5 Ingredients or Fewer
Cucumber-Celery Margarita
By Alison Roman
Gingery Watermelon Paletas
A dollop of yogurt keeps these pops from being too icy, and we love the way the ginger adds a little spice.
By Susan Spungen
Zingy Red Sauce
By Alison Roman
Coal-Roasted Eggplants
Once you've charred them, you can drizzle these eggplants with your best extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with some coarse salt for a simple side. But they're even better paired with one of the three luscious sauces (Yogurt and Sumac Sauce , Smoky Tomato Sauce , or Lemon-Mint Sauce ) and some grilled flatbread or pita.
By Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer
Crispy Fish Sticks
Look for thicker fish fillets, which will give you the ideal breading-to-fish ratio.
By Sue Li
Master Buttermilk Brine
Brined birds taste better. Here's our all-purpose buttermilk-based recipe, along with four souped-up variations.
By Alison Roman
Cantaloupe in Pink Peppercorn Syrup
Jeremiah Bacon, The Macintosh, Charleston, SC: "Infused simple syrup rounds out the flavor of cantaloupe for this quick dessert."
By Jeremiah Bacon
Garlicky Mayonnaise
By Alison Roman
Chicken Under a Brick
Remember: Spatchcock is not a dirty word. In fact, it's the speediest, easiest way to grill a whole bird. Also known as butterflying, the technique (see above) exposes lots of skin directly to the heat, guaranteeing thorough browning and crisping— coaxed further by pressing with bricks. Spatchcocked chicken, delicious on its own, is also great Garlicky Mayonnaise , Charred Tomatillo Salsa Verde , or Zingy Red Sauce .
By Alison Roman
Whiskey Collins
This riff on a Tom Collins calls for Japanese whisky, which is known for being exceptionally balanced and smooth. Your favorite Scotch whisky is a good substitute.
By Ed Kenny
Grilled Citrus Chicken
By Alison Roman
Beer-Can Chicken
There's quite a bit of lore surrounding beer-can chicken, and for good reason. Just look at that burnished mahogany bird. The steam from the brew flavors the meat and keeps it moist. The can props the chicken up, so it roasts evenly—no scorching, no flipping, no stressing. And you get to drink some beer. We're believers.
By Alison Roman
Herb Grilled Chicken Wings
The seductively high ratio of skin to meat is what makes wings taste so good, and grilling takes full advantage of that. This herb marinade is bright and summery, and light enough to let the skin get nice and crisp.
By Alison Roman
Yogurt and Sumac Sauce
Feel free to experiment with other seasonings besides sumac, like lemon zest, za'atar, or crushed red pepper flakes.
By Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer
Feta Dill Dip
We upped the creaminess factor but not the fat by mixing feta with nonfat yogurt.
By Liza Schoenfein
Stuffed Dates
Dates are revered, and much enjoyed, in Morocco. Of the more than two hundred varieties that the country produces, large mejhoul dates are the ones used for special occasions and special recipes like these stuffed dates. Typically, the almond paste is much sweeter than in this recipe, and the stuffed date is rolled in sugar. I prefer to let the dates' natural and intense sweetness shine.
To make the dates festive, many Moroccan cooks work some food coloring—red, green, yellow, even blue—into the almond paste before stuffing it inside the dates.
By Jeff Koehler
Mint Tea
In North Africa (and Marseille!) mint tea is generally drunk enormously sweet—the kind of sweetness that makes you a bit thirsty—which is exactly how I like it. Start with 1/4 cup of sugar and add more if you want it sweeter. To avoid any bitterness, do not let the tea boil once the mint has been added. For an earthy, Tunisian touch, dry roast a handful of pine nuts and drop them in the glass just before serving.
By Jeff Koehler
Infinite Zest
Infinite Jest (1996)
By David Foster Wallace A Ten Commandments-size cast populates this rule-breaking modern classic, infamous for sprawling prose, endless footnotes,<sup>1</sup> and a madcap depiction of the future.<sup>2</sup> Confounding and delightful in equal measure, Jest takes place in the 'burbs of Boston,<sup>3</sup> between a halfway house and a nearby tennis academy. Wallace had one of his central characters take his own life, and in a tragic true-life twist, Wallace did the same, leaving behind a magnum opus that will be argued and digested for infinity. Serve up a tennis-ball-yellow cocktail that mimics the zest and bounce of one fallen literary legend.
By David Foster Wallace A Ten Commandments-size cast populates this rule-breaking modern classic, infamous for sprawling prose, endless footnotes,<sup>1</sup> and a madcap depiction of the future.<sup>2</sup> Confounding and delightful in equal measure, Jest takes place in the 'burbs of Boston,<sup>3</sup> between a halfway house and a nearby tennis academy. Wallace had one of his central characters take his own life, and in a tragic true-life twist, Wallace did the same, leaving behind a magnum opus that will be argued and digested for infinity. Serve up a tennis-ball-yellow cocktail that mimics the zest and bounce of one fallen literary legend.
By Tim Federle
French 75 Punch
A simple chunk of ice, such as one frozen in a loaf pan or bowl will suffice, but for a special, decorative touch, consider freezing orange wheels inside the ice.
By Kara Newman