Broccoli, Cauliflower, or Just About Anything Else, Roman Style MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes If there's a more versatile way to cook vegetables, it's boiling, and this is much more interesting. You see almost everything done this way in Rome, and it's always...
Braised Artichoke Hearts MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 45 minutes This dish is just as good at room temperature as it is hot, and you'll probably want to double it to be sure you have leftovers for tossing with pasta or rice, topping pizzas, or mixing into frittatas. You...
Braised and Glazed Brussels Sprouts MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes Sometimes I like to brown Brussels sprouts a bit, which is why this braise-and-glaze technique is a little different from the general description and deserves a special recipe. I also like to leave...
Boiled or Steamed Greens MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 10 to 30 minutes This is the basic method for cooking any greens (or, as you'll see from the variation, just about any vegetable at all). Boiling gives you a little more control, but steaming is faster; both work just...
Beets with Pistachio Butter MAKES: 4 servings TIME: about 1 hour The color combination is striking here and the flavors fantastic. The beets are sweet and earthy, and the pistachio butter adds a rich, nutty roasted flavor. Both components can be made ahead (up to 4...
Beets Done Simply MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 45 minutes Faster than Beets Baked in Foil and almost as convenient, but a little messier or at least potentially so. Other vegetables you can use: turnips, rutabagas, daikon, or parsnips. Salt 4 large or 8 medium beets,...
Beets Baked in Foil MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 1 hour This is the single best method for cooking beets. It produces beets that are firm and not at all waterlogged. Better, perhaps, is that it's easy, neat, and convenient: once cooked, you can eat them or store them...
Beet Crisps MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes You can deep-fry virtually any ultra-thinly-sliced root vegetable and get homemade chips (see Other Vegetable Fries), but you can also crisp slightly thicker pieces in the oven, with a lot less oil and a lot less mess....
Asparagus Done Simply MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 15 minutes You can cook asparagus almost any way you like, and it'll be just fine. The simplest ways to go are boiling (or simmering or poaching; you can call it whatever you like), steaming, or microwaving. This recipe...
The Best Scrambled Eggs MAKES: 2 servings TIME: 40 minutes Perfect for dinner or a lazy weekend brunch, because these are easily cooked while you prepare other ingredients. 4 or 5 eggs Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons cream 2 tablespoons butter or...
Soft-Boiled Egg MAKES: 1 serving TIME: Less than 10 minutes The egg-lovers way to eat eggs, barely cooked, but warm and comforting. Soft-boiled eggs are also great stirred into a bowl of reheated leftover brown rice or a cup of broth. 1 egg Salt and freshly ground...
Simplest Omelet MAKES: 2 servings TIME: 15 minutes Omelets are, of course, great breakfast and brunch dishes, but they are also fine at dinner. This recipe is for a really basic omelet, but it can be filled with almost anything. The variations range from classic (and...