Here’s What Li Goldstein Is Cooking This Month
To live in New York in your 20s is to make do with an unbelievably small kitchen—this I know firsthand. In my case, that tiny kitchen—which measures, quite literally, the approximate length of my wingspan—is shared between four busy roommates. Having come to peace with these limitations (denial will get you nowhere), I’m drawn to recipes that check off a few key boxes. Quick. Minimal footprint (looking at you, one-pot dinners). Yields leftovers that are stretchable for a next-day work lunch and might even keep for a few dinners. And, to compensate for February’s trademark blah-ness, I’m here for all that’s warm and cozy. So here’s what I’m cooking this month: Oven-friendly risotto, canned salmon croquettes, savory one-pot chicken thighs, and a few more easy meals. Scroll down to get the recipes—and save them in the Epicurious iOS app.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Dana Bonagura1/11Oven Risotto With Crispy Roasted Mushrooms
Creamy risotto is one of my favorite comfort meals, but with the prolonged stirring it traditionally requires, I lack the arm strength and general physical stamina to make it often. This oven-friendly riff circumvents that issue entirely, yielding the same creamy result without the pain.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou2/11Chicken-Lentil Soup With Jammy Onions
This cozy soup is heavy on protein from both the chicken and lentils, and it’s extra flavorful from onions cooked down with garlic until jammy. I plan to serve it as pictured: with a healthy dollop of cooling yogurt.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott3/11Lemon-Pistachio Loaf
One of my favorite pastries is the pistachio loaf cake from Maman, a bakery with locations throughout the northeast. It’s remarkably moist, and packed with perfect pistachio flavor. This loaf cake hits all of those same notes, with the addition of lemon for tang and brightness.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Liza Jernow4/11Salmon Croquettes With Dill Sauce
I love that these croquettes lean on canned salmon, making for an easy, pantry-friendly weeknight meal. And anything that calls for fresh dill has my heart.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini5/11Smashed Green Bean Salad With Crispy Shallots
This Thai-inspired salad is like a lighter green bean casserole, sans cream. Because they’re served raw, the beans stay bright and snappy, complemented by a fresh, citrusy dressing and crispy shallots. I’d love to serve it alongside this green curry.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Heather Greene6/11Jammy Onion and Miso Pasta
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce9/11Soft-Boiled Tea Eggs
I love making a batch of oozy soft-boiled tea eggs and letting them hang out for a couple days in the fridge in their marinade. They’re a quick addition to a bowl of rice or noodles, but they’re just as ideal for stand-alone snacking.
Photo by Johnny Miller11/11Farro Salad With Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Red Onion, and Goat Cheese
Farro is a pantry staple for me—a chewy and hearty grain that I turn to when I want to switch things up from my nightly white rice. In this recipe, it serves as a vehicle for roasted sweet potatoes, onion, and crumbly goat cheese, which all get dressed up with a tangy vinaigrette.
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