There are some forms of dishes you discover the world over. They’ve completely different names on their passports and are available in diverging kinds, however they share scrumptious fundamentals. The breaded cutlet — identified aliases embody katsu, schnitzel and Milanesa — is one in every of them, and a favourite of mine. So I used to be in heaven once I had rooster Milanese final week at a restaurant, the primary one I’ve had shortly, the cutlet golden and crisp, a wild heap of arugula salad on prime and a jaunty lemon wedge on the facet. It’s a full meal, and an ideal one at that.
You actually can Milanese (or katsu, or schnitzel) absolutely anything. The standard northern Italian dish is made with veal. Kay Chun’s version below makes use of flounder and provides avocado on the facet, for one thing lighter however no much less scrumptious. Chicken, pork, tofu, cauliflower: All might be sliced or pounded, breaded and fried, served with one thing acidic for perk.
Which is your favourite, and what else are you cooking? (Are you continue to cooking? Taking a breather?) Let me know what you’re as much as. I’m dearemily@nytimes.com, and I really like to listen to from you.
1. Fish Milanese
Kay Chun tops this irresistible dish with a lemony caper sauce, which you’ll skip if you happen to’re feeding children (together with the arugula — or no less than skip them if you happen to’re feeding my children specifically). As Kay factors out, leftovers make nice fish sandwiches.
2. Narjissiya With Asparagus, Halloumi and Sumac
This recipe from Reem Kassis is spring itself: asparagus, eggs and halloumi cheese, shortly cooked in the identical pan. She provides yogurt, sumac oil (straightforward to make) and pita chips; I’d do all three, however you’ll be able to choose and select as wanted. This is a wonderful dinner for 2 as is, however you would add grains, potatoes or extra greens on the facet to stretch it.
3. Pasta With Chopped Pesto and Peas
This sensible recipe by Ali Slagle, from her new cookbook, “I Dream of Dinner (So You Don’t Have To),” takes the weather of pesto sauce, and chops and mashes them on a reducing board — no blender, meals processor or mortar and pestle in sight. You get candy pops of taste from the frozen peas, which additionally make this dish a full meal.
4. Sticky Coconut Chicken and Rice
4 phrases which are scrumptious on their very own and much more attractive collectively: sticky, coconut, rooster, rice. On this one-pot meal from Kay Chun, boneless rooster thighs are browned after which cooked on prime of the rice, which emerges wealthy, creamy and gingery. Serve with sizzling sauce to stability the flavors.
5. Sopa de Fideo
On this recipe for the comforting Mexican basic, which comes from Jocelyn Ramirez, skinny, quick noodles are toasted after which simmered in tomato broth with greens. Go huge with garnishes: avocado, sautéed mushrooms, queso fresco, cooked potatoes, crema, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice or no matter else you’d like. Fideos — the noodles — are straightforward to seek out, however skinny spaghetti or vermicelli, damaged into smaller items, are good substitutes.
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