Vegetable dishes - quick and easy recipes - page 76

Padrón peppers, known as pimientos de Padrón, originate from Galicia, Spain. These small and slightly sweet peppers are generally mild, but one in every handful will be surprisingly spicy. They’re usually deep-fried, but grilling is a healthy and quick preparation that adds a smoky layer of flavor. Serve these tapas style as a prelude to grilled paella and sangría for the ultimate Spanish feast. What to buy: Padrón peppers are harvested in the summer months.

Buttery croutons are crunchy and delicious in soup or on salad, but after seeing savory granola on menus around the country, we thought it’d make an interesting garnish alternative. Our flavor-packed topper is made with rolled rye flakes, crunchy pumpkin seeds (a.k.a. pepitas), and Parmesan cheese. Add a sprinkle to a bowl of Creamy Tomato Soup or a crisp Fennel, Parsley, and Celery Salad for an unexpected twist.

Kamut contains about 30 percent more protein than other wheat-based grains, and with its naturally crunchy texture we figured it would be the perfect base for a healthy granola that won’t get soggy in milk. Walnuts add even more crunch to this granola. What to buy: Rolled kamut flakes, not to be confused with kamut berries, can be found at health food stores, gourmet grocery stores, or online.

We made this granola a little more interesting by substituting rolled barley and wheat for the oats. It’s sweetened with maple syrup, and also includes crunchy toasted pecans and dried cranberries. Try it on your morning yogurt or use it as an ice cream topper. What to buy: Rolled barley flakes, not to be confused with whole or pearl barley, can be found at health food stores, gourmet grocery stores, or online. Rolled wheat flakes, not to be confused with wheat berries, can also be found at h...

Earthy porcini mushrooms and salty Parmesan are a winning Italian combination. Ground and mixed with salt, they become the perfect seasoning for scrambled eggs, roasted chicken, or creamy pasta, pumping up those dishes with savory, umami flavor. Special equipment: You will need a coffee or spice grinder for this recipe.

Without any butter or cream to mask them, the sweet flavors of parsnip and cauliflower come through in this easy, comforting side dish. It’s a healthy alternative to the usual mashed potatoes served with braised short ribs or seared lamb chops. This dish was featured as part of our 5 Recipes for Fall Ingredients. Game plan: This purée can be completely made ahead. Cool and refrigerate until ready to serve. Rewarm, stirring occasionally, in a covered saucepan over low heat.

Don’t let the long list of ingredients scare you, because this chili is very easy to make. Once you sauté the vegetables, it’s just a matter of dumping in all the spices, then adding the turkey, broth, and beans. The chili needs to cook for about half an hour, then the secret ingredient—chocolate—is added to give the dish a little depth. If you want more spice, add extra jalapeños.

This unique guacamole recipe adapted from Rick Bayless veers from the common avocado, lime, and cilantro combination, and instead is sweet and nutty with the flavors of dried apricots and almonds. Try it with a chicken quesadilla or simply on a tortilla chip. What to buy: Look for avocados that give slightly when pressed but are not completely soft. We used Hass avocados.

Though braising sounds like a time-consuming effort, this recipe from Ana Sortun, chef and owner of the Mediterranean restaurant Oleana in Cambridge, Massachusetts, can be pulled off in less than 30 minutes. The mix of Mediterranean ingredients like anchovy, raisins, capers, olives, pine nuts, and lemon lends tons of bright flavor and unexpected complexity without extra fat or calories.

The classic technique for making glazed carrots involves adding just the right amount of water to a saucepan along with carrots, butter, and sugar and simmering for the exact length of time it takes for the liquid to reduce to a syrup and the carrots to become just tender. I usually overcook the carrots or add too little water, so I like this more forgiving technique. Cook the carrots in boiling water until crisp-tender and drain.

To get cheese to stick to popcorn, you need melted butter. The problem is, the melted butter makes the popcorn soggy. To solve this, we drizzle popcorn with some spicy butter, coat it with lots of finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese, then bake it in the oven for half an hour. The cheese melts and the popcorn gets crispy again. Serve this savory snack for happy hour with a mezcal–apple cider cocktail to wash it down.

Salt and pepper are classic corn toppings, but with the simple addition of nori (dried seaweed), dried orange peel, ground red chile pepper, black and white sesame seeds, and garlic, this common seasoning combination turns into the ultimate umami mix. Togarashi is a small Japanese red chile that can be found in both dried and fresh forms ranging from flakes to powder, and it is often associated with packaged chile-related Japanese spices.

Basic butter gets upgraded thanks to fresh basil and flaky sea salt. Generously spread this butter on corn for a simple yet sophisticated dish that truly epitomizes summer. Make a double batch and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks—it’s great spread on toast or tossed with farro.

Inspired by a recipe Chef David Chang created for Momofuku, this simple mixture takes rich butter and umami-laden white miso and combines them for a savory topping perfect for corn on the cob. Miso replaces the need for salt here, and is a great balance to the sweet corn. If you have any left over, try sautéing scallops in this versatile butter.

Aioli goes great on a burger, a sandwich, or even dolloped on a baked potato, so why not slather it over corn on the cob? This dairy-free recipe is full of flavor thanks to the addition of roasted garlic and Dijon mustard. Lime adds a nice kick of acidity to balance out the rich mayo-based aioli, and smoky paprika gives the creamy topping a bit of bite. Vegan? Replace the egg, vegetable oil and olive oil with Vegenaise and mix it with the garlic purée and Dijon mustard.

This umeboshi paste combines the saltiness from salt-pickled Japanese plums with the sweetness from mirin (a low-alcohol wine made from rice) to create the perfect topping for summertime’s sweet corn. If the umeboshi are too tart and salty for your liking, just add more mirin to balance out the brined plums. Umeboshi can be found in cans and jars in Asian supermarkets and gourmet grocery stores.