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Spaghetti alla puttanesca is my go to dinner for nights when I want something bold and comforting but I do not want to think too hard. You know those evenings when the fridge looks empty, you are hungry right now, and takeout feels like a trap? This is the kind of pasta that saves you,…
There’s a moment when a whole eggplant gives up in the oven. The skin blackens and blisters, the whole thing slumps on the tray, and the kitchen fills with a smell that’s half campfire, half sweet roasted vegetable. That’s the moment baba ganoush begins, and it’s the part most recipes rush. My testing taught me…
You can buy a beautiful bottle of extra virgin olive oil, with a recent harvest date and that grassy, peppery taste, and ruin it in a few weeks without ever opening the wrong drawer. All it takes is the spot next to the stove, a sunny windowsill or a loose cap. Olive oil doesn’t spoil…
My whole approach to cooking started at a farmers market stall, and the market taught me something before any cookbook did: the best Mediterranean meals begin with what’s at its peak. A tomato in August and a tomato in February are two different ingredients. So are July zucchini and the ones shipped in for the…
Eggplant has a reputation problem. Ask people why they don’t cook it, and you’ll hear the same two complaints: it’s bitter, or it turns into a greasy, soggy mess. I’ve had both, so I tested eggplant side by side: salted vs. unsalted, cubes vs. rounds vs. long slices, peeled vs. unpeeled, pan-seared, broiled and roasted…
Roasted red peppers are one of the most useful things you can keep in a Mediterranean fridge. Silky, sweet and a little smoky, they go into dips, salads, pasta and grain bowls, and homemade ones taste far better than most jarred versions. The tricky part isn’t the roasting. It’s getting the skin to slip off…
Sicilian Eggplant and Tomato Pasta (Pasta alla Norma) is the kind of dinner I make when I want something comforting but I also do not feel like babysitting a pot for hours. You know those nights when you are hungry, your fridge looks random, and you still want food that feels special? This is that…
Sicilian Orange and Fennel Salad with Olives is my go to fix when I want something fresh but I also want dinner to feel a little special. You know those nights when you have random ingredients and zero energy for a complicated recipe? This salad is exactly for that mood. It is bright, crunchy, and…
Fasolakia is my go to dinner when I have a bag of green beans in the fridge and absolutely no desire to do anything complicated. You know those evenings when you want real food, not a sad snack dinner, but you also do not want to babysit a pan? This is that recipe. It is…