Weeknight Meals

The crosshatch pattern isn’t just for show (even though it does look cool)!

This spicy, sweet, and punchy pasta salad is perfect for a hot summer picnic when you need your dishes perfect at room (ahem, air) temperature.

This classic (and familiar) potato-and-cauliflower dish is a great make-ahead party dish.

Lettuce wraps might be our all-time favorite weeknight summer dinner—minimal cooking, maximum flavor and freshness.

Any vegetable or meat would be in good company with this stew’s spicy-funky base of kimchi, gochugaru, and gochujang.

This dry rub is great on any cut of chicken, including whole birds for roasting (make a double batch).

Romanesco shows up in the late fall, tastes like a cross between cauliflower and broccoli, and is studded with fractal-shaped florets that make it look like a magical mythical structure.

Soaking softens whole grains and shortens cooking time; feel free to sub farro, brown rice, or barley.

This red pesto tastes like a mash-up of your favorite spicy arrabbiata sauce and the anchovy-garlic dip bagna cauda. All of which is to say, it’s delicious.

The tastiest rice is seasoned sushi rice.

Properly-poached chicken breast is truly a thing of beauty—juicy, tender, and a blank canvas for big flavors.

Leftover basmati rice gets gussied up with earthy fried mustard seeds and curry leaves, sweet caramelized, crunchy peanuts, and spicy chiles.

As if grilled squid that's tender in the middle and charred on the exterior weren't good enough, we're pairing it with smoky bell peppers and a lemony herb salad.

There’s only a kiss of honey in the vinaigrette, but it’s an essential player. With all the briny flavors from fish and the capers, you need a touch of sweetness for balance.

If you can learn how to cook a whole fish, you'll have summer's most impressive dinner in your back pocket.

In this unexpected take on panzanella, chunks of ripe melon take the place of tomatoes. But the unexpected star is the brine from the Peppadew peppers: Spicy, sweet, and tart, it combines with the melon's juices and soaks into the toasted bread.

Say it with us: No more squishy, bland summer squash!

Salty and sweet, crunchy and juicy, this throw-it-together summer side has it all.

In search of an alternative to the mac and cheese her kids insist on, Deb Perelman found inspiration in an iconic Italian dish.

Shrimp, unlike chicken or steak, can take on the flavors of a bright, acidic marinade in minutes, making it a good choice for last-minute grilling.

Just the side your barbecue ribs are looking for, this all-green salad gets a kick from serrano, ginger, and just a hint of fish sauce.

If you can't find yu choy, a slightly bitter green in the brassica family that's often available at Asian markets, don't be discouraged: The fiery sate oil complements any grilled vegetable.

Don't be intimidated by the slices of jalapeños: The fire of the grill mellows their heat. If you're a real spice-seeker, you can even leave some of them raw.

Low investment and high reward, this not-so-traditional larb is the unofficial late-night meal of much of the BA staff.