Cook something worth eating.
Original recipes across the world's food cultures — written for a normal kitchen, scalable to however many are eating, and adaptable to how you actually eat.
18 recipes· photographs on this page are AI-generated images of our own recipes
ChineseBlack Sesame Tangyuan (Sweet Glutinous Rice Balls)
Soft glutinous-rice dumplings filled with toasted black sesame paste, served in a warm ginger-sugar syrup. A classic Chinese home dessert that's comforting and easy to make from common pantry ingredients.
55 min·mediumVegetarianVegan
UkrainianHolubtsi — Ukrainian Cabbage Rolls (make-ahead, fridge-friendly)
Soft cabbage leaves stuffed with seasoned rice and ground meat, braised in a gently tangy tomato sauce. Holubtsi improve after a day in the fridge and reheat well for lunches and dinners across the week.
2 hr 15 min·mediumGluten-freeDairy-free
KenyanMahamri (cardamom coconut doughnuts) with Ndizi ya Nazi (coconut‑stewed plantains)
A coastal Kenyan weekend project: pillowy, cardamom‑scented mahamri fried until golden and served with sweet, coconut‑braised plantains (ndizi ya nazi). Worth the afternoon for the fragrant dough and rich coconut stew.
2 hr 30 min·projectVegetarianVegan
GhanaianRed Red (Ghanaian Peanut Stew) with Fried Plantain
A very inexpensive, filling Ghanaian stew of black-eyed peas cooked in a tomato–peanut sauce and served with sweet fried plantains. Hearty, pantry-friendly, and easy to stretch to feed four on a budget.
1 hr 20 min·mediumVegetarianVegan
ChineseJianbing (Chinese Savory Breakfast Crepes)
A classic northern Chinese street breakfast: a thin wheat-and-mung batter cooked like a crepe, topped with egg, scallions, cilantro, a savory-sweet sauce and a crunchy center (youtiao). Fast to make at home on a skillet and endlessly adaptable.
25 min·easyVegetarianDairy-free
PeruvianPan con Chicharrón (Peruvian Pork Sandwich with Salsa Criolla and Sweet Potato)
A classic Peruvian breakfast sandwich: tender-and-crisp pork belly (chicharrón) piled on crusty rolls with pickled red onion (salsa criolla) and slices of boiled sweet potato. Hearty, bright, and made in a normal home kitchen.
1 hr 20 min·mediumDairy-free
VietnameseCà Ri Gà (Vietnamese One-Pot Chicken Curry)
A fragrant, one-pot Vietnamese chicken curry simmered with coconut milk, lemongrass and potatoes — rich, slightly sweet and perfect for serving with rice or baguette. Everything cooks in a single heavy pan for minimal washing up.
50 min·mediumDairy-free
JapaneseNasu Dengaku — Miso-Glazed Grilled Japanese Eggplant
Tender broiled (or grilled) eggplant topped with a sweet-savory rice-miso glaze. Fast to make and richly flavored — a classic plant-based Japanese side or main.
30 min·easyVeganGluten-free
- Lebanese
Arayes (Lebanese Grilled Pita with Spiced Lamb)
Crisp pita pockets filled with a spiced ground-lamb mixture and grilled until the bread is golden and the meat is cooked through — a classic Lebanese street-food small plate.
32 min·mediumHalalDairy-free
- Sri Lankan
Egg Hoppers (Biththara Appa)
Crisp-edged, bowl-shaped rice pancakes with a soft center topped with a fried egg — a classic Sri Lankan breakfast that's light, slightly tangy from fermentation, and perfect with sambol or curry.
45 min·mediumGluten-freeDairy-free
- Indonesian
Bubur Ayam (Indonesian Chicken Rice Porridge)
A comforting Indonesian breakfast porridge — rice simmered long and slow with aromatics, topped with shredded poached chicken, soft egg, fried shallots and a drizzle of kecap manis. Easy to make and easy to customize.
1 hr 15 min·easyDairy-free
- Vietnamese
Bánh Xèo — Vietnamese Sizzling Rice Pancakes
Crisp, turmeric-flavored rice pancakes filled with pork, shrimp and tender mung bean, served with fresh herbs and a bright nước chấm for wrapping. Great for a lively dinner where everyone wraps their own.
55 min·mediumGluten-freeDairy-free
- Trinidadian
Trinidad Aloo Pies (Potato Turnovers)
Street-food style fried pies filled with spiced mashed potatoes — cheap, filling and perfect for feeding four on a budget. Make a batch to eat hot with chutney or pack for a work lunch.
55 min·easyVeganVegetarian
- Chinese
Cold Sesame (Ma Jiang) Noodles
Chilled wheat noodles tossed in a creamy, savory sesame sauce with crisp cucumber and scallion — a quick, plant-based Chinese cold noodle classic for warm days or make-ahead lunches.
25 min·easyVegetarianVegan
- Cuban
Yuca con Mojo with Crisp Tostones (Cuban-style, Plant‑Based)
Boiled cassava (yuca) dressed in a garlicky citrus mojo and served with twice‑fried green plantain tostones for crisp contrast. A classic Cuban pairing that's simple, bright, and fully plant‑based.
1 hr·easyVeganGluten-free
- Colombian
Arroz con Pollo (Colombian One‑Pot Chicken and Rice)
A classic Colombian one‑pot arroz con pollo — chicken seared for color, a cilantro‑scallion sofrito, annatto for authentic color, and rice cooked in the same pan so cleanup is minimal. Good for weeknight family dinners or easy meal‑prep.
50 min·easyGluten-freeDairy-free
- Kenyan
Uji wa Mahindi (Kenyan Cornmeal Porridge)
A smooth, comforting Kenyan breakfast porridge made from fine maize flour (cornmeal). It’s quick, budget-friendly, and easy to adapt — serve thick with fruit or thinner as a sipping uji.
20 min·easyVegetarianGluten-free
- Lebanese
Sfouf (Lebanese Turmeric Semolina Cake)
A home-style Lebanese tray cake flavored with turmeric and anise (or mahlab), topped with toasted pine nuts and sesame. It’s lightly sweet, tender, and easy to make for coffee or an everyday dessert.
50 min·easyVegetarianDairy-free