Dairy Free
Kohlrabi and Apple Salad with Caraway
If you've never bought kohlrabi before, here's a great reason to try it.
By Chris Morocco
Collard and Pecan Pesto
A dip that proves collards don't have to be stewed for hours to be delicious.
By Andrew Knowlton
Avocado Salad with Bell Pepper and Tomatoes
Avocado shells make handy vessels for a bright salad made with the scooped-out flesh. Lime juice, garlic, and a pinch of cayenne flavor the dressing. The salad can also be served as a topping for quesadillas or as a fresh filling for tacos.
Arroz con Pollo
My wife, Jazmin, is of Honduran descent. When you walk into her mother's house, everything is Latin-inspired, especially the cooking. This dish is a Latin staple, and because Jazmin likes it so much, arroz con pollo has become a staple for us. You can throw in half a bag of frozen peas toward the end to up the nutritional content. We serve it with a bottle of hot sauce on the table and a bowl of yogurt.
By Richard Blais
Hoisin-Glazed Meatloaf
Want to cook this faster and make the leftovers easier to pack? Divide the mixture into muffin tins and bake as individual servings, instead of two loaves.
Editor's note: This recipe makes 5 mains, plus more for leftovers. Please see "Meatloaf Sliders" and "Meatloaf Tacos" below for tips on how to enjoy, pack, and serve the leftovers.
By J. M. Hirsch
Lemon-Paprika Roasted Salmon
This simple recipe for roasted salmon packs gobs of flavor for little effort. The natural oils in the fish intensify the seasonings. This recipe also can be used for smaller fillets or salmon steaks. You'll just need to watch it as it cooks and adjust the time accordingly.
Editor's note: This recipe makes 4 servings, plus more for leftovers. Please see "Deconstructed Sushi" and "Monster Salad" below for tips on how to enjoy, pack, and serve the leftovers.
By J. M. Hirsch
Teriyaki Fried Rice
Warm and nourishing, this panfried rice is a brown-bag favorite. The dish starts with a couple of scrambled eggs to which rice, edamame, and seasonings are added. If you happen to be making eggs for breakfast, its just a few extra steps to make this savory lunch dish. Naturally, brown rice is more nutritious than white. Leftover farro or barley make tasty substitutions.
By Katie Sullivan Morford
Calamari with Roasted Tomato Sauce
This is a winning-contestant recipe from Season Four of Fox's MasterChef.
Fat Rice
If paella escaped from Spain, sailed to China, and did some soul-searching along the way, you'd have arroz gordo, the namesake dish at Chicago's Fat Rice. The generous pot of aromatic rice, curry-scented chicken, and (much) more can be traced back to Macau, the former Portuguese colony in China, where it's almost always served at home. Chefs Conlon and Lo took inspiration from foreign-language cookbooks; their version is a blend of Portuguese and Chinese cooking that Conlon calls "the original fusion."
By Abraham Conlon and Adrienne Lo
Tuna Tune-Up
Oil-Packed Tuna, Hard-Boiled Egg, Roasted Fennel, Tomatoes, Tapenade and Greens
Lots of cookbooks offer creative ideas for kids' lunches, but what about the rest of us? Lunch can get tiresome for adults, too, so I decided to create a few sandwich recipes for an older crowd—ideas that will get you out of your same-old-sandwich rut, amp up your midday nutrition, and energize you for the demands of the afternoon. If you want a change of pace, this recipe is for you! It's basically egg salad dressed up for an evening out, and it's absolutely delicious! It's loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that keep the brain sharp and help performance, plus protein from the tuna and egg and antioxidants from the fennel; the flavor is over the top! Cook the fennel over the weekend, so you have it on hand to enjoy during the week.
By Tina Ruggiero
Ham O'Day with Rye Aioli
Love a ham sandwich with mustard on rye? Those familiar flavors are reimagined in this easily achievable dish.
By Terrence Gallivan
Preserved Lemons
We love using preserved lemons in the BA kitchen, and Philip Krajeck's recipe makes the best we've ever tasted. They take 10 minutes to prep and need only two weeks to cure. Sure, you can buy preserved lemons at specialty stores, but when the end result is this good, we say make your own.
By Philip Krajeck
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Speck and Chimichurri
Feel free to play with different herbs in the chimichurri recipe—that's what these brothers and co-chefs 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."
By Michael Sheerin and Patrick Sheerin
Brussels Sprout Kimchi
The shape of the crystals varies quite a bit from brand to brand, so measuring kosher salts by weight is the most reliable method. Not ready to invest in a scale? See the box below for volume conversions.
By Jon Churan
Crab Toast with Lemon Aioli
This dish is only as good as the crab it's made with; buy the best you can get.
Sautéed Greens with Olives
This dish is called misticanza ("mixed greens") on the Ava Gene's menu. You can 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.
By Joshua McFadden
Fried Farro with Pickled Carrots and Runny Eggs
Browning the farro imbues it with a nutty flavor—a step you can add any time you prepare the grain.
By Joshua McFadden
Edamame Fried Rice
SUPERFOODS: Broccoli, Edamame, Eggs, Kale, Mushrooms, Olive Oil
Step away from the take-out menu! This dish delivers weight loss by calling on supersatiating soy protein, nutritious veggies, and whole-grain brown rice, which all help keep your blood sugar and insulin levels steady—and your body burning calories.
By Lucy Danziger
Whole Wheat Penne with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
The rich flavors of sausage and broccoli rabe stand up beautifully to the earthy taste of whole wheat pasta. Broccoli rabe is one of my favorite vegetables, but it has a bitter taste that isn't for everyone. Feel free to substitute regular broccoli in this recipe if you prefer.
By Ellie Krieger and Kelly James-Enger
Spinach, Pear, and Walnut Salad
This hearty winter salad balances earthy greens with seasonal fruit and crunchy nuts. Though quite simple, it is far from ordinary.
By Ellie Krieger and Kelly James-Enger