Nut-Free

Babylonstoren’s chef Maranda Engelbrecht uses exotic tamarillos. If you can get them, great. If not, tomatoes are your best swap.

“Anytime you grill or pan-fry fish,” Ballymaloe co-founder Rory O’Connell says, “it's essential to thoroughly dry it before adding your fat.”

This two-technique solution—baking first, then finishing under the broiler—yields perfectly browned fish and tender vegetables.

Try not to pack the crab mixture too tightly; you want these to just hold their shape so they fry up light and airy. And remember: Crab cakes are only as good as the crab you use; buy the best you can afford.

"Compound butters are a terrific blank canvas," Ballymaloe co-founder Rory O'Connell says. "You can mix in all sorts of flavors—anchovies, capers, any herb or spice."

"Compound butters are a terrific blank canvas," Ballymaloe co-founder Rory O'Connell says. "You can mix in all sorts of flavors—anchovies, capers, any herb or spice."

This seafood paella recipe requires organization and slicing and dicing in advance. But once the paella gets going, the process is pretty seamless—and the rewards are huge.

Carnation malted milk powder, we love you (and this devilish cake) so, so much. If you're using an 8½x4½" pan, you should hold back 1 cup batter.

"Compound butters are a terrific blank canvas," Ballymaloe co-founder Rory O'Connell says. "You can mix in all sorts of flavors—anchovies, capers, any herb or spice."

Both guanciale and Pecorino are quite salty; Leonardo Vignoli, the chef at Da Cesare al Casaletto, recommends undersalting the pasta water to give you more control.

Whole, unpeeled, and roasted to surreal tenderness, shallots are shedding their ”always the bridesmaid” status once and for all.

Choose the best-quality fish for this simple ceviche.

Sure, you can make these satisfying wok-fried noodles from chef Kris Yenbamroong without a wok. Just get your skillet super hot. 

The crisped prosciutto adds salty and savory notes, not unlike what Parmesan brings to a Caesar dressing.

Play around with different herbs in this lobster salad recipe, such as parsley or mint, and other citrus, like grapefruit in place of orange.

Squeezing the liquid out of the zucchini is the secret to crisp fritters. (The potato helps, too.)

Any type of lentil will work in this weeknight soup. Or, substitute a couple cans of cannellini beans in their place.

A decent amount of béchamel keeps this tomato-less lasagna moist as it cools.

Is this caramel cream-puff skyscraper a showstopper? Yes. Is it a major-league project? Yes! Here’s the strategy: Make the puffs and the pastry cream a couple of days in advance, then tackle assembly on the morning of the day you plan to serve this.

For extra texture, trick out your cake with rainbow or chocolate sprinkles, chopped candies, or your favorite cereal.

The water bath insulates these custards from the dry heat of the oven to ensure a lush, creamy custard.

It may not seem like very much filling, but these handheld pastries deliver the perfect filling-to-crust ratio (and if you overstuff the dough, they’ll be impossible to seal).

Like frozen lemonade on a stick; in place of thyme, try basil, mint, or lemon verbena.

If you like darker chocolate, feel free to use something with a high percentage of cacao here. Milk chocolate works too, if that’s your thing.