11 Easy Comfort Foods That Basically Make Themselves
After a long day, an even longer week, or, in the case of 2020, a really, really long year, there are times when you just feel like doing absolutely nothing. And during these times, an easy recipe doesn’t feel easy enough. So for this weekend’s cooking, we’ve compiled our favorite dishes that practically prepare themselves. Some—like the buttery baked apples—are so simple that they don’t require a recipe at all. Dig in this weekend, or keep these dishes in your back pocket for any time that you want to eat, but really don’t feel like cooking.
Photo by Alex Lau1/11One-Skillet Chicken With Buttery Orzo
In this soul-satisfying one-pot dinner, orzo, fennel, and leeks cook in the drippings from roast chicken thighs. You'll top it all off with a squeeze of lemon juice and some zest.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova3/11Fall-Apart Caramelized Cabbage
Being a fan of cabbage is not a personality, but cooking cabbage wedges in a tomatoey broth until they become tender might be the easiest, most delicious thing we've cooked recently. A big dollop of yogurt adds creamy brightness to the dish.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce4/11Crispy Salt and Pepper Potatoes
You'll never have to wait an hour for crispy roasted potatoes again. Simply toss new potatoes in whipped egg whites before putting them in the oven, and you'll have crisp-crackly spuds in about 20 minutes.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou5/11Khajur Ladu (Date, Pistachio, and Almond Morsels)
These easy pistachio-date balls are nutty, fudgy, and perfect for sharing. That's why Epi contributor Nandita Godbole makes them every year for Diwali and Thanksgiving.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton6/11Warm Comfort
We know this is a list of comfort foods, but why not include a comforting drink, too? The floral flavor of chamomile soothes the spice of tequila in this riff on the hot toddy.
Chelsie Craig7/11Brothy Pasta With Chickpeas
This dish leans on our favorite pantry all-stars: Canned chickpeas, canned tomatoes, and dried pasta. Cook the onions and garlic until they’re completely soft—they'll release even more flavor into the velvety-rich broth.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton8/11Shrimp Poached in Coconut Milk With Fresh Herbs (Yerra Moolee)
In this recipe, shrimp gently cooks in herb-laced coconut milk. The spicing is subtle, so it doesn't obstruct the coconut milk's sweet flavor.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton10/11Shaak-no Sambharo (Quick Pickled Vegetables)
These quick-pickled vegetables are great any time of year. Try this preparation with fresh produce like cauliflower, carrots, radish, radish pods, or raw turmeric. You can serve these with dal and rice, or offer them as a part of a snack plate with cheese and charcuterie.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell11/11Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Skillet
This one-skillet meal starts with shredded cooked chicken, a jar of salsa, and a can of black beans. The recipe calls for a cup of shredded cheese (but no one's stopping you from adding more).
