Nut Free

In this method, potatoes and oil begin cooking together at room temperature, totally defying all the rules of deep-frying.

A delightfully mustardy version of the battered and fried turkey, ham, and cheese sandwiches.

These tasty sandwiches are best after chilling for several hours, so they're the perfect make-ahead for camping trips.

Ask your butcher for lamb backstraps, an interior cut from the loin that is lean and exceedingly tender.

I call this crowd-pleasing soup my magic recipe. It is so amazing that so few ingredients—and a soup made in a matter of minutes—can have so much depth of flavor. It really is a fine example of the miracles of infusion. The dried cèpe (porcini) mushroom powder packs a maximum of fragrance and flavor and takes well to many variations: Pair it with paper-thin slices of raw domestic mushrooms or seared domestic or wild mushrooms showered in the bowl at serving time; prepare with dried morel powder in place of cèpes; top with thin slices of raw black truffles; or add a dollop of mushroom-powder- infused whipped cream.

This dessert is a big hit at parties in the Hollywood Hills, especially in the cooler months. It’s probably one of my most deceptive desserts—everyone thinks it's complex to prepare, but it's one of the simplest desserts in my repertoire. When the bread pudding is firm to the touch, you know it's done.

Use any whole spices you like for this beets recipe; just make sure you sizzle them in oil first to bring out their flavor.

Wheels of cucumbers and radishes are nice and all, but smashing them into ragged pieces is way more fun.

The fruit-to-sugar ratio in this marmalade recipe makes it not too sweet and you can really taste the grapefruit.

Cauliflower might not be a traditional ingredient in larb recipes, but the toasted rice powder is. 

With fewer eggs than the typical frittata, this Persian egg dish is the ultimate clean-out-the-herb-drawer meal.

Lemon makes the perfect foil for carbonara’s salty richness. You may never go back.

Crispy, chewy, and as fun to make as they are to eat, these “buns” are made entirely out of sushi rice.

These steak kebabs are marinated in soy-ginger sauce, and served over a salad of bok choy, kale, and cucumbers.

Maple syrup and warm, fall spices add a touch of sweetness to easy roasted veggies.

Layering salmon between sheets of kombu is an easy way to gently cure it, drawing in salt and umami-depth.

Watercress is back! It’s fantastic paired with piquant mustard and sharp vinegar that can stand up to the nose-tingling burn.

Aged white rum seems like an oxymoron, but it adds an edge to this beach vacation of a cocktail.

In the fall, make this drink with a fresh fig instead of blackberries—use half for muddling and half for the garnish.