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5 Ingredients or Fewer

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.

Zingy Red Sauce

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.

Crispy Fish Sticks

Look for thicker fish fillets, which will give you the ideal breading-to-fish ratio.

Master Buttermilk Brine

Brined birds taste better. Here's our all-purpose buttermilk-based recipe, along with four souped-up variations.

Cantaloupe in Pink Peppercorn Syrup

Jeremiah Bacon, The Macintosh, Charleston, SC: "Infused simple syrup rounds out the flavor of cantaloupe for this quick dessert."

Garlicky Mayonnaise

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 .

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.

Grilled Citrus Chicken

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.

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.

Yogurt and Sumac Sauce

Feel free to experiment with other seasonings besides sumac, like lemon zest, za'atar, or crushed red pepper flakes.

Feta Dill Dip

We upped the creaminess factor but not the fat by mixing feta with nonfat yogurt.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Blue Hawaiian

One of the few vodka-based tiki drinks.
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