Weeknight Kitchen

Here is a light and fresh interpretation of jerk. Salmon is mar­inated with robust seasonings and pan-seared to perfection. The zesty herb salsa combines the freshness of cilantro, the heat of Scotch bonnet, and the tang of lime. If you’re not feel­ing herby, try the Mango Salsa (page 217) with this salmon instead. This recipe is perfect for everyday dinners and spe­cial occasions alike and embodies the bold, dynamic spirit of Jamaican cuisine. Enjoy it with a squeeze of lime to bring all the flavors together.

I don’t know a single child who doesn’t love a bowl of warm, buttered pasta—a dish that’s simple, satisfying, recognizable, safe, and comforting. This is my grown-up version, full of lusty garlic and anchovies in a butter sauce built on a white wine reduction. It’s the dinner I make when there’s “nothing to eat” in the house or when I just need my dinner to feel like a hug. For the best buttery sauce, be sure to add your butter and hot pasta cooking water bit by bit to help form the emulsion, like the process used when making beurre blanc.

We grow exceptional carrots. Our spring carrots are super sweet, thanks to a combination of the Nantes variety, our rich soil, and the cool Capay Valley spring nights. During harvest, some carrots inevitably break or are cosmetically imperfect. These are perfect for transforming into this delightful spring soup. Jenna

I love crisping rice in a skillet: Simply cook it with butter until it turns deeply golden. It’s an easy technique that creates the most incredible crunchy bits to complement the fluffy softness of steamed rice. I’ve experimented with many different crispy rice bowls, but this version with sautéed mushrooms is hands down my favorite. 

The mushrooms have a subtle Asian flavor from the soy sauce and are finished with a splash of vinegar for a bright tang. The real magic happens when you break the runny egg yolk and mix it into the rice, adding a lush richness to every bite. It’s the kind of vegetarian dish that even a meat lover will devour.

If you’re a fan of tuna salad, I can’t wait for you to try this! It takes tuna salad to the next level with a bunch of fresh ingredients in the mix—avocado, microgreens, green onions, lemon—and it’s a breeze to make. Eat it straight-up, scooped over a salad, in a sandwich or wrap, or as I most like to, spread on sliced whole-wheat toasties (toast triangles).

As far as nutrition goes, it doesn’t get more balanced. The tuna is your lean protein loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for your heart. Cottage cheese piles on even more protein plus calcium for bone health. And as for the avocado—hello healthy monosaturated fats! The microgreens deliver vitamins C, E, and K, all of which support immune health and reduce inflammation. And you can thank the whole-wheat bread for its digestion-aiding and energy-sustaining fiber.

An Italian contorno that combines two of our favorite things: perfectly prepared beans and cooked greens. A cima puree, essentially more blanched greens blended with olive oil until silky, holds everything together while staying on brand. The combination tastes creamy, vital, and very Italian.

It’s important to use home-cooked chickpeas and heavily blanched cavolo so the cooking liquor from both can be added as needed when you bring everything together.

I have this when the fridge is empty and I’m in a rush, as it’s super-easy to put together and packs a punch. High-quality olive oil is a must for this dish. If you fancy zhuzhing it up, add some crushed red pepper flakes and/or anchovies…

When I lived in Morocco, I ate a lot of roasted peppers from the stalls at night markets. Often there were small grilled or cured fish to accompany the peppers. And, of course, gallons of mint tea. These flavors bring me right back to that delicious and cacophonous setting. In this dish, I bring all those elements together, perfect for entertaining. More often than not, I serve this with anchovies, using a whole 2-ounce can, the oil drizzled over top, the fillets cut into long thin strips. Salt-cured sardines work equally well.

Andrew entertains more than I do, so his recipe for peppers and tinned fish serves 8 to my 4. This recipe is easily doubled if you too have a larger crowd.

These noodle bowls are ready in 15 minutes – perfect for school holidays and weekends when the meal train seems never-ending. I also make this – sometimes minus the gyozas – when working from home for a quick lunch. I use shop-bought gyozas which I always keep in my freezer. As always, play around with the veg you add. 

If you like alla vodka, you’ll love alla mezcal. In the classic vodka version, the ethanol in the alcohol is used as an emulsifier in the sauce but doesn’t really add any flavor. Since more flavor is more better, I decided to try swapping out my favorite adult beverage, and the result was a smoky take on the Italian American classic.

This creamy marinara sauce is great tossed with any dried pasta for a quick and easy weeknight dinner that will leave you thinking, “Why didn’t anyone try this sooner?”