Camille Becerra

Bomba rice is a short-grain, starchy type, and its ideal texture is tender but chewy in the center, like al dente pasta. Try not to overcook. Use the shrimp shells and chorizo ends to make the Back-Burner Stock.

Roasting the bones develops rich, long-cooked flavor and lends a dark golden color.

All the rejuvenating powers of your grandmother’s chicken stock, plus a head-clearing kick of chile. Reserve chicken for Spicy & Healthy Chicken Soup or another use.

This light-bodied broth is a mélange of scraps that you can collect and save as you cook during the week—use whatever you have. For a meal to make with this, go to Chorizo and Shrimp Paella.

The clams give up all their essence in this rich coconut-based stock. It’s great for curries, in this red snapper recipe, or use it as the liquid base for a pot of steamed mussels or littleneck clams.

Chicken soup is the ultimate comfort food. This healthy version packs spicy flavor, thanks to jalapeño. The squash and cabbage greens are bright and seasonal, but you can add whatever veggies you like.

Rather than being cooked in salted water, the pasta is treated like risotto—simmered in stock and stirred until cooked and creamy—which gives it plenty of time to pick up meaty flavors.

The fennel seeds turn into an aromatic, crunchy crust on the skin.

A beautiful winter-white salad; the natural bitterness of the endive is balanced by sweet roasted parsnips and a tad of sugar in the dressing.