Dinner

The combination of corn, soy, and butter is as delicious as it is classic. As Hiroko Shimbo writes in her book Hiroko’s American Kitchen, corn and butter are a common pair in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, where both are produced. Here, the three come together along with pan-fried tofu, scallions, mirin, and sesame oil to make an ultra-flavorful, just-rich-enough vegetarian main. Serve it over rice, a chewy grain like farro or wheat berries, or arugula dressed with rice vinegar and more sesame oil. A crispy fried egg would also be welcome.

A classic yakhni pulao is meticulously prepared by simmering basmati rice in an aromatic chicken, lamb, or goat broth. In this version, chicken thighs are simmered in a spiced tomato base along with rice and whole spices like cinnamon and bay leaf. 

If making bread has long intimidated you, start here. Parathas come in many shapes, textures, and flavors across Asia—they are perfect for dipping into dals and stews or eating alongside assorted condiments. This take, which Priya Krishna learned from her aunt Rachna, is really simple: a basic wheat-based dough stuffed with silky spiced potatoes.

In the fall, crisp peak-season pears or apples are an undeniably delicious way to enjoy this refreshing fruit salad with a nutty Salvadoran seasoning.

Alguashte, a Salvadoran seasoning, lends deep nuttiness to the spicy acidic tomato broth that the clams steam in.

Crisp, peppery radishes take center stage in this fresh limey Salvadoran salsa.

These “like a thousand times fried” beans are a crucial part of a Salvadoran breakfast.

The glory of head-on shrimp is sucking all the sweet, briny juices out of their heads.

Salvadoran chicken braised in fizzy and tangy pineapple chicha from Anthony Salguero of Popoca in Oakland.

Use the silky shreds of this flaky Trinidadian flatbread to scoop up everything else you’re eating.

In this Trinidadian dish chopped onions, peppers, and chiles get sizzled in hot oil before they’re poured over broiled peak-season tomatoes.

Trinidadian chickpeas and potato suspended in a delicious mash.

A simple and refreshing Trinidadian chow made with pineapple or mango.

A vibrant Thai sausage made with ground chicken, plus its spicy chile dip, from chef Parnass Savang of Atlanta’s Talat Market.

The interplay between the fish sauce, chiles, and sweet juicy fruits makes this a simple but refreshing dish.

The curry and ground pork reference the origins of the dish, while the brussels sprouts and leeks are a nod to the local ingredients of Georgia, from chef Parnass Savang of Talat Market.

An ultralight and puffy Thai omelet with crispy golden brown edges.

Thinly sliced flanken-cut short ribs, packed with rich flavor, are the key to this Thai stir-fry.

A rebellious take on a Thai classic from chef Parnass Savang of Atlanta’s Talat Market.

Chitra Agrawal took flavor inspiration for this simple dish from her mother’s home state of Karnataka in South India, where thuppa means “ghee” and anna means “rice” in Kannada, the local language.

In this recipe, spiced ghee becomes a rich poaching liquid that cooks shrimp to perfection.

Tomato slices are salted ahead and then set into a garlicky, somewhat spicy olive oil bath with Cotija, a dry-aged Mexican cheese. 

In Korean, ssam literally means “wrapped”—set the fish in the center of the table and pull the meat off the bones, using chopsticks to fill lettuce wraps along with radish salad, ssamjang, kimchi, and rice. Roasting a whole fish—skin, bones, and all—is surprisingly easy, and the flesh stays moist and flavorful even if you overcook it a touch. 

My grandma used to make a version of this dish using pork and showers of Parmesan. I have updated it to include ground chicken and miso for a lighter, late-summer dish with equally deep flavor,  but feel free to use whatever ground meat you prefer. Gently poaching the meatballs is not only faster than roasting, but means none of their flavor is lost to a baking sheet.