Recipes From Bon Appétit’s May 2024 Issue

In the May issue of Bon Appétit, editors share a bevy of new cocktails to try—alongside fortifying drinking snacks and a deep dive into the science behind cooking with vodka.
Start with a thirst-quenching mezcal sour or grab the blender to make some easy frozen brunch drinks. While you sip, feast on three hearty anju—Korean dishes meant to be eaten while drinking—developed by Hana Asbrink. (They’d all be just as excellent as a sober midweek lunch.) Then learn how Jesse Szewczyk uses vodka to dial in the texture of dishes like shatteringly crisp fried shrimp and silky-smooth chocolate ice cream.
While so much of this issue celebrates warm weather sips and bites, the truth is that spring brings inevitably chilly nights, the kind of evenings that call for soup. Simmer a big pot of green ribollita and dress up bowls of posole blanco with avocado, cilantro, and shredded cabbage. And if you’re celebrating Mother’s Day, you’ll want to whip up a batch of Jesse’s pecan sandie wedges. These shortbread cookies can even be baked, wrapped tightly, and shipped overnight to Mom even if she doesn’t live nearby; the butter helps keep them tender and fresh for a few days. But be warned: She may come to expect this gift every single year.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Emma Ringness1/32
Posole Blanco
White pozole is made without chiles, letting the meatiness of the broth and sweetness of the hominy shine.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Emma Ringness2/32
Green Ribollita
This twist on the classic Tuscan soup features blended sautéed kale, which turns the whole bowl a bright, spring-y green.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Emma Ringness3/32
Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Soup
Cozy and rich but not heavy, and it doesn’t require a box of broth. Is this your dream spring soup?
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Emma Ringness4/32
Egg Drop Dumpling Soup
Short-cut favorites like boxed stock, frozen dumplings, and bagged spinach join forces in a twist on comforting egg drop soup that’s a breeze to make.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Thu Buser5/32
Green Curry Chicken Pot Pie
A little spicy, a lot comforting.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones6/32
Broccoli Spoon Salad With Warm Vinaigrette
This salad puts all the best textures on a spoon: crisp, raw broccoli; chewy, sticky dates; and crunchy toasted pistachios. This is a great make-ahead option for a picnic—it only gets better with a little time.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness7/32
Crispy Buttermilk-Fried Catfish
The best fried catfish starts like fried chicken, with a seasoned buttermilk soak. Once fried to a golden brown crisp, serve with ketchup and this pickle-studded rémoulade.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Emma Ringness8/32
Haemul Pajeon
The classic Korean pancake, threaded with seafood and lots of scallions, has crispy edges and a kicky dipping sauce, making it a perfect drinking snack.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Emma Ringness9/32
Sulguk
There's nothing more soothing than a bubbling pot of sulguk, a.k.a. alcohol soup. This spicy version is brimming with blood sausage, mushrooms, fish cakes, and instant ramyun.
- Photograph by Chelsea Kyle10/32
Crispy Fried Shrimp and Giardiniera
How do you make fried shrimp better? By adding giardiniera to the mix. Here the duo gets coated in a vodka-spiked batter to create a remarkably crisp exterior.
- Photograph by Chelsea Kyle11/32
Dirty Martini Chicken Thighs
This cheeky chicken recipe crams all of the iconic flavors of a dirty vodka martini—olive brine, vodka, vermouth, and all—into a savory one-pan meal.
- Photograph by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Jesse Szewczyk, prop styling by Astrid Chastka12/32
Pecan Sandie Wedges
Tender, buttery, and pleasantly crumbly, these salty-sweet shortbread wedges studded with toasted pecans are a grownup version of the childhood favorite.
- Photograph by Chelsea Kyle13/32
Double Dark Chocolate No-Churn Ice Cream
This fuss-free ice cream doubles down on the chocolate flavor with a rich dark cocoa base and a glossy fudge ripple—no churning required.
- Photograph by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Jesse Szewczyk, prop styling by Astrid Chastka14/32
Earl Grey Martini
Quickly infusing vodka with earl grey tea bags creates a distinct floral foundation for this fun (and caffeinated) take on a martini.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Maggie DiMarco15/32
Before Daylight
This mezcal, blackberry, and ginger ale cocktail is the ideal juicy summer refresher. Serve in a tall glass filled with crushed ice. No fresh blackberries? Frozen ones work fine.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Maggie DiMarco16/32
Mezcal Sour
Easy to remember and simple to make, this tart, smoky mezcal sour is bound to become your summer signature.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Morton18/32
Paloma
You can make this refreshing sipper with tequila or mezcal.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Maggie DiMarco19/32
Ginger Snap
A low-alcohol cocktail made for the modern era, the Ginger Snap requires only fino sherry, ginger ale, and a lemon twist.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Maggie DiMarco20/32
Sherry Colada
If you’ve only been making coladas with rum, you’re missing out. Swap out the liquor for lighter, more delicate sherry for a new take on the beloved cocktail.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Kendra Vaculin21/32
Frozen Negroni
This frosty version of the bittersweet Italian cocktail is easy to make ahead for drinks on demand.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Maggie DiMarco22/32
Boozy Banana Latte
This frozen coffee cocktail recipe combines cold brew concentrate, frozen bananas, mezcal, cinnamon, and vanilla, blended together until creamy. Whip one up for brunch this weekend.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Maggie DiMarco23/32
Hot Pink Punch
Rim some glasses with spicy salt and make this juicy watermelon cocktail by the pitcher for your first barbecue of the summer.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones24/32
Adonis Spritz
This low-ABV sipper made with sherry and sweet vermouth is virtually hangover-proof.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Maggie DiMarco25/32
Frozen Garibaldi
This recipe transforms frozen orange juice concentrate and Campari into a slushy cocktail worthy of a fancy summer brunch or hot afternoon by the pool.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman26/32
French 75
True Champagne may be traditional, but any good dry sparkling wine will work in this classic.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Maggie DiMarco27/32
Campari Spritz
Let this be the season for trying all sorts of different spritzes.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling Maggie DiMarco28/32
Garden Wedding
This gin and peach cocktail is tangy, herbal, and refreshing, thanks to a touch of Greek yogurt and a few fresh basil leaves shaken into the drink.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Maggie DiMarco29/32
Spa Water Punch
This minty fino sherry punch is cooling and light, served by the pitcher. Float some cucumber slices in each glass, spa-water style.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Emma Ringness30/32
Mini Meatball and Pastina Soup
Nothing’s cuter (or more delicious) than pairing tiny pastina with bite sized meatballs.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Emma Ringness31/32
Kong-Bul
An abbreviation of kongnamul (soybean sprouts) and bulgogi, kong-bul is a quick one-pot dish that’s great as a drinking side dish or an easy weeknight meal.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele32/32
Basil-Fennel Soda
Gracious hosts plan non-alcoholic options—this one tastes like sparkling lemonade that's been hanging out at the farmers market.