Simmer

Poaching eggs right in the stew is so obviously genius, we’re still trying to figure out why we didn’t think of this recipe sooner.

You will think this pasta recipe calls for an absurd amount of kale, but it will shrink a ton when cooked.

This chorizo recipe is hearty and substantial on its own, but if you want to put an egg on it, go right ahead.

This hearty vegetarian ragout—served on a bed of creamy polenta—gets a boost of rich flavor from umami-packed tomato and miso pastes.

Any type of medium white beans work for this one-pot dinner. Just make sure to enjoy it with a side of country-style bread for soaking up the lemony, herb-packed sauce.

Chicken noodle soup never gets old. If you don’t have udon for this recipe, use rice noodles or regular old spaghetti. A small knob of fresh turmeric can replace the dried type.

Top this Madras curry–perfumed soup with earthy-sweet spiced coconut chips for a warming vegetarian dinner.

Let your love shine by pouring this colorful white chocolate glaze over a heart-shaped cake.

This quick version of the classic Vietnamese soup is steeped with aromatic spices and finished off with a waft of refreshing herbs.

This easy chili is a cross between chile verde and white chicken chili, an effortless and hearty dinner that’s perfect for weeknights.

This velvety-smooth sauce uses real cheddar (not the processed stuff) and comes together in less than 10 minutes. Serve as is with chips, fries, or chili dogs, or transform it into the best queso you've ever had (see below for more on that). Pro tip: Skip the aged cheddar from the fancy cheese counter—the sauce will be even creamier with a block of no-frills cheddar from the dairy aisle of the supermarket.

Easier to make than the beef version, chicken pho requires fewer ingredients and takes less finesse for superlative results.

How to prevent tofu from being bland? Toss it in a robust, spicy, salty, and deeply seasoned marinade.

Somewhere between a fudgy chocolate truffle and a Tootsie Roll is the Brazilian confection known as the brigadeiro.

This rum-spiked hot toddy is infused with fiery black pepper, revitalizing cinnamon, and cleansing cardamom to cure the winter blues.

This is going to be your new favorite way to serve green beans.

This 22-minute South Indian-inspired chicken dinner is based on takeout versions served at Manhattan's Curry Row. 

This classic Japanese soup is both nourishing and comforting—just the thing for those midwinter blues.

When you use a fairly expensive, rich, and well-marbled fish like wild salmon, you want to make sure you don’t clutter it with too many spices or overcook it. Coconut milk maintains that velvety mouthfeel of the fish and provides a stunning backdrop to its orange-pink vibrancy. I serve the salmon with those plump pearls of Israeli couscous that play on your senses with their caviarlike texture.