Herbs & Spices

To clean mushrooms, use a slightly damp paper towel or soft brush to remove any dirt or grit, then trim the stem end.

Our favorite Bloody Mary is an instant classic. Great-quality tomato juice, bright lemon juice, savory Worcestershire, and a tangy hot sauce deliver on all fronts.

We wanted a recipe that was a better expression of “primavera,” literally "spring" in Italian. We swapped the oft used tomatoes and angel hair pasta for sturdy linguini and the first of spring’s green offerings.

Fresh herbs are in season in May. Here's how to buy, store, and cook with them.

Who says gremolata has to have parsley and lemon? No one who’s tried this crunchy Thai-influenced pea salad recipe.

Customize this chai recipe blend by adding a crushed cinnamon stick or big pinch of grated fresh ginger to the first step.

This squid pasta with fennel recipe is made for breezy summer evenings. All that's missing is the beach house.

Okay, fine, you’ve never heard of baobab—but that’s about to change. (Remember when no one knew how to pronounce quinoa?) You’ll find the powder from the tangy superfruit stocked at the health food store.

"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."

Start with very cold cream and keep it chilled between whipping and serving.

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.

"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."

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

A hearty thanks to Pamela Lau, the talented home cook (and mom of our former staff photographer, Alex Lau!) who generously shared her proportions for the dough, soup, and filling to help us create this recipe.

These cookies are both vegan and gluten-free, but you’d never know it. You can find most of these ingredients in health food stores, well-stocked specialty grocers, and online.

Two different types of apples give you a mix of textures and an ideal sweet-tart filling. If you’re looking to streamline, use one or the other (Pink Ladies are less sour).

Faster! Faster! Skip the pickling and just top the curry with sliced fresh Fresno chiles. Or leave them out altogether if you’re spice-averse.

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.

You can crisp the shallots and hard-boil the eggs a day ahead, but wait until closer to serving time to make the yolk filling.

Feel free to riff on this recipe and use any toasted nut or topping you like—try swapping in puffed rice, pecans, or dried currants.

Look for culinary lavender at specialty food stores, tea and spice shops, or online.