Short Recipes for Longer Days

Hi, all. I’m filling in for Emily, who often asks me what I actually make for dinner when I’m not creating new recipes. (When I am, it’s sometimes cake for dinner.)

The one even recently: The meals have to come together quickly. The longer days of spring are pretty, but the later-setting sun makes me lose track of time. Even if I had hoped to roast a whole chicken or bake this creamy spinach-artichoke lasagna, I find myself glancing at the clock and gasping. I thought I still had plenty of time to cook! How did it get so late?

Having lost the minutes designed for heating up the oven, I opt for recipes that come together in the time it takes to make rice or cook pasta, and feel like a whole meal alongside stir-fried vegetables or a simple salad. Speedy recipes don’t come at the expense of taste. They may not develop the deep caramelization of slowly roasted anything, but quick-cooking on the stovetop or grill often issues the kind of freshness we crave this time of year.

Also Read: How to Make Indian Butter Chicken