Weeknight Meals

Grocery stores often carry several kinds of tofu, so be sure to buy the firm variety for this dish. Pressing the tofu removes excess water and allows it to soak up the peppery marinade.

If baby beets are not available, use large beets cut into 1-inch chunks.

Be careful when transferring the fish from the baking dish to the plate—flounder is a fragile fish that falls apart easily.

This main dish is delicious served with boiled potatoes or rice.

This recipe, without the shrimp (and with vegetable stock), makes a nice vegetarian main dish; serve it with grated Parmesan cheese.

Liana DiMeglio of Liana’s Trattoria in Fairfield, Connecticut, brought this recipe from Naples, Italy, years ago.

For more-generous portions, cook one hen per person. If you do, use two roasting pans, and double the other ingredients.

You can use any firm-fleshed fish for this recipe. Scattering salt in the skillet prevents the fish from sticking without adding fat, and also seasons it. This dish is delicious at any temperature.

If you can’t find precut chicken quarters, ask your butcher to quarter a 5-pound chicken and remove the backbone.