Mark Bittman

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Grilled or Broiled Beef Kebabs

There’s something festive about skewers, and they’re also a smart way to grill.

Chili from Scratch

A highly seasoned favorite. To speed things up, use canned beans.

Stir-Fried Beef with Basil and Chiles

A Thai-inspired dish that will get you hooked on stir-frying.

The Burger

Best with meat you grind yourself.

Mashed White Beans

An unexpected and even elegant side dish (I love that it can also be served cold, as a dip). You can make this with leftover cooked beans, canned beans, or frozen beans—in which case it will take 10 minutes—but if you cook dried beans this way, with these seasonings, they’ll be sensational. Other legumes you can prepare this way: chickpeas (allow for longer cooking time), flageolets.

Why Cooking Is The Best: Part Two

A hundred years ago, you cooked and you ate. You didn’t claim to be a vegetarian or a carnivore or a locavore. There was barely any marketing, and national brands were nonexistent. Fat, carbs, protein weren’t bad or good; they were food. Hardly anything contained more than one ingredient, because everything was an ingredient. How did we get so off course?

Quick Skillet Beans with Tomatoes

A fast, saucy dish that’s just as good warm or at room temperature as it is hot.

Cauliflower Gratin with Blue Cheese

Roasted cauliflower is sensational, and this recipe gives you plenty of options.

Panfried Breaded Eggplant

A classic: crisp and crumbly outside, super-tender and creamy within.

Ma Po Tofu

This is not a stir-fry but a simmered dish, easy and fast. The cooking time totals about 10 minutes, and the preparation time is about the same, so make sure to start a pot of rice before anything else.

Curried Butternut Squash

A shortcut braise that turns sturdy vegetables into a saucy stew.

Garlicky Sweet Potatoes

These are a real treat, sweet and savory at once, and quick to make too.

Green Beans with Crisp Shallots

Boiling and then sautéing vegetables gives you more control over doneness.

Maple-Glazed Carrots

Braising vegetables takes virtually no effort, and the delicious sauce makes itself.

Grilled or Broiled Tomatoes

Extreme heat yields super-juicy results and a new way to enjoy tomatoes.

Corn on the Cob with Chile Butter

With flavored butter, you do virtually nothing and everyone is impressed.

Rosemary-Roasted Potatoes

One technique that works for any root—and many other—vegetables.

Stir-Fried Cabbage with Ginger

This recipe is so versatile you might dub it “stir-fried anything with ginger.”

Pan-Cooked (Sautéed) Mushrooms

Not just mushrooms, but virtually any vegetable takes well to sautéing.

Steamed Asparagus

Steaming is easier than boiling, more easily controlled, and perfect for asparagus.