jtrent238 test blog: Five Weeknight Dishes: The Top Weeknight Recipes of 2022

December 16, 2022

The Top Weeknight Recipes of 2022

By Emily Weinstein

Weeknight cooking for the win: NYT Cooking has published its collection of the 50 most popular new recipes of 2022, and at least half are dishes you can make at the end of the day without too much stress. There's a need for that kind of cooking, and I sincerely hope we've helped meet that need for you. (Please keep the requests coming: dishes you'd like to see, specific ingredients, cuisines or anything else.)

I've chosen five weeknight recipes from the top 50 to share below, in no specific order. (The No. 1 recipe is a noodle dish from Kenji López-Alt's exceptional new cookbook, "The Wok." If you love garlic, this recipe is not to be missed.)

Is there anything in particular you loved on the list? Are you aghast that your favorite NYT Cooking recipe of the year is not on it? Tell me everything. You can reach me at dearemily@nytimes.com. I read every note.

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Linda Pugliese for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.

1. Pasta Amatriciana

This one comes from Kay Chun, a recipe writer whose byline is all over the top 50 list. Kay developed some of our most ingenious recipes this year. (Look at these chicken thighs roasted pernil-style.) But this pasta amatriciana recipe is a straightforward take on a classic: simple, peerless and, dare I say, a little sexy. (Sexy? On a Monday? Yes!)

View this recipe.

Bobbi Lin for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.

2. Greek Chicken With Cucumber-Feta Salad

Ali Slagle's name also turns up a lot on the list of our most popular recipes. She is a weeknight cooking queen, thanks to recipes like this one, which takes elements of chicken souvlaki and Greek salad, fits them together in a new way, and then streamlines it all for you.

View this recipe.

Jenny Huang for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Susie Theodorou; Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.

3. Kung Pao Cauliflower

I find Hetty McKinnon's recipes irresistible, like this kung pao cauliflower, which applies the powerful sweet-and-sour flavors of kung pao sauce to sturdy, versatile cauliflower. With rice, it's an excellent dinner. (We also have a recipe for kung pao chicken, if that sings out to you, and one for kung pao shrimp as well.)

View this recipe.

Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

4. Tajín Grilled Chicken

I know, another chicken recipe. I'm giving you options! This one is a banger from Rick Martínez, a dish that relies on the seasoning blend Tajín to deliver a lime-chile punch. You could make it indoors or out, or with bass, cod or salmon instead of the chicken.

View this recipe.

Kelly Marshall for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Roscoe Betsill. Prop Stylist: Maeve Sheridan.

5. Brothy Thai Curry With Silken Tofu and Herbs

Yewande Komolafe's brothy curry is built on a base of ginger, garlic, shallots and jarred red curry paste, which you can find in just about any supermarket. It's a light dinner with enlivening flavor. You can also play around with additions. I saw a version on Instagram in which someone had added rice noodles and shrimp; it looked great.

View this recipe.

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