Bariton Mixtures Updates

Charred poblano peppers, scallions, and cilantro whirl together with Mexican crema for a creamy green spaghetti.

When it's dried, tofu skin (doufu pi in Mandarin, yuba in Japanese) becomes earthy and chewy. It's sold in many shapes and is hardy enough to withstand braises, bold sauces, and stir-fries, mimicking the texture of shredded meat. In this recipe, dried tofu skin sticks are broken into pieces, rehydrated until pliable, and then stir-fried and with an umami-rich chile oil and soy sauce.

Paola Briseño González roasts oyster mushrooms, concentrating their flavor, for a hearty vegetarian tamale filling. Paired with velvety, intensely aromatic, and deeply savory peanut mole, or mole encacahuatado, these tamales satisfy everyone at the table.

Bone-in pork chops get the Marsala treatment with a mushroom and wine cream sauce.

Bison patties are topped with peppered bacon and sandwiched between barbecue sauce–slathered pretzel buns in this cookout favorite.

The crispy flakes of Japanese panko breadcrumbs give these pork chops a rough, crunchy texture that pairs well with earthy sage and grated Parmesan cheese.

This custardy classic features tart cherries, rich vanilla, and a crisp cornflake-pecan topping.

From the Turkish region of Mugla, these tangy, tender vegetarian rice-and-herb-stuffed grape leaves (Zeytinyağli Yaprak Sarmasi) can be made a day ahead, making them a great appetizer for easy entertaining. The brightness of the brined grape leaves is balanced by the rice filling, which is seasoned with fresh parsley and dill and slightly sweet cooked onions. If making the stuffed grape leaves the day before, refrigerate them overnight and bring them to room temperature before serving.

Comfort food takes many forms. For me, it’s a Sunday sauce. One filled with fat tomatoes and that has simmered all day, deepening in flavor, its scent perfuming my home. But on weeknights after work, when I need that slow-cooked comfort most, I want it in a hurry. That’s when I look for a quick but intense cooking method that builds flavor fast.Cue the broiler, which I use to infuse my hearty vegetarian ragù with smoky richness. I set the roughly chopped mirepoix (a combination of yellow onion, celery, and carrots, with some portobellos and garlic for good measure) under the broiler to create a charred crust that adds layers of smoky flavor. Plenty of cremini mushrooms, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and dry red wine round out the sauce on the stove. Ladled over a pile of tagliatelle and topped with more cheese, this nourishing sauce tastes slow-cooked and comforting, especially on a wintry weeknight.

Hot pan drippings and melted butter tease the essential oils out of rosemary, thyme, and sage, creating rich juices for basting pork chops during the final minutes of cooking. Thai chiles add heat to the dish; to dial back the spiciness, cut a slit in the chiles instead of halving them. Serve over mashed or roasted potatoes to help sop up the flavorful juices.