Weeknight Kitchen with Melissa Clark takes on one of the biggest dilemmas of busy people: what are we going to eat? In each episode, you’ll join Melissa in her own home kitchen, working through one of her favorite recipes and offering helpful advice for both beginners and seasoned cooks. It’s a practical guide for weeknight eating, from the makers of The Splendid Table.
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Known to some as Tamale Pie, this one-dish meal is great for busy weeknights because it’s quick, easy, and filling. Our family changed the name because it bears no resemblance to a tamale, but whatever you call it, it’s sure to draw everyone to the table.
I grew up eating fried cornbread next to bacon-infused collard greens, often for breakfast. My grandfather would rise with the sun, don his button-up flannel and loose Wranglers, and prepare a hearty meal that would keep his stomach humming for hours while he toiled in his vegetable garden and woodshop. The combination of rich, nutty cornmeal and those sweet, slow-cooked collards is a memory worth keeping. Here I’ve paired those well-suited mates in a more unusual but still delicious way. I think Papa would approve.
Pork slivers make a delicious addition, but vegetarians may omit them and still enjoy the dish.
Note: Can be served cold/vegan.
Ingredients
Ingredients
This all happens in half an hour in the pan. It’s also a great way to use up leftover, cooked root vegetables, which would make it even quicker. If you are vegan, skip the cheese and eggs and use 3 1/2 ounces/100 g of soaked cashews blended with 1/3 cup/100 ml of cold water in place of the yogurt. I make this for my family a lot, and it’s really good this way, too.
If you think tuna salad always involves mayonnaise, prepare to have your mind blown! Canned tuna, or salmon if you prefer, is the perfect match for a light, bright lime and chili dressing. Tangy, meaty, chewy, and spiked with crunchy sweet pickles, this will wake up your palate and fuel you through a productive afternoon. This is a good lunchbox bowl—just toss it when you’re ready.
Ingredients
I learned to make these eggy disks not long after moving to Italy because I loved eating them. Though called frittata in Italy, they bear little resemblance to any of the thick frittatas often served for brunch in the States. It’s basically a very thin, herb-packed omelet that is cooked like a pancake—sizzled on one side until a golden crust forms, cooked over low heat until the top sets, then flipped with a wide spatula and browned on the other side.