Potato and Leek Soup MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes Leek-and-potato soup was once peasant food, but it's not surprising that the combination is the basis for more elegant soups: both vegetables are available year-round, easy to handle, and flavorful. Here, then,...
Persian Noodle Soup Reshteh MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 2 hours, largely unattended The traditional version of this Iranian noodle and bean soup calls for a couple hard-to-find ingredients: kashk, a cheese made by drying yogurt and reshteh, the long, thick noodles...
Onion Soup MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 1 hour People think of onion soup as fancy, but the most exotic ingredients you need here are fresh parsley and thyme. Even without those, an onion soup made with just pantry stalwarts”onions, bay leaves, garlic, and oil (for a...
One-Hour Vegetable Stock MAKES: about 1 quart TIME: 1 hour, somewhat unattended There are a few differences between this and the preceding recipe: here you cut the vegetables into smaller pieces, which extracts greater flavor; you pan-cook them first, which browns...
North African Couscous Soup MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 20 minutes The texture of couscous in broth is extremely comforting, so if you have couscous and tomato paste in your pantry, a bowl of this soup should be in your very near future. If you have no fennel or...
Mushroom Stock MAKES: about 6 cups TIME: About 1 hour Mushroom stock has a pronounced mushroom flavor that might compete with other ingredients; for most of the soups in this chapter, you will probably want to use one of the preceding three vegetable stocks or plain...
Waldorf Salad MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 15 minutes This should be a peppery blend of apples, celery, and mayonnaise. Nuts are optional, as are raisins, a bit of honey, and grated carrots, any of which may appeal to you but none of which is essential. Try using half...
Tomato Salad, Ethiopian Style MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 15 minutes, plus time to chill If you have time to chop tomatoes, you have time to make this salad, which also works as a relish to eat with sandwiches and salads. The light, fresh-tasting, oil-free dressing...
Mushroom Stew MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 45 minutes I don't often use flour to thicken soups because there are more flavorful and nutritious ways to give them body (see Giving Soups More Body). But there are exceptions, like the Corn Chowder and this Louisiana-inspired...
Mushroom Barley Soup MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 45 minutes Taking an untraditional approach to the classic Eastern European “grandmother” soup (where the ingredients are usually put in a pot with some beef and boiled), this delivers real heartiness and a depth of...
Tabbouleh MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 40 minutes Tabbouleh is all about herbs. The grain may be the traditional bulgur or quinoa, millet, or even rice (which, because it is starchier, may require a bit more dressing). But you must include fresh herbs, and lots of them, to...
Steamed Mushroom Salad with Coriander MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes Steamed mushrooms are really kind of special: They retain much of their raw flavor and texture but gain enough body to hold together when dressed lightly. This is a favorite, whether served on a...