Vegetarian

Spoiler: It's definitely in your fridge already.

Five layers of deliciousness.

Adding this one unexpected ingredient makes all the difference.

Oh, and they take 10 minutes to throw together.

All of the flavor, none of the frying.

Tomato purée is a cooking essential you might be missing. Simpler and a bit thicker than its flavorful cousin, tomato sauce, tomato purée is a fast way to quickly prepare and freeze a bushel of fresh tomatoes for future cooking. Plum or Roma tomatoes are best for purée because they are generally grown for preserving. Paste, oven-dried tomatoes, and sauce are all made from these varieties — they are low in water content and rich in flavor.

You've never seen gnocchi like this before.

It's the secret to a perfectly crisp coating.

Milk kefir is an easy sell for anyone who loves yogurt, which I most definitely do. Kefir is tangy, about as thick (and creamy!) as a smoothie, and full of those good-for-you probiotics we hear so much about. Think of milk kefir as drinkable, pourable yogurt. Even better, you can skip the grocery store and make it yourself right on your kitchen counter. All you need is a teaspoon of active kefir grains and a cup of whole milk.

Make a perfect pot every time.

A reason to never throw away bacon grease.

Keep things chill and skip the simple syrup this summer.

Whenever my kitchen fills with the smell of bacon grease and cornmeal, I am transported back to the moment I laid eyes on that golden pancake.

A skillet, lots of garlic, and a squeeze of lemon juice is all you need.

Everything you love about the classic, but even more comforting — and way, way easier.

No oven necessary.

Cracked open and still steaming, it’s ready to receive anything from a sprinkle of cheese to last night’s stew.

Never buy a bottle again.

Ready the vanilla ice cream.

It's foolproof!

Make it once and eat all week.

With winter out of the way, one vegetable I’ve been seeing in abundance at Bay Area farmers markets is the sputnik-like vegetable with the funny name, kohlrabi. Eaten raw, it’s fresh, crisp, and the ideal ingredient for a summer slaw. This kohlrabi slaw is actually one of my favorite summer recipes. Quick and easy to make, it’s a nice cool side dish to eat after a long, warm day of working in the garden, or at a sunny picnic under flowering fruit trees.

This fabulous egg bake starts with those convenient pre-cut veggies from the produce section.

Big-batch sangria that won't break your budget.

You'll want to sprinkle it over everything.

I'll never get tired of it.

No zucchinis were squeezed in the making of this dessert.

It's the high-protein, make-ahead breakfast you need.

Yes, you really only need one pot. And no, you don't need to drain the pasta!

This New Orleans classic is given a weeknight makeover.

One pantry staple makes it extra nutty and delicious.

It's way easier than apple pie.

It's summer in a bowl.

Fried okra is the best okra.

It's bright, fresh, and a breeze to whip together.

It's no less creamy or flavorful.

And you only need four ingredients.

You'll want to make room at your next potluck or barbecue for this fast side.

Of course Ina has the smartest way to make lasagna ahead!

It uses 2 pounds of zucchini.

It's tangy, it's sweet, and it pops (literally).

A crock of slow-cooked grits is a dream to wake up to and an easy, no-fuss base for weeknight dinners.

It's a classic frittata meets French onion soup mash-up that is dressed to impress.

It's all about knowing the right ratio for the best texture.

Take your pick: the adorable squash is delicious sautéed, roasted, or grilled.

Or cookout side ... or light dinner.

Based off a soup so good, its memory outlasted the memory of the person I ate it with.

No, it's not feta.

My grandfather's recipe has a secret ingredient that makes all the difference.

If you can't get enough of Mexican street corn, we combined all the flavors in one sweet, salty, and crispy fritter.

This faster take on pizza won't heat up the house.

Pro tip: Add extra-creamy burrata as soon as it comes out of the oven.

It's as rich and creamy as you could ever hope for.

You only need three ingredients.

This is the one potato salad to know.

Spoiler: It levels up so much more than salad.

Yes, it is really that quick.

It beats any other version.

It's famous for a reason.

It will be a go-to all summer long.