Low Carb

Yes, the spiralizer is a bit of a novelty, but it helps make things a bit more playful. I’ve found that my ambivalence towards cucumbers turn them into noodles, spiralized zucchini dish Give this salad a rest in the dressing before serving so the veggies have some time to soften and absorb the flavors.

This is the kind of recipe that calls for a bottle of red wine and a reason to celebrate. Did you survive that Monday of back-to-back meetings? Well, that’s definitely a reason to celebrate. Of course making it to Hump Day is a cause for celebration, too. Sure, these steak roll-ups feel fancy, but they’re so quick and easy that they deserve to be made whenever the occasion feels right, be it a busy Wednesday or a slow Sunday.

Consider eggplant noodles a short-and-sweet introduction to eggplant. These noodles don’t require a spiralizer, they don’t need to be salted (as some would argue all eggplant does), and they cook quickly. They also utilize one of eggplants often bemoaned qualities — they are incredibly absorbent. These noodles will soak up any sauce they are tossed with, becoming even more flavorful.

Culinary shape-shifter eggplant can be cajoled into many forms. A steak, strips of bacon, and even a fragrant rose. And if you’re wondering why one might want an aubergine rose, let me tell you — this is the tastiest rose you’ll ever eat.

Collard greens need a gentle, slow, luxurious braise in fragrant liquid (rather like a spa treatment), which makes a slow cooker the perfect vessel and method. With a little work up front and a thoughtful finish, a large slow cooker can yield many servings of velvety greens and brilliant potlikker — plenty for immediate feasting and plenty to freeze for later.

Eggplant is a nightshade often used as a substitute for meat in a number of dishes — from bolognese to burgers — so it only seems natural that we try our hand at transforming it into bacon. We’re taking eggplant back to the skillet, seasoning it for bacon success, and frying it up — just like the real stuff. Long, skinny varieties, such as Japanese or Chinese eggplant, are ideal for turning into bacon.

Salads are the unsung hero of my winter. Often overlooked — it’s too cold for salad! There are no tomatoes! — a winter salad challenges my creativity; surprises me with possibilities; and lifts my spirits on short, gray days and long winter nights. Yes, we have those in California where I live. Truth is, a refreshing winter salad is the essential counterpoint to hearty soups and braises.

I love a simple stir-fry that combines one protein and one vegetable; not only is it easy to prepare, but it’s also an entire meal when served with a bowl of rice. No need to prepare a side dish! Because let’s face it — sometimes we just don’t have time for that. The great thing about this dish is that it can be made from start to finish in just 20 minutes.

One of the most memorable dishes I had in Spain was also one of the simplest — two eggs, over easy, alongside a mound of piperade and a few thin slices of wonderful Spanish ham. I thought about this dish of fresh tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers for months afterwards. It wasn’t just the fact that I was eating it in Spain; it was also the eggs. They were rich, creamy, and flavorful, and their bright orange yolks stood up soldier-tall.

No time to pick a peck of pickled peppers? Stir up a batch of quick stovetop relish for a fancy little cookout condiment. It goes just as well with virtuous grilled fish, charred eggplant, or sizzling squash as it does with brats, burgers, and dogs. Two kinds of vinegar might seem excessive, but the combination gives just the right amount of tangy backbone to the sweet peppers.

When we decided to devote a week to carrots during our month of Glorious Vegetables, I went hunting for just one pure and perfect carrot recipe. We’ve given you crazy salad and fermented pickles, and there are other fresh ways to eat carrots coming up. But, in the end, the freshest of baby carrots deserve to be eaten in the simplest of ways, and Diane Morgan’s easy recipe is the way to go.

Ellie Krieger is a queen of simple, healthy recipes that have a bare minimum of ingredients yet still manage to have flavor and flair. This salad is the perfect example — just radishes, snow peas, and scallions in a light dressing. An elemental blend of spring vegetables — and the easiest side dish for any meal. The really ingenious thing about this salad is the way the snow peas are cut.

Back when I was working graveyard shifts as a hospital pharmacist, cooking dinner was the absolute last thing I wanted to do when I got home. Fortunately, I learned that I could quickly toss some ingredients into my slow cooker and pass out, confident that I’d wake up when things started smelling good — like these slow-cooked, Asian-spiced ribs.

Adopting a Paleo lifestyle doesn’t mean that fried rice is forever off the menu. You just have to get creative. Years ago, when I went Paleo, I experimented in the kitchen until I developed an Asian cauliflower fried “rice” that easily trumps the greasy, soy-drenched stuff peddled by your local Chinese restaurant. As long as you prep the veggies the night before, it’s a cinch to throw this one-wok meal together on a weeknight.

This simple and mildly bitter recipe is a great way to begin your Valentine’s meal. Look for the elegant, long Treviso radicchio; it is easier to grill and sexier to eat. For the cheese, I’d recommend a Brillat-Savarin, as its creaminess balances the radicchio’s natural bitterness. → Buy Jennifer’s Book! Bitter: A Taste of the World’s Most Dangerous Flavor, with Recipes by Jennifer McLagan → Read more of Jennifer’s writing on her blog.

I have a confession: Until recently, I found the idea of grilling meat slightly terrifying. Maybe it’s because I’ve never owned a grill of my own. Or because I usually skip over the articles about grilling in magazines. Or maybe it was due to some ingrained sexism on my part, pushing “grilling” into the “things men cook” category.

Here in Southern California, winter is on its way out and I have never felt more ready to give kale salads a rest. Right now I am craving all that is crunchy, fresh and pale green — like this salad, which mixes a dill-flecked dressing with sweet sugar snap peas, crisp celery, chopped romaine and pretty, pink-edged radish slices that remind me of spring’s first blossoms winking to life. The crunchiness of this salad makes it a great candidate for lunch.