East Asian

This mapo tofu recipe comes from chef Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese restaurant.

This Japanese eggplant recipe is all about that umami-rich miso glaze. Can't find long, skinny, Japanese eggplants? The glaze is good on all varieties of eggplant (and hey, carrots, too).

Anyone who has made pho will recognize the technique of charring the onions and ginger to add smoky aromatic flavor to this broth, which is exceptional when done with homemade stock, and a brilliant flavor shortcut when using a store-bought stock. We call for ramen noodles, since they’re easy to find, but you can definitely substitute dried or fresh rice noodles if you prefer.

Okay, so sushi is a little ambitious for a weekend. But this easy spicy tuna roll recipe? You've got it in the bag.

Also known as Korean-style or cross-cut short ribs. We fell in love with this bone-in cut at Korean BBQ joints and are therefore partial to its Korean name (and flavor possibilities). Buy 2 pounds of cross-cut short ribs, each sliced lengthwise about ⅓ inch thick.