European

We’ll be spreading membrillo (quince paste) inside bread for grilled cheese from now on. This recipe is from Morcilla, one of the Hot 10, America's Best New Restaurants 2016.

The aromatic sweetness of the vanilla complements the sharp blue cheese and smoky-spicy sausage, and, since we doubt you’re curing your own chorizo, it’s the single handmade element on this tapas plate. This recipe is from Morcilla, one of the Hot 10, America's Best New Restaurants 2016.

Use prosciutto if Serrano is unavailable, and make sure the relish is nice and acidic to stand up to the richness of the ham and eggs. This recipe is from Morcilla, one of the Hot 10, America's Best New Restaurants 2016.

Pekin ducks, also known as crescent or Long Island ducklings, have small breasts. If using magret, which are larger, cook a minute or two longer per side. This recipe is from N7, one of the Hot 10, America's Best New Restaurants 2016.

Even so-so tomatoes will become sweet and deliciously concentrated after this treatment. 

Just because this is an infused mixture of wine, brandy, and orange liqueur doesn’t mean you can just throw anything in there and expect it to taste good. Use spirits you’d be happy to sip on their own. This recipe is from Morcilla, one of the Hot 10, America's Best New Restaurants 2016.

If you don’t have a stand mixer, shred the cooked meat with two forks and then mix it vigorously with a wooden spoon to combine with the other ingredients. This recipe is from Wildair, one of the Hot 10, America's Best New Restaurants 2016.

Don’t be tempted to disturb the gnocchi when browning—the hands-off approach is key to letting them develop a deep brown color on one side. 

Persimmons stand in for ripe tomato in this caprese-ish salad, and if you haven’t had them before, they’re worth trying. Before you buy, things to know: The squat fuyu persimmon lacks the tannins that define their pointy-bottomed counterpart, the hachiya variety. While fuyus can be eaten when slightly underripe (they’ll be crunchy), the hachiya needs to be dead ripe or else it will be insufferably bitter. This recipe is from Wildair, one of the Hot 10, America's Best New Restaurants 2016.

Set this up on Sunday and have tapas at home when you get back from work, all week long. This recipe is from Morcilla, one of the Hot 10, America's Best New Restaurants 2016.

You can finish this carbonara with other seasonal vegetables, such as shredded brussels sprouts or Napa cabbage. This recipe is from Oberlin, one of the Hot 10, America's Best New Restaurants 2016.

The combination of salty water and salty Parmesan puts this pasta at risk of becoming oversalted. If that happens, throw in a knob of unsalted butter at the end to mellow it and add a smooth finish.

If you've got a can of tomatoes, a jar of spicy peperoncini, and a hunk of Parm in your fridge, you're halfway to a satisfying pasta dinner.

The sea dog (a fried fish sandwich) is not really a thing but should definitely be a thing because it’s that good. (If you’ve been to the Red Rooster on route 22 in Brewster, NY, you already know this is true.) The batter alone should become your go-to whenever you fry fish.

You can omit the pancetta, but it gives the finished dish a meaty depth that’s worth the extra step.

Once you get hooked on fresh chiles, you'll want to pack them into everything you cook—including your antipasto.

Budino is what Italians ask for when they want pudding. Sub in any stone fruit for the plums.

Can you buy pocketless pita instead? Sure. But nothing beats the drama of freshly made bread. Use these for our Lamb Gyros.

Grilling and then roasting adds smoky notes to the lamb and jump-starts the browning.

During summer months, find zucchini blossoms at specialty grocers or at farmers’ markets. Halved scallions can be used instead, and small shrimp can stand in for the squid.

These traditional almond cookies hail from Tuscany; their texture is chewy, similar to macaroons.

This twist on the traditional Italian peperonata omits the tomatoes, but the bell peppers are hearty and colorful enough on their own. Serve as a side dish or pour over steak.

You might not be able to fly to Mykonos, but you can definitely make these Greek-inspired recipes at home.

Rib chops can be pricey. This same preparation works well on lamb loin chops, too.