Adventurous Recipes

March 08, 2013
Photo: John Autry
Shake things up and try something new or different! Spicy foods, trendy ingredients, and dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world wake up your taste buds.
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Take a Flavor Adventure

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Chiles Rellenos Made Easy

Take meals to another level with these exciting recipes that deliver full and intense flavor in every bite. From chiles rellenos to Korean tacos, there’s something new and delightful to be found that everyone will enjoy trying for the first time.

First up is Chiles Rellenos Made Easy. A favorite at Mexican restaurants, this homemade version is easier and lighter, and delivers plenty of wow with a homemade sauce and creamy goat cheese.

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Baked Feta with Romesco and Olive Tapenade

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Baked Feta with Romesco and Olive Tapenade

Romesco comes from Spanish cuisine; nuts thicken the base, made of roasted red bell peppers. (For the best flavor, roast your own fresh peppers.) Serve this warm, cheesy dip with crostini or other thin slices of lightly toasted bread.

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Salty Chihuahua

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Salty Chihuahua

Red grapefruit juice and Cointreau combine for this riff on a Salty Dog. As the name implies, a dash of salt is put in the cocktail or on the rim. Squeeze your own juice to get the grapefruit’s sweetest flavor. Make the juice mixture up to one day ahead, and chill.

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Southwestern-Style Shrimp Taco Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Southwestern-Style Shrimp Taco Salad

Cilantro, chipotle hot sauce, corn, black beans, and green onion lend fantastic south-of-the-border flavor to this shrimp-topped taco salad.

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Thai Steak Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Thai Steak Salad

Flank steak is widely available and easy to recognize by its long, flat shape and distinctive longitudinal grain. Cutting across the grain breaks up the muscle fibers for more tender slices.

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Chicken and Chorizo Stew

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Chicken and Chorizo Stew

Saffron and a bit of sherry vinegar lift stew from pedestrian to exciting. Chorizo comes in two forms: Mexican chorizo is a fresh pork sausage; the Spanish type, used to flavor this recipe, is cured and firm.

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Korean-Style Beef Tacos

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Korean-Style Beef Tacos

Take a twist on traditional Mexican tacos by filling them with succulent flank steak, marinated in a soy sauce and chile paste marinade. Serve with cooked rice tossed with a tablespoon of toasted sesame oil.

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Bibimbop

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Bibimbop

A delicious combination of rice and vegetables, this signature Korean dish is worth the effort. As you prepare each component, place hot food on a jelly-roll pan and keep in a warm oven.

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Eggs Poached in Curried Tomato Sauce

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Eggs Poached in Curried Tomato Sauce

Here’s an exciting wake-up call: Eggs gently cooked in an Indian-inspired tomato sauce. Make this dish less spicy by removing the jalapeño’s seeds.

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Eggs for Dinner

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Eggs Barbacoa

Ah, the extraordinary egg. A perennial brunch favorite, eggs have also become a mainstay on the dinner table. Here, we pulled together a collection of elegant, supper-worthy egg dishes that deserve a spot in your weeknight repertoire.

First up, Eggs Barbacoa. Because you have to cook the beef a day in advance, you’ll get a head start on this hearty meal. You’ll have to use more beef than necessary–use it for another meal to avoid wasting ingredients.

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Pork and Sweet Potato Hash

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Pork and Sweet Potato Hash

This hash is equally good as a breakfast-for-dinner. Sweet potatoes and sliced mushrooms add an interesting twist to this familiar comfort food. Although the pork takes a while to cook, the simmering is hands-off time.

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Crema Catalana

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Crema Catalana

A Spanish version of crème brûlée, this luscious custard is just the thing to make for your sweetheart—or to enjoy as a calm, meditative treat. If you don’t have a kitchen blowtorch, caramelize the sugar under the broiler for a minute.

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Cajun Hot Crab Dip

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Cajun Hot Crab Dip

Spoon this dip into a baking dish up to a day ahead, but top with panko and chives just before baking. If it’s chilled, leave the dish out at room temperature while the oven preheats. Serve with toasted baguette slices.

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Tzatziki Chicken Salad

Photo: José Picayo
View Recipe: Tzatziki Chicken Salad

A classic Greek sauce of creamy yogurt and cucumber makes the base of this tangy salad. Make this part of a salad plate combo—offer a mixed green salad and a fruit salad to go with it.

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Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

Photo: Sang An
View Recipe: Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

Turn dinner into an adventurous trip to Southeast Asia: Coconut milk balances the heat from the ginger, garlic, and sambal oelek. The fish sauce won’t make the soup taste fishy; instead, it adds a needed depth of flavor.

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Steamed Clams with White Wine and Tomatoes

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Steamed Clam with White Wine and Tomatoes

Fresh seafood will mentally transport you to the beach in minutes. Cook clams within 24 hours of purchasing in order to ensure freshness. Be sure to throw out any clams that don't close their shells when tapped.

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Indian-Spiced Lentils and Lamb

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Indian-Spiced Lentils and Lamb

A touch of curry powder and jalapeño give the stew a warming flavor that’s not overwhelmingly hot from spice.

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Lamb Fajitas with Cucumber-Dill Sauce

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Lamb Fajitas with Cucumber-Dill Sauce

The inspiration for these fajitas is the gyro, the Greek lamb-filled pita sandwich. Make the sauce first so it can chill while the lamb marinates.

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Lebanese Peppers

Photo: Con Poulos
View Recipe: Lebanese Peppers

The Lebanese often use ground lamb, but this version calls for ground beef. The rice is precooked to ensure there are no crunchy bits in the flavorful meat mixture. Take a bite—you’ll see why this is a globetrotter’s comfort food.

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Libanais Breakfast

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Libanais Breakfast

Go on a culinary journey first thing in the morning, and enjoy this Middle Eastern–inspired breakfast with crisp pita toasts. Or, to make a breakfast buffet, serve with a simple cucumber salad and baba ghanoush.

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