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.
80 recipes· photographs on this page are AI-generated images of our own recipes
LebaneseMujaddara (Lebanese Lentils & Rice with Caramelized Onions)
Hearty, inexpensive Lebanese mujaddara: tender green/brown lentils cooked with rice and spiced with cumin, topped with deeply caramelized onions. A filling, budget-friendly one-pot meal that stores and stretches well.
1 hr·easyVeganVegetarian
Sri LankanParippu (Sri Lankan Red Lentil Curry)
A classic Sri Lankan red lentil curry (parippu) cooked with coconut milk and finished with a hot spice tempering. Bright, comforting, and a staple served with rice or roti.
45 min·easyVeganVegetarian
PakistaniBaingan Aloo Bharta (Smoky Roasted Eggplant with Potatoes & Peas)
A classic Pakistani bharta: charred eggplant mashed with spiced tomatoes, onions, tender potatoes and peas. Robust, smoky and roomy enough to satisfy anyone who expects a hearty meal.
55 min·mediumVegetarianGluten-free
South IndianVen Pongal (South Indian Rice & Moong Dal Porridge)
A simple, filling South Indian breakfast made from rice and split yellow moong dal. Cheap, creamy and spiced with black pepper, cumin and ginger — feeds four for very little.
30 min·easyVegetarianGluten-free
- Tunisian
Ojja Tunisienne — One‑Pan Tunisian Egg & Tomato Skillet
A budget-friendly, one‑pan Tunisian tomato stew finished with eggs. Uses canned tomatoes, onion and pantry spices to feed four for very little — served with crusty bread for dipping.
35 min·easyVegetarian
- Spanish
Arroz con Leche (Spanish Rice Pudding)
A creamy, gently spiced Spanish rice pudding flavored with cinnamon and lemon peel — comfort food that’s simple to make at home and delicious warm or chilled.
50 min·easyVegetarianGluten-free
- Southern Italian
Uova in Purgatorio (Southern‑Italian Eggs in Spicy Tomato Sauce)
Poached eggs simmered gently in a bright, garlicky tomato sauce and served with toasted rustic bread — a classic Southern‑Italian brunch that's quick, comforting, and great for sharing.
30 min·easyVegetarian
- Greek
Gemista (Yemista) — Oven-Baked Stuffed Tomatoes & Peppers
Oven-baked Greek stuffed tomatoes and peppers filled with a fragrant rice-herb mixture. A naturally gluten-free, vegetarian main that reheats well and showcases simple Mediterranean pantry ingredients.
2 hr·mediumVegetarianVegan
- Syrian
Syrian Mujaddara with Caramelized Onions, Toasted Pine Nuts and Yogurt Sauce
Hearty Syrian mujaddara — tender brown lentils and fluffy rice seasoned with cumin and cinnamon, topped with deeply caramelized onions, toasted pine nuts and a bright garlic-yogurt sauce. Satisfying, earthy, and everything a meatless main should be.
1 hr 5 min·easyVegetarian
- Ethiopian
Atakilt Wat — Ethiopian Cabbage, Potato & Carrot Stew (Budget)
A simple, inexpensive Ethiopian vegetable stew of cabbage, potatoes and carrots simmered with turmeric and warm spices. Hearty, vegan and easy to stretch to feed four on a tight budget.
50 min·easyVegetarianVegan
- Turkish
Ezogelin Çorbası (Hearty Turkish Red Lentil & Bulgur Soup)
A comforting, freckled red-lentil soup from Turkey — thick, savory and finished with a hot pepper-mint butter. It’s a one-pot, filling bowl that works as a simple weeknight dinner.
45 min·easyVegetarian
- Ghanaian
Kontomire (Ghanaian Cocoyam-Leaf) Stew — Vegan
A palm-oil–rich Ghanaian leafy stew made with kontomire (cocoyam or spinach), garden egg (or eggplant) and tomatoes. Serve it with boiled yam or rice for a simple, deeply flavored plant-based meal.
1 hr·mediumVeganVegetarian
- Indonesian
Sayur Asem (Indonesian Tamarind Vegetable Soup)
A light, sour vegetable soup from Java that feeds four on a budget — built on tamarind, seasonal vegetables and peanuts for texture. Economical, vegan, and easy to stretch with rice.
50 min·easyVegetarianVegan
- Bengali
Cholar Dal (Bengali Chana Dal with Coconut)
A classic Bengali split-chickpea dal cooked with coconut, whole spices, ghee and a touch of jaggery. It keeps and reheats well, making a reliable make-ahead dish for rice or luchi across the week.
1 hr·mediumVegetarian
- Vietnamese
Canh Chua Chay — Vietnamese Sweet–Sour Vegetarian Soup
A bright, plant-based version of the classic Vietnamese sweet–sour soup: tangy tamarind broth with pineapple, tomato, okra and pan-fried tofu. Light, quick, and great with rice or vermicelli.
45 min·easyVeganVegetarian
- Pakistani
Masoor Dal with Jeera (Cumin) Rice — Budget Pakistani Lentils & Rice
A simple, cheap Pakistani-style red lentil curry (masoor dal) finished with a hot cumin tempering, served with fragrant jeera rice — filling, nutritious and easy to stretch to four servings.
45 min·easyVegetarianVegan
- Chicago
Chicago Crumb Cake (Big Streusel Coffee Cake)
A home-style Chicago bakery classic: a tender, lightly tangy vanilla cake buried under a thick, crunchy cinnamon-brown-sugar crumb topping. Great with coffee and simple to make ahead.
1 hr 15 min·easyVegetarian
- 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
- Jamaican
Jamaican Vegetarian Stew Peas with Coconut and Potato Dumplings
A classic island comfort—rich, coconut-simmered red kidney beans with sweet potato and soft flour dumplings (spinners). Hearty, well-spiced and unmistakably Jamaican without any meat.
1 hr 20 min·mediumVegetarian
- Southern US
Old-Fashioned Southern Banana Pudding with Meringue
Layered banana pudding of cooked vanilla custard, sliced bananas and vanilla wafers, finished with a lightly toasted meringue — a classic Southern home dessert that's great for gatherings and make-ahead serving.
50 min·mediumVegetarian
- Mexican
Arroz con Leche (Mexican-Style Rice Pudding)
A creamy, cinnamon-scented home-style Mexican rice pudding—simple pantry ingredients, stovetop method, and a favorite for serving warm or chilled.
45 min·easyVegetarian
- Argentine
Guiso de Lentejas (Argentine Lentil Stew)
A humble, one-pot Argentine-style lentil stew — filling, cheap, and perfect for feeding four. Hearty vegetables, a touch of smoked paprika and lemon brighten the earthy lentils.
1 hr·easyVegetarian
- Polish
Sałatka jarzynowa (Polish vegetable salad) — make-ahead
A classic Polish mixed vegetable salad bound with mayonnaise and mustard. It keeps very well in the fridge and tastes better after a day, so it’s ideal for batch-cooking lunches and sides for the week.
50 min·easyVegetarian
- Spanish
Lentejas con Verduras y Pimentón (Spanish Lentil Stew)
A humble, budget-friendly Spanish lentil stew built on a simple sofrito and smoky pimentón. Hearty, filling and easy to stretch to feed four for very little.
55 min·easyVegetarianVegan