It’s no secret that Bon Appétit editors cook a lot for work. So it should come as no surprise that we cook a lot during our off hours too. Here are the recipes we’re whipping up this month to get dinner on the table, entertain our friends, satisfy a sweet tooth, use up leftovers, and everything in between. For even more staff favorites, click here.
December 12
Sunday morning scones
I relish the ease of an all-cream scone. It can be whipped up half-asleep, perfect for a Sunday morning. Such was my mission last weekend, when we had the first snow of the year. I turned to this simple recipe and made a couple of tweaks—swapped in some buckwheat (40 grams) and cut the dough into six big triangles (instead of the 12 called for). Trader Joe’s 72% cacao chips excelled here. The scones were crusty and plush, with deep pockets of gooey chocolate. —Emma Laperruque, associate director of cooking
Warming soup for a cold week
One of the greatest gifts you can give your future self is a bag full of chicken bones. I’ve made a habit of stashing the carcass in the freezer any time I roast a chicken, and after making two birds for Friendsgiving a couple weeks ago, I did just that. This week I combined the frozen bones with some celery, onion, and carrots, made a big batch of stock, and used that to riff on Rick Martinez’s Lemony Chicken and Rice Soup (Avgolemono). I puréed some of the cooked veg in with the stock, one of my favorite hacks for adding bonus body and flavor to a broth. Bright and warming, it was the perfect thing for a rainy week. —Alaina Chou, commerce writer
It’ll take a couple of hours to make the homemade broth and cook a whole chicken (your house will smell amazing) for this soup recipe. If you’ve had a long day, use 2 quarts store-bought broth and shredded meat from a rotisserie chicken. Whatever method you choose, use the chicken breasts to make this amazing salad with crispy rice. Check out step-by-step photos here.
A bean salad that gets better with time
I’m fed up with salads that wilt the moment you dress them. I want ones that’ll last and even get better with time. In pursuit of some new staples, I tried out this Miso Edamame DBS (dense bean salad) from creator Violet Witchel’s Substack. You just chop up Persian cucs, scallions, red onion, herbs, and green cabbage (I used a fancy cone-headed one because that’s all my food coop had). Throw in a can of white beans, a bag of thawed edamame, and a vinegary miso dressing. This dressing acts like a marinade, imbuing the salad with savory oomph. And it tasted even better four days later. —Nina Moskowitz, associate editor, cooking
Gochujang-butter-braised tofu
This week I found myself hopping from holiday party to holiday party. When I finally had a moment to pause, I found a new comfort meal: senior test kitchen editor Shilpa Uskokovic’s Gochujang-Butter-Braised Tofu, which features spongy slices of tofu in a tangy, savory sauce soothed by a few pats of butter. It comes together in under 30 minutes, delivering a warm umami-packed bowl that’ll fuel you until the next winter festivity. —Jaia Clingham-David, research fellow
This deeply savory main is so easy and lightning fast, it gets dinner on the table in less than the time it takes to make rice.
December 5
Just-keeps-getting-better lentil salad
Sarah Jampel is a genius. If you’ve had the pleasure of baking her iconic No-Knead Focaccia, then you know. The Jampel-made recipe of the moment for me is her aptly named Just-Keeps-Getting-Better Lentil Salad. In it she combines kale with warm French lentils, which absorb the dressing as they cool. From there, infuse olive oil with crushed garlic, long strips of lemon peel, and chopped scallions. Eventually, cumin seeds and crushed red pepper flakes are added to the mix, which further round out the flavor. The result is a deeply savory, aromatic salad (that surely does keep getting better). —Carly Westerfield, associate manager, audience strategy
Here’s the answer to your question: “What can I make on Sunday night that will taste great for my desk lunch on Wednesday?”
Wipe-the-plate-clean butter paneer
This week Bon Appétit’s best new cookbooks of the year went live—a project I had been working on for months. Alongside the meaningful blurbs from staff and contributors, we published a collection of recipes from the cookbooks featured. I had been eyeing this Baked Butter Paneer ever since dog-earring it in Meera Sodha’s Dinner, and this week I finally got around to making it. Cubes of salty paneer get coated in Greek yogurt, aromatics, and lemon juice before they’re scorched in the oven. Then, canned tomatoes along with spices like Kashmiri chile powder and garam masala join the paneer and form the base of a robust sauce. Finishing with a good amount of heavy cream, kasoori methi, and a knob of butter makes for a creamy curry; I scooped every last bit up with warm garlic naan (the plate was sparkly clean). —Nina Moskowitz, associate editor, cooking
Endlessly comforting brussels sprout pasta
As darkness in the Northeast falls at 4 p.m. and the constant chill in the air becomes unbearable, the only thing I want to eat is pasta. My latest go-to is former BA staffer Kendra Vaculin’s super simple and endlessly comforting Brussels Sprout Pasta. I had the joy of eating the pasta months back when Kendra started development (which was during the warmer summer months), and looked forward to making it once winter came around. Now that the cold weather is here, I can attest to the pasta’s ability to make even the darkest nights feel just a touch cozier. The buttery walnuts combined with tender-yet-slightly-crisp brussels sprouts and little nubbins of Italian sausage is pure comfort, and a flavor profile I can’t get enough of. —Jesse Szewczyk, senior test kitchen editor
This brussels sprout pasta recipe taps nutty brown butter, crunchy pecans, and hot Italian sausage to create an easy dinner bursting with fall flavors.
Mushroom ragù that tastes slow-cooked
I agree with Jesse—this was a pasta week. After hours of holiday cooking, I wanted a warm and cozy, but not labor-intensive, weeknight dinner. Food director Chris Morocco’s Pasta With Creamy Mushroom Ragù, full of rich umami notes, satisfied that craving. Coarsely chopped creminis combine with a savory base of onions, garlic, and tomato paste to create a tender sauce that feels slow-cooked and complex but cooks in record time. I suggest leaving shiitakes in bigger pieces for a more meaty toothsome bite. Finishing with lots of ground black pepper adds a zingy finish. —Jaia Clingham-David, research fellow
This weeknight-friendly recipe for vegetarian mushroom ragù turns out a rich tomatoey sauce that tastes like it simmered for hours.
