Herbs & Spices

Chickpeas are the basis for this savory Italian stew, which gets an extra kick from a spoonful of intensely flavored pesto at serving time.

No cannabis? No problem—skip it and you’ll still have a killer spicy-sweet popcorn. But for those that want to partake, make sure you use only 1/2 teaspoon baked herb in this recipe (you'll have about 1 1/2 teaspoons leftover for another use). And go slow! This stuff is delicious, but you want to start with a little over a cup and wait at least an hour before having more—it often takes that long to feel the effects.

Depending on your pho philosophy, you can go super simple or ornate with the tabletop pho garnishes.

Ancho chile powder adds a remarkable smokiness to this dish, while the cilantro beautifully brightens it up. Choose the best-quality short ribs you can find. It makes a nice difference in flavor and fat content.

Many people enjoy chicken pho with a side of this zippy sauce. They dip the flesh into the sauce as they eat the soup. The fresh ginger bite adds a last-minute layer of flavor that some find to be scintillating while others find to be distracting. Try it out and judge for yourself.

Get the richly flavored comforting broth of traditional pho in half the time when you use your Instant Pot.

This blend of onions, scallions, garlic, parsley, bell peppers, and other spices is the foundation for most Haitian dishes, and many Haitians have it in their refrigerator at all times. Even in recipes that do not call for it specifically, it can often be added. Basil brings a freshness to this version; you can also add thyme. In Haiti, a mortar and pestle is used to mash the ingredients together, but a food processor or blender makes it come together much faster. Make a big batch and use it to season meats, soups, rice, and more.

In this recipe, a few textured and vibrant toppings gussy up a tender, buttery, and ultrasimple shortbread.

Mix equal parts yellow and blue food dye to make green.

This sauce—developed for our #cook90 initiative—is a kitchen workhorse. Use it to marinate fish, season rice, top a pizza, stir into scrambled eggs, or to add a final punch of flavor to a soup.

Coddle eggs in a warming, cumin-spiced Swiss chard braise to start the new year with plenty of healthful, fortifying greens.

When great dips get together, it’s magic. This recipe boasts all the beauty of a creamy onion dip with the irresistible appeal of queso.

Serve this festive, warming punch to welcome guests in from the cold or along with dessert at the end of a holiday feast.

Quinoa—either red, black, or white—adds body and heartiness to this warming bowl of tomato-basil soup.

I like to make a batch of Lebkuchen Spice Mix—a mixture of all the “usual suspects” in wintertime baking—in early fall so that I’m ready for the Christmas baking season. The mixture below is a great all-purpose one. But you can also tinker with the amounts if you want to highlight one flavor or another.

Spell out holiday cheer on your favorite platter or cookie plate with these wintery snow-capped cookies.