Cooked something genius lately? We want to hear about it.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Genius Recipes runs on community. Every week I humbly ask for your tips -- the game-changing recipes you just heard about at a dinner party or on Twitter, and the flawless ones you've been cooking for years. And you deliver. (Look at all the great stuff Food52ers have found above!)
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How can we make guacamole any other way, since LL Stone and Caitlin Freeman (and Roberto Santibañez) showed us this one? Thanks to arielleclementine and Yotam Ottolenghi, now we make polenta from fresh corn in the summer, because we can. And if it weren't for mikeficus and Francis Mallmann, most of us would have no idea that a potato can (and should) be dominoed. Yes, dominoed.
So this is your official reminder: keep them coming! A genius seafood technique? Or one for mushrooms, or okra, or cherries? The cookie or cocktail that made you a local legend? We've got 93 (!) Genius Recipes under our belts -- who knows what else might be out there?
Got a genius recipe to share -- from a classic cookbook, an online source, or anywhere, really? Please send it my way (and tell me what's so smart about it) at [email protected] (or just tell us in the comments!).
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Written by: Kristen Miglore
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57 Comments
RavensFeast
April 5, 2014
Even though we're at the tail end of citrus season, these two recipes from Bi-Rite market are brilliant. I think you'd appreciate them: http://www.ourfoodshed.com/blog/2011/11/29/246-Sam-s-Sundae
http://www.ourfoodshed.com/blog/2011/11/18/247-Citrus-Olive-Oil-Cake
http://www.ourfoodshed.com/blog/2011/11/18/247-Citrus-Olive-Oil-Cake
deanna1001
August 20, 2013
I just rediscovered this incredibly simple corn pudding and think it qualifies as a genius recipe! http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/26/the-temporary-vegetarian-the-simplest-corn-pudding/?_r=1
Birtiledge
July 31, 2013
Adding pumpkin to porridge changed breakfast for me. I've tried it 20 different ways and it's all gooood:
http://straighttalkingvegetables.com/2013/03/27/pumpkin-pie-porridge/
http://straighttalkingvegetables.com/2013/03/27/pumpkin-pie-porridge/
Tmersky
July 29, 2013
Breakthrough Polenta from Best Recipes of 1999 is incredible. Easy and foolproof.
Butter a large dutch oven, two cups of cornmeal and from 6 to 12 cups of chicken broth, depending on consistency desired. Add one tbl. butter or olive oil and sale. stirl. Bake at 350 uncovered for 1 hr 20 minutes. give a very good stir and bake 10 minutes more. you can add sage (yummy) or cheese. Fabulous!
Butter a large dutch oven, two cups of cornmeal and from 6 to 12 cups of chicken broth, depending on consistency desired. Add one tbl. butter or olive oil and sale. stirl. Bake at 350 uncovered for 1 hr 20 minutes. give a very good stir and bake 10 minutes more. you can add sage (yummy) or cheese. Fabulous!
sara D.
July 23, 2013
Yum on this: Steamed brocollini and carrots: Wash well (but don't peel the young carrots. Set in a glass pie pan with a little water. Generously salt and pepper. Drizzle with sesame oil. Cover glass pie pan with plastic wrap. Microwave on high for about two minutes. Remove from microwave adn let sit to steam for about 5 minutes before removing plastic wrap. This is delicious and nutritious.
sara D.
July 23, 2013
Oh - Credit where it is due: I should add that my friend Nancy told me how to do this. Also, you want the carrots to be just past crisp-cooked... fork tender.
tracycooksinaustin
July 12, 2013
A new twist on a classic greek style 'lasagna'
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/07/pastitsio-my-version-of-greek-classic.html
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/07/pastitsio-my-version-of-greek-classic.html
anne E.
July 15, 2013
can you please stop volunteering your own recipes on this thread? i mean really.
tracycooksinaustin
July 2, 2013
An old fashioned, old school, way back in the day classic dessert of simple biscuits baked in sweet milk for a delicious easy sweet happiness making treat.
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/07/biscuits-baked-in-sweet-milk-completely.html
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/07/biscuits-baked-in-sweet-milk-completely.html
tracycooksinaustin
June 28, 2013
corn on the cob in a pressure cooker, 3 minutes between you and nirvana
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/corn-on-cob-pressure-cooker-style.html
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/corn-on-cob-pressure-cooker-style.html
anne E.
July 15, 2013
i count 10 recipes you posted. you really think corn on the cob cooked in a pressure cooker is genius?!
tracycooksinaustin
June 28, 2013
an old standby, meatballs with lucious gravy. sometimes you need it.
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/meatballs-baked-and-with-gravy.html
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/meatballs-baked-and-with-gravy.html
tracycooksinaustin
June 22, 2013
FAST and easy and light and quick Vanilla Sponge cupcake (cakette) with icing of your choice.
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/quick-and-easy-vanilla-cupcakes.html
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/quick-and-easy-vanilla-cupcakes.html
tracycooksinaustin
June 21, 2013
easiesst and foolproof way to cook brown rice. tender and chewy and nutty and perfect http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/brown-rice-in-pressure-cooker.html
tracycooksinaustin
June 21, 2013
easy southern style tender biscuits, a 3 ingredients and a leap of faith.
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/my-best-southern-biscuits-just-make.html
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/my-best-southern-biscuits-just-make.html
tracycooksinaustin
June 17, 2013
It's a salad. Cauliflower and bacon and lettuce. No cooking, full flavor. DELICIOUS and easy
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/cauliflower-salad.html
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/cauliflower-salad.html
Better W.
June 14, 2013
This quick coconut saffron ice cream is amazing: http://betterwithlemon.com/2013/04/27/quick-dairy-free-coconut-saffron-ice-cream/ . And it's a genius recipe because it requires only two cans and some saffron. The ice cream comes out really creamy and it's incredibly easy to scoop out, even straight out of the freezer.
inpatskitchen
June 11, 2013
Here's one I discovered last year...perfect for vegetarians or those with seafood allergies
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2012/02/poor-man-shrimp-cocktail
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2012/02/poor-man-shrimp-cocktail
tracycooksinaustin
June 11, 2013
Garlic Pull Apart Cheese Bread. Starts with a rustic Italian style dough, then some melting butter, some rolling and some devouring a delicious indulgence. Yeah, there's never ANY left. 90-120 minutes, you can do it from scratch. It's sublime. http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/06/garlic-pull-apart-cheese-bread-my.html
PRST
June 10, 2013
Cooks Illustrated published a recipe for Almond Biscotti in the November 2012 issue. I've made a lot of biscotti in my lifetime and without a doubt this recipe has the absolute best texture and taste. The secret is using ground almonds to make a texture that is crunchy but not jaw-breaking (like the ones Italians like) or soft and buttery (like so many US recipes). As far as I'm concerned this is a GENIUS recipe and has room for so many flavor variations. Believe me. Try it.
breadwhisperer
June 7, 2013
Dorie Greenspan's Cottage Cheese Pancakes! Easy to make, with ingredients usually on hand, they taste great even with no syrup. I usually snack on one of these slightly sweet, custard-like pancakes while cooking the rest. This is the only recipe my boys wanted to learn before going off to college!
pigisyummy
June 4, 2013
Thomas Keller's technique for seared duck breast is foolproof. You get the crispiest skin with perfectly pink meat.
http://food52.com/recipes/21267-duck-breast-with-kohlrabi-mash-butter-braised-brussels-sprouts-vino-drizzle
http://food52.com/recipes/21267-duck-breast-with-kohlrabi-mash-butter-braised-brussels-sprouts-vino-drizzle
savorthis
June 4, 2013
We've been obsessed with a dish we call Caramelized Spiced Carrots with Goat Cheese Snow. The sticky, sweet flavorful carrots get a crumbled, herbed goat cheese granita on top which slowly melts and the melding of flavors is amazing. Plus it looks cool: http://food52.com/recipes/22118-caramelized-spiced-carrots-with-goat-cheese-snow
Bubba
June 3, 2013
America's Test Kitchen High-Roast Chicken and Potatoes. Best roasted chicken technique...and gives you an automatic side dish.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/312785
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfu_zZ3u9ys
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/312785
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfu_zZ3u9ys
SoupLady
June 3, 2013
From Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone:
Green Lentils, Hard-cooked Eggs & Toast (spinach might be in the title). It's genius because it's simple but complex and sings with buttery harmony. From the Splendid Table How to Eat Supper: Refried Beans with Cinnamon & Clove. Who knew that you successfully make refried beans reminiscent of pastitsio? They are amazing. Paula Wolfert's Cooking from the Eastern Mediterranean: Yogurt, Tahini & Summer Squash dip. An unusual combination that works beautifully. From Marion Cunningham's The Breakfast Book: Irish Oatmeal Muffins. Soak steel cut oats overnight in buttermilk and they make the most moist muffins filled with oaty deliciousness.
Good luck, Kristen! Genius Recipes is my favorite Food 52 column and I'm excited to see such great recommendations from everyone.
Green Lentils, Hard-cooked Eggs & Toast (spinach might be in the title). It's genius because it's simple but complex and sings with buttery harmony. From the Splendid Table How to Eat Supper: Refried Beans with Cinnamon & Clove. Who knew that you successfully make refried beans reminiscent of pastitsio? They are amazing. Paula Wolfert's Cooking from the Eastern Mediterranean: Yogurt, Tahini & Summer Squash dip. An unusual combination that works beautifully. From Marion Cunningham's The Breakfast Book: Irish Oatmeal Muffins. Soak steel cut oats overnight in buttermilk and they make the most moist muffins filled with oaty deliciousness.
Good luck, Kristen! Genius Recipes is my favorite Food 52 column and I'm excited to see such great recommendations from everyone.
tenuta M.
June 30, 2013
The very best Deborah Madison recipe out of The Savory Way cookbook is for Cottage Cheese and Currant Pancakes. We call them Lemonade Pancakes. Sheer genius AND good for you!
tracycooksinaustin
June 3, 2013
croissants, as flaky and delicious as ANY bakery but at home and with no turning, just my cool trick to get hundreds of layers
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/03/croissants-i-did-it-i-did-it-and-it-was.html
http://www.tracycooksinaustin.com/2013/03/croissants-i-did-it-i-did-it-and-it-was.html
inpatskitchen
June 1, 2013
Found this on The Kitchn a couple of years ago..we just love it!
http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-jennie-cooks-zucchini-b-121770
http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-jennie-cooks-zucchini-b-121770
Marian B.
June 1, 2013
If you smash avocado onto toast, it tastes like magic. I call it "avocado toast"!
QueenSashy
May 31, 2013
I happen to be a huge fan of Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Marja Vongerichten's mac and cheese (http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/marjas-mac-and-cheese). It's sits in a class of its own.
Nomnomnom
May 31, 2013
Thank you for asking! I would nominate: Madhur Jaffrey's Red Lentil Soup with Mustard Seeds and Curry Leaves (from "World Vegetarian") and Mark Bittman's Stir Fried Asparagus (from "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian"). Both of these were game changers for me, not because of the ingredients, but because the techniques (simple to employ) make all the difference. By the way, I love this series. Keep the genius recipes coming!
boulangere
May 31, 2013
First Night in Florence Spaghetti sort of changed my life.
http://food52.com/recipes/14030-first-night-in-florence-spaghetti
http://food52.com/recipes/14030-first-night-in-florence-spaghetti
Jess D.
May 30, 2013
I love sweet potatoes and one of the easiest ways to cook them quickly on a weeknight is in the microwave. I score them and then pop them in for a few minutes. They're easily then made into patties, which are delicious on their own, as a burger, or on top of salads! Here's my cooking sweet potato video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wx-LQcKDfs and the recipe for the patties here: http://www.cooksmarts.com/cs-blog/2013/05/sweet-potato-chickpea-veggie-burger-patty-recipe/
gravy L.
May 30, 2013
Tonight, I'm mixing up another batch of Peter Reinhart's Pizza Napoletana dough that uses the delayed-fermentation technique from The Bread Baker's Apprentice. I use this pizza dough for my grilled pizza. It's simply fantastic and foolproof, plus the dough freezes great for three months.
myartofbeinghere
May 30, 2013
I am crazy about Darina Allen's Rice Pudding recipe from Forgotten Skills of Cooking. It is incredibly simple - bakes in the oven, so no stirring, and it is delicious!
Hippy I.
May 30, 2013
Nigella Lawson has a brilliant recipe for Linguini,Lemon, Thyme and Mushroom. It's one of my favorite dishes.
Hippy I.
May 30, 2013
My "best of the best" original Salsa! I live in Texas, we all have our favorites and I created my favorite! It's fresh, it's spicy, it's colorful and its tasty.
Cade
May 30, 2013
How about one ingredient? That's about all I can handle these days. Provolone cheese slices. They can be smoked, not smoked, cheap, expensive, it doesn't really matter. Take one slice of provolone cheese and put it in a nonstick pan. Don't freak out when it disintegrates into a mass of bubbles. Be patient. When it looks brown through the white bubbles, gently slide a spatula underneath and flip. When it's brown on both sides, transfer to a cupcake pan and push into one of the cupcake holders with a wooden spoon. Repeat with all the other slices. Voila! Toasted cheese cups to fill with whatever you want, or just to eat. Gotta use a nonstick pan. I've never tried it with cast iron or Le Creuset. Someday I'll make deconstructed lasagna with this as my shell.
Gail V.
May 30, 2013
My mind was blown by Joy the Baker's polenta with tomato-basil sauce. It is utterly simple, total comfort food, and so easy. I had no idea you could bake polenta and have it turn out that great, and the simple tomato basil topping for it is really good. Another one of hers that has been in my rotation since I discovered it is the crunchy kale-coconut bowl.... big flake unsweetened coconut and kale are drizzled with a combination of sriracha, toasted sesame oil, and soy sauce, and baked for 10 minutes or so, and served over farro. It doesn't sound like comfort food, but that is what it has become - it's super easy and everyone who tries it likes it, coconut fan or not.
Christina @.
May 30, 2013
My 5 Minute Lentil Soup Recipe is as delicious as it is quick, healthy and simple: http://www.christinascucina.com/search/label/Five%20Minute%20Lentil%20Soup
stacey_ballis
May 30, 2013
My go-to in summer is chilled blender soups. You can make with nearly any good quality frozen vegetable, but I especially love it with peas. Thaw a bag of frozen peas. Put in your blender. Add water to just the level of the peas, the tops should be sticking out. Blend until very smooth. If it isn't smooth enough, add a little more water. Feel free to pass thru a chinois if you want it perfectly velvety. Add salt and pepper to taste. I serve chilled with various garnishes from greek yogurt and celery leaves to chiffonade of any green herb you like...delish with chervil, dill, mint, basil and chives. Creme fraiche and sour cream do well, as does a sprinkle of smoked paprika or espelette for a little kick. Buttery crunchy croutons do not go amiss, nor chopped marcona almonds. You can use this technique with frozen or leftover cooked corn, cauliflower, broccoli, green chickpeas...whatever you like! Serve chilled or hot. Make a day ahead for parties.
atxdori
May 30, 2013
Dorie Greenspan's lentil soup is perfect, so much more elegant than the sum of its humble parts.
I also make Silvena Rowe's za'atar grilled chicken from an old Bon Appetit issue over and over, it is wildly delicious.
And finally, the grilled pork tenderloin with cherry salsa, also from Bon Appetit, is another simple grilled meal with an addictive salsa made from fresh cherries. The marinade, too, really comes through and is unusually good.
I also make Silvena Rowe's za'atar grilled chicken from an old Bon Appetit issue over and over, it is wildly delicious.
And finally, the grilled pork tenderloin with cherry salsa, also from Bon Appetit, is another simple grilled meal with an addictive salsa made from fresh cherries. The marinade, too, really comes through and is unusually good.
Niknud
May 30, 2013
Ooo! Ooo! The Garlicky Sesame-Cured Broccoli Salad from the NY Times. Seriously, a raw broccoli salad. Not only does it take about five minutes to put together, but it tastes better (much better) if you abandon it on your counter for a while - say while you're putting together the rest of your dinner. And although I confess that if you put garlic, sesame oil and cumin on a piece of drywall I would probably go back for seconds, this receipe will ensure I never look at raw broccoli the same.
Rhonda35
May 31, 2013
I'd forgotten about this recipe - used to make it all the time - thanks for bringing it back to me!
darksideofthespoon
May 30, 2013
Thomas Kellers' Rubbed and Glazed Pork Spare Ribs from Ad Hoc At Home. So good - and simple!
arleneivana
May 30, 2013
Just went through my list of favorites and three stand out that are perfect on their own with no substitutions or changes, plus they're easy to make and require few ingredients. First is Michael Symon’s Spicy Tomato Blue Cheese Soup, which is easy to make and totally different from the standard tomato soups out there. Plus I usually find the cheese he calls for in the fancy cheese section at Whole Foods. Another is Melissa Clark's "deconstructed turkish dumplings" (it's worth finding aleppo pepper). I originally saw the recipe in the NYT but it was reprinted it the book In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite. The final one is from Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Suppers: Black Beans & Coconut Rice with pickled onions. I hope you feature one of them!
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