This stovetop method of cooking chicken breasts in a sazón-heavy marinade produces juicy, fragrant, well-seasoned meat. It definitely stands up as a main course, but leftovers make for great additions to salads and tacos. The breasts benefit from an overnight marinade, which will make the meat juicier and more flavorful, but the dish can come together in 45 minutes if you’re short on time. This recipe also works great with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Because they’re often thinner and fattier, they may cook a little more quickly than breasts.

Cumin-heavy sazón is among the most commonly used spice blends in Puerto Rican cooking, and is also popular throughout Latin America. This seasoning is an incredible cheat, and is typically found in the international section of most supermarkets. Commercial brands are flavor bombs pumped with monosodium glutamate — MSG — that can make almost anything taste better. While I’m not MSG-phobic, I do prefer making my own blends to control both the flavor and the salt content. This is my take on sazón, minus the MSG, and with turmeric added along with the standard annatto to imbue dishes with a golden hue. Adaptation is encouraged based on preference, and if you can’t find ground annatto then sweet paprika is a perfect substitute. It will keep in an air-tight container for years.

For a fantastic meal that can be ready in 20 minutes, toss together seared gnocchi and sautéed brussels sprouts with lemon zest, red-pepper flakes and brown butter. The key to this recipe is how you cook the store-bought gnocchi: No need to boil. Just sear them until they are crisp and golden on the outside, and their insides will stay chewy. The resulting texture is reminiscent of fried dough. Shelf-stable and refrigerated gnocchi will both work here, but the shelf-stable ones do crisp up a bit better.

Bone-in chicken thighs are a favorite go-to for weeknight meals, as they cook relatively quickly, are versatile and impart a lot of flavor in a short amount of time. Here, they are browned, then braised in a fragrant tomato-coconut broth flecked with ginger, garlic, cumin and cinnamon. The result is a rich, stew-like dish, which works nicely served over white rice. By cooking the rice as the chicken finishes braising, you can get everything on the table at the same time. A good squeeze of lime is not required, but it does give the dish a bright finish. Serve any remaining sauce at the table, with crusty bread for sopping.

Juicy strips of beef smothered in a sour cream mushroom gravy - a quick dinner everyone will love! KEY STEPS: Sear beef super quickly for maximum juiciness and use a large skillet (for quick sear + fast sauce reduction). Stroganoff calls for good beef but if you only have a budget cut, use this easy Chinese method to tenderise the beef (it's called "velveting"). It's life changing - and perfect for Stroganoff.

Using store-bought puff pastry instead of homemade pie crust for a chicken potpie might seem like cheating, but rest assured it’s for the best, adding shatteringly flaky layers that even the best pie crust lacks. This recipe calls for bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts or thighs, so that the chicken fat rendered from searing can serve as the base of the gravy. But for a weeknight-friendly version, shredded rotisserie chicken can be used instead. Just use a tablespoon or two of butter to replace the fat. (A note about store-bought puff pastry: No two brands are the same size, but know that all you need is to cover the surface of the skillet. If it’s larger than expected, feel free to trim or crimp the edges like a pie, and if it seems too small or is a strange shape, simply roll the pastry on a lightly floured surface to increase its dimensions.)

This Mango Lassi recipe makes better-than-restaurant lassi with six easy-to-find ingredients. The base of the recipe is strong while allowing you to adjust to taste according to your mangoes. Tested to perfection!

Luxurious, warm and filling, this classic soup checks all of the comfort food boxes. As the creamy Yukon gold potatoes cook, they release starches and thicken the broth. Half of the soup is blended for a contrast of textures, while the smoked paprika adds warmth, complementing the flavors of the bacon. Use as much cream as you like, but don’t be shy with it — it’s a welcome companion that doesn’t weigh down the soup, but rather lightens it. To serve, set up a toppings bar as you would for baked potatoes.

This foolproof recipe yields perfectly tender and delicious black beans. Make a pot and enjoy black beans all week! No need to soak the beans before using. Recipe yields 6 cups beans (the equivalent of 4 cans); you can freeze leftovers or cut the recipe in half.

Sweet and tender shredded pork just like the one from Café Rio. Perfect for burritos, salads and tacos!

This stellar soup is reviving and cozy, made in one pot, and ready in 30 minutes. It starts with ginger-scented chicken-cilantro meatballs that are browned, then simmered in a fragrant coconut milk broth that’s inspired by tom kha gai, a Thai chicken-coconut soup seasoned with lemongrass, galangal, makrut lime leaves and chile. A heap of spinach is added for color and flavor, and a squeeze of lime adds brightness and punch. The soup is brothy, so serve it over rice or another grain to make it a full meal.

Mexican refried beans are a cinch to make at home on a weeknight thanks to some staple pantry items and a few basic fresh ingredients. Buttery canned pinto beans are perfect in this dish, breaking down into a creamy, silky mixture. (Black beans would also work great.) While the beans are often fried in lard or bacon drippings, this vegetarian version builds flavor with caramelized onion, bell pepper, garlic and smoked paprika instead. Pico de gallo adds a touch of tang to counter the rich beans. Pan-frying the wrapped burritos guarantees a golden, irresistibly crispy exterior and an interior that oozes with melted cheese.

I grew up on these – my dad used to make these in his bakery. They’re just delicious to eat – soft in the mouth, slightly chewy, and with a beautiful sweetness from the strawberries.

All the goodness of lemon meringue pie tastes even better with cranberries in the mix. It’s not just their fruity tartness that makes them so appealing, the little berries are also full of pectin, which helps set the filling so that it’s soft yet sliceable. And, of course, they give the pie a bright magenta hue. To show it off, you can dollop the whipped egg whites only in the center, but the unanchored meringue may slide around when you cut wedges. You can cover the top completely to keep the meringue in place and surprise guests with the brilliant pink filling.

Banana curry might sound a little strange, but it's delicious. Thick banana slices are sauteed with coconut oil until extra sweet and caramelized. They're cooked with your favorite curry spices, cauliflower, sweet potato, and chickpeas for a healthy and filling vegetarian curry.

Caribbean curries often have a mild sweetness, usually from fruit. The banana flavor here is very subtle; you needn't worry about your dinner tasting like dessert.

Deliciously tender and succulent apricot chicken and soft creamy rice. This warm and comforting one-pot meal is the perfect family dinner for the cooler nights!

The next time you're looking for a hearty dinner, turn to your trusty slow cooker! This beef biryani recipe is made with brown rice instead of white basmati rice, but still has all flavours you know and love. Traditionally, biryani is slow cooked over an open fire in a leather pot, but in this recipe, we cooked the biryani in the slow cooker.

Juicy, spicy and finger licking good. This spicy upside down pineapple chicken makes for a delicious meal, with only 15 minutes preparation to get it into the slow-cooker.

Say hello to our slow cooker Hainanese-style chicken and rice! Traditionally, this Hainanese recipe is a dish of whole chicken poached in a light garlic and ginger broth, served with rice also cooked in the broth. To make things easier, our Hainanese chicken rice recipe uses chicken Marylands, instead of a whole bird. Chicken thighs can be used too. Plus microwave coconut rice.

Moroccan soup