish salad with the same herbs used in the dressing, bringing the flavors back full circle. You can use the radish greens too, but if they aren't in their tender prime, try another leaf like arugula or butter lettuce. For a starchy moment, serve this with grilled or fresh bread.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

This super-summery salad is all about big, bold bites — juicy tomatoes, sweet corn, creamy avocado and crispy bacon. It’s tossed with nothing more than a generous squeeze of lime and a little reserved bacon fat for extra richness and smokiness. Plenty of cilantro (or another herb of your choice) keeps it fresh. It’s hearty enough to be dinner, but also plays well with anything grilled, roasted or just eaten outdoors. Some thick toast on the side could make this a full meal.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

In this clever salad, fresh raw zucchini is bathed in a nutty oil accented with big bursts of jewel-like lemon; each bite is equal parts rich and bright. Warming the oil with the pistachios until they sizzle infuses it with their flavor. Whole lemons, peeled down to the flesh and then sliced, are then stirred into the pistachio oil. A little black pepper, spicy red pepper flakes and feta cheese (which is optional) turn this into a salad equally ready to grace a summer spread or pack ahead for lunch. It can also be a great side for hot-mustard grilled chicken, roasted salmon, sheet-pan feta or even just a bowl of hummus and some thick-cut toast.

Christian Reynoso · NYT Cooking

Some of summer’s most notable offerings are stone fruit, tomatoes and basil. While they thrive in the sun, they gain even more flavor when dressed in a savory-spicy vinaigrette. In this spoonable salad, the components resemble a fragmented mosaic: Sweet stone fruit of any kind, from cherries to peaches to pluots, is cut small and tossed with juicy cherry tomatoes and aromatic basil in a chile crisp vinaigrette. The vinaigrette is simple to make, only requiring a bit of sugar to build on the fruit's natural quality, along with red wine vinegar to add fruity depth. Pair this salad with grilled or roasted meats, or just enjoy it on its own.