Mark Bittman

Caramelizing onions with bell pepper, tomato paste, garlic, and spices sets the stage for a shortcut vegetarian chili.

This muffin-tin method gets you pretty close to the elegance of poached eggs, with the added benefit of all the eggs cooking at the same time.

This quick cassoulet-inspired dinner uses ham and cannellini beans instead of the duck, sausage, and traditional flageolets.

When you store this batter in the fridge (for up to 2 days!) every day can be pancake day.

More work than a steak seasoned on the outside, but so worth it.

Not that there’s anything wrong with coleslaw and sauerkraut, but cabbage has so much more potential.

This technique is nothing short of amazing—even if you're finicky about your pickles.

The moderate heat of jalapeños is a perfect counterbalance to this rich filling, a combination of cream cheese and smoked Gouda. The results are nothing like the breaded, deep-fried apps you get in sports bars.

The texture of shrimp cooked in the Instant Pot is such a pleasant surprise: You’d think the shrimp might be tough or mushy, but it’s firm, tender, and briny.

This hearty Alsatian classic is perfect for the Instant Pot. The meat is fork-tender, and its fat virtually melts away, adding richness to the sauerkraut and cabbage.

Cooking ribs under pressure means they get incredibly tender without falling apart or shredding—in a fraction of the time as braising and with no attention needed.

The ingredients of this classic Portuguese soup (namely chorizo, kale, and potatoes) meld beautifully under pressure, so you only need water—no stock—to get a savory, rich broth.

A simple pie with a biscuit-like, no-roll crust that is incredibly versatile.

Eggs make for a hearty paella—no meat required!

Fish and meat often figure prominently in the Vietnamese meal-in-a-bowl soup known as pho, but there are traditional and fine vegetarian options, chief among them this broth made from soy sauce and a blend of spices like star anise and cinnamon. All that’s required is a willingness to invest in making the broth and a few additional toppings and you’ll be handsomely rewarded.

Fermented black soy beans—a Chinese cousin to miso paste—are the key to this flavorful weeknight stir-fry.

To me, chili powder need not be superhot, but you can change that if you like—just add cayenne or some spicy dried chiles (most of the common dried red ones you find are pretty fiery). But it is easy enough to add heat at any stage of cooking or even at the table, whereas the warm, welcoming flavor of good chili powder is hard to come by. When you’re buying dried chiles, look for those that are not brittle; they should retain some moisture and even be a bit soft.

Takes the fear out of frying with a foolproof explanation and a universally loved snack as your reward.

Resting yeast-raised waffle batter overnight enhances their flavor and makes their texture wonderfully crisp and fluffy.