Andy Baraghani

How do you improve on a classic Caprese? Grill your tomatoes—and then spill them over charred baguette.

Never underestimate black peppercorns! Their heat sneaks up on you in this turmeric tonic.

True, this concoction is slightly more complex than lemonade. But so are most relationships.

A fragrant butter—infused with cardamom, garlic, and thyme—adds layers of flavor to this stunning steak dinner.

Step 1: Prep this simple soffritto and nutty pesto. Step 2: Make beautiful, clean soups on a whim.

A heavy-hitting marinade and a vibrant plum and herb salad transform pork rib chops into a memorable summer meal.

Water infused with cucumber and mint gets a bit of natural sweetness from ripe honeydew melon. The salt in the drink helps with rehydration, while lime juice and club soda balance it out.

Thai seasonings add punch to this vibrant and herby salad; peanuts and celery keep it crunchy.

This paprika- and chile-spiked potato salad is equally delicious served warm or room temperature.

Potato on potato action here—the chips add welcome crunch to a refreshingly mayo-free salad.

A dinner-friendly riff on a bagel with lox and cream cheese. If you’re not feeling the smoked salmon, simply omit it. 

These snaggable, snackable wedges have more in common with a bowl of party mix than any perfunctory salad.

A warm, spicy peanut sauce makes even bean sprouts feel indulgent in this crispy, crunchy bowl.

The easiest and most refreshing summer dessert? Water and sugar, frozen and scraped into fluffy “shaved ice.” Sweetened blackberries tossed with lime juice make an excellent topping.

XO sauce can be used as an all-purpose condiment. It’s great over rice, steamed or roasted veggies, or roast chicken.

We’re just obsessed with using asparagus as a condiment! Try sprinkling this crunchy mix over eggs or tossing it into pasta.

These dim sum–style shrimp toasts make a surprisingly simple—and utterly addictive—at-home snack. With this method, you don’t even need a deep fryer to pull them off.

True, this concoction is slightly more complex than lemonade. But so are most relationships.

Walnuts add a touch of bitterness to balance the sweet dates blended into this favorite Southern California ice cream treat.

These snaggable, snackable wedges have more in common with a bowl of party mix than any perfunctory salad.