Dairy-Free

Bruising the cucumbers helps break down their flesh, which is then better able to absorb the flavor of the marinade.

At Ava Gene's, chef Joshua McFadden always dresses his salads with the acidic components first so the produce can absorb some of those flavors before being coated with oil.

Sauté whatever leafy greens you like or happen to have on hand; it’s an ideal way to use up those slightly past their prime.

Browning the farro imbues it with a nutty flavor—a step you can add any time you prepare the grain.

Key when making the batter for these fish and chips: Be sure your beer and club soda are ice cold, and chill the batter if prepping ahead.

This boldly flavored fermented kimchi recipe comes from chef Jon Churan of Perennial Virant in Chicago.

At home, chef Gregory Vernick (Vernick Food & Drink, Philadelphia) always keeps miso on hand for an umami blast in everything from braises and mayo to this Asian-leaning chicken soup. You won’t believe how much depth it adds to canned broth.

Typically steamed or sautéed, fresh mustard greens are also great raw and simply dressed. “I like the strength they give to salads,” says chef Frederik de Pue, of Table, Washington, D.C.

This silky, aromatic soup is a complete meal in a bowl.

The ginger “bug,” which jump-starts the fermentation in this recipe from chef Cortney Burns, Bar Tartine, San Francisco, specifically uses organic ginger because it’s rich in microbes. You’ll have extra bug; use it to make more grape soda, or try 4 cups fresh unpasteurized apple juice in place of grape.

This dish is only as good as the crab it’s made with; buy the best you can get.

Prep like a pro: Chef Mike Lata of The Ordinary in Charleston, South Carolina, makes the vierge (a Southern take on the traditional French accompaniment to seafood) in the morning, so that when dinner rolls around, all that’s left to do is sear the fish.

Feel free to play with different herbs in the chimichurri recipe—that’s what Michael and Patrick Sheerin (brothers and co-chefs at Trenchermen, Chicago) have always done: “When we were younger, our mom would buy lots of herbs, but she’d never use them,” says Michael. “So we’d just blend them with garlic, oil, and vinegar.”

Chef Rene Ortiz of Sway in Austin, cooks a lot of tofu for his young vegetarian son. “He loves it,” says Ortiz, “and in order for all of us to eat it, it has to taste like something.” Ortiz’s solution: Let the porous tofu soak up the flavors of malty Chinese black vinegar and soy sauce.

To give steaks a boost, chef David Myers of Hinoki & the Bird in Los Angeles, makes an herb rub (he likes to dry the herbs himself; if you don’t have a microwave, sub in 1 tsp. of each dried herb) and pairs the meat with a tart ponzu sauce (ponzu is available at Asian markets and some supermarkets).

Reheating the chicken in broth magnifies the flavors of both, and because you’re using rice noodles, the soup won’t get cloudy or starchy. And if it’s a cold you’re fighting, jalapeño and sriracha will help clear those sinuses.

Use a metal cake tester or thin paring knife to check the potatoes; they should still hold their shape but offer no resistance when pierced.

This red sauce recipe comes together simply—roasted red peppers, garlic, almonds. Then toss it into pasta, spread it on sandwiches, serve on crusty bread as a party appetizers, or make up your own genius combination and let us know in the comments.

Lillet, a fruity, easy-drinking fortified wine, is a staple in Chef Ripert's summer pantry. For more ideas on how to use it, go to bonappetit.com/go/ripert.