Weeknight Meals

The bouquet garni for this stew includes orange peel (use a vegetable peeler to make wide strips) and some of the wispy fronds from the top of the fennel bulb that goes into the soup.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Southern Fried Chicken . Make sure you leave the peel on the potatoes, to add extra flavor and texture to this comforting side dish.

Our food editors were evenly divided concerning which dipping sauce they preferred with the duck salad. Some liked the nuoc cham because of the depth of flavor imparted by the fish sauce; others leaned toward the sweetness and heat of the chile sauce. Make one or both, depending on your taste.

This easy side dish pairs perfectly with our Pork Chops with Coriander-Cumin Spice Rub .

Sofrito is a sautéed vegetable mixture used as a seasoning in Spain, Italy and Latin America. This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 50 min Start to finish: 50 min

(Adapted from The Keeper's House) Charmoula is a Moroccan fish marinade traditionally made with tomatoes, lemon, paprika, garlic, cumin, and cilantro.

An easy dish that uses some traditional Japanese ingredients, including miso. Made from fermented soybeans, miso paste comes in various shades, with the darker ones being stronger in flavor. This recipe calls for white miso (also called shiro-miso), which is sweeter and more delicate.

Pour a chilled dry Gewürztraminer to accompany the salad and offer crusty bread throughout dinner.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

We took the feta cheese out of this classic dish and stirred it into the rice that accompanies it, for a yummy variation. A cucumber salad is the perfect partner. Buy your favorite cookies for dessert.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.