Main Course Recipes

Traditionally, duck is prepared by poaching it in the fat that comes with it. Here, Chef Seamus Mullen has a rather unorthodox method of poaching the duck in olive oil. The duck comes out moist and delicious while retaining a nice rosy color in the duck meat. Farro is a grain (related to wheat) very popular in Europe, especially Italy.

Prime Rib is a very delicious and tender cut of meat. Select a prime rib roast that has a lot of marbling, which is the visible fat running throughout the meat. The more marbling there is in the meat the more moist and flavorful it will be when cooked.

Serving roast goose on Christmas Eve in France is a tradition that dates back centuries. Goose is still served at the family table today in America and across Europe. Here is a simple method that leaves the skin golden and crisp while the meat is tender and moist. This is a two day process as the duck must be refrigerated overnight for the...

French meets Cajun in this beautiful rendition of a Southern classic. Bacon and andouille sausage are sauteed together with rice and vegetables for the perfect Cajun stuffing. The duck or chicken stock should be very rich to have a good depth of flavor.

This is the perfect meal for a cold day, fresh and simple. Because of the brininess of the clams, you don't need much salt. Cheese is definitely a no-no but a little butter at the finish adds the proper amount of richness. Serve with your favorite crusty bread.

Here's a wonderful Southern sandwich, deeply flavored and just down right delicious: Fried green tomatoes, grilled portobellos, herbs and goat cheese on crusty sourdough bread.

This delicious savory pie is bursting with flavor. Fresh cherry tomatoes, Parmesan and fresh mozzarella, zucchini and basil make this dish a delightful summer treat for your guests. The crust is nothing fancy but laid in rustic style like a galette.

Manchego cheese, Serrano ham, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, garlic and parsley grilled between thick slices of French bread make this one incredibly tasty sandwich.

Here is a very delicious rack of lamb recipe, grilled with a sweet and sour vinaigrette of black mission figs and balsamic vinegar. Rosemary mashed Yukon potatoes make a nice complementary side.

Broccoli Rabe (also called rapini) is a bitter green common in Italian cooking. This delicious grilled cheese sandwich recipe definitely has an Italian flavor to it with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, and broccoli rabe all melted together and piled high on, of course, Italian bread.

dd

Here is a wonderful summertime recipes for grilling juicy flavorful pork chops that have been brined overnight and served with grilled fresh peaches. Grilling the peaches brings out the flavor by caramelizing the natural sugar. Baste them with butter, honey, and bourbon as they grill to make them shiny and even more flavorful.

Here is a delicious Italian recipe for an artichoke pasta dish. Fresh artichoke is combined with mushrooms, white wine, tomato paste, garlic and herbs for a wonderfully aromatic and tasty sauce.

This simple Italian recipe for a delicious pasta dish uses fresh artichokes sliced thinly and sauteed with garlic and parsley. The aroma is heavenly and it tastes even better.

This is a very simple recipe for using lobster in a pasta dish. Very delicious, your guests will never know how easy it is to make.

Chicken salad is classic and there are a multitude of creative ways to make it. I love this version for its depth of flavor from the spices used and all the tasty things stuffed inside: pumpkin seeds, candied walnuts, dried cranberries, orange zest and coriander to name a few.

This delicious Sicilian-style roast chicken recipe comes from Chef Bill Rosenberg of Barcelona Restaurant and Wine Bar in Connecticut.

Here is a simple recipe for roast turkey that creates a flavorful and moist turkey using oranges, maple syrup and lots of herbs. Brining the turkey is an important step in creating a really moist turkey.

Here is a delicious recipe for roast chicken that is perfect for a family dinner or add a side of cranberry sauce and you have a great holiday meal.

A wonderful and creamy rice dish that works wells as a main course or as an appetizer, it's equally tasty with just scampi or just asparagus.

Here is a delicious and visually stunning dish that works well as a salad or as the main course. Roasted pears with baked gnocchi, gorgonzola cheese and prosciutto create a very hearty and flavorful meal.

Pasta and meatballs are classic comfort food. Here is a great recipe for rigatoni pasta with meatballs that has a wonderful meaty flavor and lots of herbs. The rigatoni, which is larger than penne pasta, really stands up to the heartiness of meatballs.

The name al carbón means “cooking over coals” and refers to the charred surface of the meat derived from the grilling process. The wonderfully refreshing orange and pepper salsa goes great with the grilled chicken.

Classic Margherita-style pizza is the most basic of all pizzas but so delicious is you use good ingredients: a nice olive oil, ripe juicy tomatoes, good mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.

This is a beautiful way to use those tasty ripe heirloom tomatoes of summer. Fried garlic, basil oil and some good cheese make this a delicious first course or light lunch. This recipe comes from Bungalow 44 Restaurant in California.

This delicious rib recipe is done in Kansas City barbecue style and comes from our friends at Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue and Catering (3002 West 47th Street, Kansas City, KS).

Very simple to make, these chalupas are wonderful comfort food. Homemade refried beans are the best but canned will work fine if you're in a hurry. Once you have all the ingredients assembled, making these are quick and easy. Perfect for a party or family dinner.

The tradition of the Inauguration Luncheon dates back at least a century. Approximately 200 guests including President Obama, Vice President Biden, their families, the Supreme Court, Cabinet designees, and members of Congressional leadership will attend the event in Statuary Hall. The menu by Design Cuisine is based on favorites of President Abraham Lincoln.

The tradition of the Inauguration Luncheon dates back at least a century. Approximately 200 guests including President Obama, Vice President Biden, their families, the Supreme Court, Cabinet designees, and members of Congressional leadership will attend the event in Statuary Hall. The menu by Design Cuisine is based on favorites of President Abraham Lincoln.

Here's an easy method of cooking goose that creates a flavorful result. Calvados is a wonderful apple brandy from France. If you can't find calvados, there are several varieties of apple brandy made in the U.S. that are very nice.

Here's a delicious chicken recipe with an abundance of southwestern spices. Created by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Border Grill (Santa Monica).

Fruits (pomegranates, quince, plums, oranges) and herbs gives this recipe for roast goose a nice complex flavor perfect for holiday entertaining.

Pork chops can be a bit boring so I've spiced them up a bit here. The spiciness is balanced well with the sweetness of the fresh peaches. I prefer to grill pork chops so they don't dry out.

Mahi Mahi is a wonderful fish for grilling. It has a nice meaty texture and great flavor. This recipe uses some traditional Latin ingredients (tequila, lime, avocado, tomatillo, coriander, chilis) that combine with the Mahi Mahi for excellent results.

Spinach and Gorgonzola make a perfect combination. A bit of pasta and you have a delicious meal.

Fresh artichokes in season are wonderful prepared as simply as possible. A little garlic and butter, a splash of lemon, some onions and you're all set. Add some pasta and you have a meal.

This is a simple recipe that uses lots of summer vegetables and fresh herbs. This aromatic dish works wonderfully as a first course or as a light entree.

Here is a very elegant and stylish recipe for Cornish game hen created by former John Ash & Co. Chef Jeffrey Madura.

This wonderful stuffed pepper recipe comes from Greens Restaurant in San Francisco. This recipe calls for Gypsy peppers (also called bull's horn peppers) but any frying pepper will work.

Here's an easy way to prepare shrimp that is popping with flavor. Sweet juicy nectarines and spicy serrano chilis make a wonderful combination that pairs very well with shrimp.

There are a lot of ingredients to this cod dish but it is beautifully simple to prepare. Fresh, juicy nectarines complement the grilled fish wonderfully. Created by by Chef Adam Perry Lang of Daisy May's BBQ in New York City.

Here's a wonder seafood dish served cold with shrimp, mussels, calamari, and scallops. This recipe was created by Executive Chef Henry Salgado of the Spanish River Grill, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

This recipe was created by Miami chef Giancarla Bodoni of Escopazzo, an organic Italian restaurant.

Here's a wonderful fruit-packed version of chicken salad from Marjorie Druker, chef and co-owner of the New England Soup Factory located in the Boston area.

Here's a fairly simple dish that brings together two of spring's best ingredients: lamb and asparagus. Lamb and asparagus both cook quickly on the grill. Watch them closely so you don't overcook them. Lamb is best served medium rare.

This is a wonderfully rich and tasty dish that works well as a main course. It also pairs beautifully as a side dish with meat dishes.

Recipe for a spicy vegetarian pasta dish.

A number of traditional Portuguese dishes are based on the unlikely, but flavorful, combination of pork and shellfish. This variation on ameijoas na cataplana, the classic clam and pork stew, calls for three types of pork: fresh pork cubes, spicy sausage, and bacon.

Here is a wonderful comfort food recipe. Fall vegetables have never tasted so good.

Comfort food at its best, an Italian dish from our friend Emeril with hearty sausage and pasta and lots of cheese. Yum.

"The guinea hen is a West African relative of the chicken and partridge, originally from Guinea. It has a gamey taste and can dry out easily because it has little fat. Cooking the bird in a covered pot and adding fat solves that problem, and raspberries match its stronger flavor. The raspberries inside the bird will tint the bird's juices red: don't let this fool you into thinking that it needs more cooking." - author's note.

I've always loved the lusty combination of scallops, peppers, and Italian sausage. In this dish we use tiny, succulent Nantucket Bay scallops and sometimes present them as a first course served in a scallop shell. If bay scallops are unobtainable, larger sea scallops may be substituted.

"Crunchy breaded chicken hidden under a mountain of tart salad is just the kind of thing I want to eat on a warm summer night. Perhaps you agree. These don't take long to make, but if you have some extra time, make extra chicken breasts so you'll have them in the refrigerator for sandwiches. If you don't have summer tomatoes, skip the tomatoes altogether. You want flavor." -Roy Finamore

This delightful recipe using PAMA pomegranate liqueur was created by Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli of Butter Restaurant in New York City.

"King salmon has a lovely rose color and a high fat content, making its flavor very rich and sweet. The acidic vinaigrette offsets the sweetness perfectly, and the colors are an absolute symphony on the plate. Tomato- Basil Vinaigrette is another great sauce for this salmon."

This recipe was created by Los Angeles celebrity chef Joachim Splichal (Patina Restaurant) for the 59th Annual Emmy Awards Governors Ball.

Here's a great recipe for fish that is healthy yet full of flavor.

I love the flavor of fresh peaches with pork. This recipe seems a little complicated with all the ingredients but its really not too bad once you have everything assembled. The long cooking time is typical of most pulled pork recipes and results in wonderfully tender and moist dish. This great dish was created by Chef Adam Perry Lang of Daisy May's BBQ in New York City.

Here is a very simple recipe for jazzing up chicken. Fresh cherries match wonderfully with chicken. Serve with rice and salad for a complete dinner. Leftovers make for a nice cherry chicken sandwich or chop up the chicken and add to a salad.

Here's a refreshing way to serve chicken. Fresh summer tomatoes, fennel, olives, and feta cheese give this lively dish a definite Mediterranean flavor.

Here's a beautiful dish using fresh blueberries created by Cory Schreiber, chef of one of my favorite restaurants, Wildwood in Portland, Oregon. Don't be afraid to try this one. Despite the upscale look of this dish, it's actually quite simple to make.

If you like Thai food, you'll love this recipe. Here's a wonderful recipe for chicken with an authentic Thai curry flavor. The spiciness is balanced nicely by sweet peaches.

Here's a delicious recipe for bread pudding with a Mexican twist. Mildly spicy green chilies, spices, and lots of cheese go into this bread pudding that balances nicely with the fresh tasting avocado salsa. Recipe provided courtesy of the California Milk Advisory Board.

This delightful recipe comes from Seattle celebrity chef Tom Douglas . Chef Douglas' restaurants include Lola , dahlia lounge , Etta's , and The Palace Kitchen.

Who knows more about cooking lamb than the Irish? Here's a wonderful recipe for roasted lamb from Ashford Castle in Cong, County Mayo. Ashford Castle is one of the most luxurious castle-hotels in Ireland.

Recipe courtesy Tauck World of Discovery.

Risotto is a wonderful method of cooking rice. By constantly stirring and adding liquid little by little, the arborio rice finishes with a nice creamy consistency. This recipes adds a trio of scallops, spicy sausage, and earthy mushrooms along with some fresh herbs that creates a delightfully tasty and aromatic dish. This is comfort food at its best!

These Roulades are simple, elegant and tasty with a striking presentation. They reflect a contemporary Southwestern approach to classic flavors. From Daniel Hoyer's Fiesta on the Grill.

Recipe reprinted with permission from GREEN TEA: 50 HOT DRINKS, COOL QUENCHERS, AND SWEET AND SAVORY TREATS (Harvard Common Press, 2006).

Here is a delicious chicken recipe perfect for summer grilling. And if the weather isn't so great, it also works great under a broiler. Lots of Middle Eastern flavor with roasted garlic, coriander, and cumin. Works great for an appetizer or as an entree with some flatbread and a salad.

Nothing says southern cooking like slow-cooked pork and Carolina BBQ sauce.

Here is wonderful recipe from the new cookbook from the Sante Fe School of Cooking. "Guests at the school are surprised how much they like this lamb and confess to enjoying more lamb since their discovery. It works well for a dinner party because it is elegant, but you can rub on the lamb in the morning and there isn't a lot of last-minute preparation." - from Southwest Flavors by Susan Curtis and Nicole Curtis Ammerman.

This recipe for grilled lamb is a wonderfully aromatic and flavorful dish. The mild spiciness of the lamb pairs very well with the fruitiness of the orange & basil salsa. Most recipes for grilled leg lamb call for deboning the leg beforehand. I find that you lose a lot of flavor this way and it is much better to grill the leg as is, removing the meat afterwards.

"Chiles love salmon - they add just the right accent to flavor the salmon to its greatest dimension. Fruity salsas, spiked with chiles, adds just the right complement." Jane Butel from her cookbook Real Women Love Chiles.

You’ve got to give the Aztecs credit for chipotles – they are the spicy, subtly smoky red jalapenos that give this recipe a super punch. The honey and cinnamon pair beautifully with the pork and serve to make for a lacquered brown on the outside of the chops. You are set here with spice for a very healthy entrée. I like these served with spiced steamed spinach and whipped sweet potatoes – special enough for company.

Tired of the same old lasagna? Try this wonderful white lasagna with chicken, artichokes, mushrooms, and an herbed white sauce. It's very earthy with a creamy texture and a hint of sweetness.

A Swedish favorite, falukorv is a lightly smoked, thick (two to three inches in diameter), boiled sausage, similar to ring bologna. This chicken recipe uses cheese, mustard, and apples to re-create the flavors of this classic sausage dish.

Tender peas are typically the first spring vegetable to appear in Northern California. As much as we locals would like winter to be over, when peas arrive, we are still in a shoulder season between winter and spring. By pairing a winter-satisfying potato with the first kiss of spring, you and your guests will be able to celebrate both. - Michael Chiarello

This recipe is loosely based on the traditional Persian dish, Faisinjan. Classically made with duck or wild birds, this recipe uses the more available chicken. Pomegranates, pine nuts, and yogurt are all Middle Eastern staples whose flavors marry very well in this dish.

Sometimes you just need good old comfort food. Pulled pork takes a long time to cook, but it's well worth the wait. Juicy, tender pork melts in your mouth. Rich, tangy barbecue sauce and spicy apple chutney create a wonderful taste sensation. Messy, fatty, and rich. Good stuff!

Don't throw away that leftover cornbread! Cornbread makes an excellent coating for meats. It has an earthy sweetness and crunchiness that is just sublime when fried. Freshly made cornbread is also suitable for this recipe. Peach and corn salsa make a wonderful accompaniment to this recipe for cornbread crusted pork chops. A variety of textures and flavors make this a true delight.

Here is a delightful recipe for roasted chicken that pairs the sweetness of ripe tomatoes and brown sugar with the smoky spiciness of chilies and jalapenos. It's also low fat. What could be better?

A little spicy, a little sweet, this recipe combines some of my fall favorites. Fresh and earthy butternut squash pairs perfectly with salmon. Sweet, tangy mangos cut through the smoky, spicy chipotles to create a dish that is exciting and challenging yet well-balanced.

"Jalapeno peppers, coriander seeds, and five-spice powder give this marinade a lively fragrant note. It penetrates the meat, contributing character and a bold, sweet-tangy flavor. If I have fresh coriander seeds on hand, I use them in place of dried. Serve with Pickled Napa Cabbage or Cranberry-Ginger Relish." - Susanna Foo

Ravioli doesn't have to be boring kid stuff. Try this wonderful combination of earthy and sweet flavors. It's sure to change your opinion of ravioli.

A wonderful lamb recipes that combines the brightness of fresh herbs with earthy morel mushrooms.

Both tangy and sweet, here is a chicken dish that is sure to please.

A rich and earthy dish with complex flavors, seafood and the farm combine here for a heavenly match.

Succulent roasted chicken combines with fresh mangoes to create a Carribbean style dish in this easy to make recipe.

A wonderful savory soufflé, this aromatic dish uses two kinds of corn (fresh corn and cornmeal) and fresh basil for the perfect main course of a light summer meal.

This Spanish recipe starts by sautéing on the stove-top with a cazuela or ovenproof skillet then popping everything into the oven once the fish is added to finish. The fish is served with a red pepper and almond sauce, an adaptation of the Spanish romesco. If you don't have sea bass, you can substitute another firm-fleshed white fish.

Here is the winning sandwich recipe from Iron Chef Michael Symon that he created for Mezzetta's Celebrity Make That Sandwich Contest. Michael's...

This simple but beautiful recipe for Swedish meatballs comes from legendary Restaurant Aquavit in New York. Founded by Ethiopian-born, Swedish-raised Chef Marcus Samuelsson, the Scandanavian cuisine of Restaurant Aquavit has garnered acclaim and numerous awards including three stars from the New York Times.

Champagne, fresh tarragon, capers, lime juice and red onion make for a delicious poaching liquid. Lightly cooked, the salmon is moist and flavorful.

Cooked in a cast iron skillet on a hot charcoal grill, this is the Western version of beef carpaccio. The beef gets a delicious char on the outside but is still very rare on the inside. Served chilled and paper-thin on a bed of fresh baby arugula.

Cr

White House Chef Comerford's cooking often incorporates the traditions of her native Philippines. This dish of lamb uses tahini paste and chickpeas, fresh mint and parsley, citrus, and harissa.

Here's a deliciously simple chicken recipe using wild foods of spring; morels and ramps. If you have some fresh fiddlehead ferns available, go ahead and add them to the dish. They will complement it very well.

Lots of vegetables, fresh herbs and, of course, spices make this a very flavorful meal.

Love goat cheese? This is a delicious panini sandwich recipe with lots of goat cheese, baby arugula, roasted red bell peppers, peperoncini, and Calamata olives sandwiched between slices of your favorite artisan bread.

Create this amazing grilled ham and cheese any way you want but try this first with homemade fig relish, thinly sliced prosciutto, Toma cheese, fresh herbs on really good bread.

A very delicious take on the steak sandwich - tender grilled Filet Mignon with Chimichurri sauce (a variant of green sauce), goat cheese and roasted sweet red bell peppers on Ciabatta bread.

A common Niçoise street food, the name Pissaladière is derived from the word pissala, French for anchovy paste. This pizza-like treat is simply delicious with anchovies, sauteed onions, Niçoise olives and herbs.

Here is a delicious recipe for chicken enchiladas - full of delicious herbs and spices and lots of lots of cheese.