TASTElist

Being from the Caribbean, my partner Lu loves tropical flavors—he goes crazy for anything that comes with mango. I’ve made him swordfish with mango-avocado salsa, zucchini pasta cooked with mango and coconut flakes, and this tilapia recipe, which is probably his favorite. The spicy, blackened fish gets along famously with the sweet mango and refreshing chayote and bell pepper. With fresh herbs like cilantro and mint, you’ll have to check out your window to make sure you’re not at the beach!

This dish is deceivingly simple, as long as you get the right ingredients, it can be executed for the home cook seamlessly. This salad started as a play on the classic “Cucumber, yogurt and smoked fish” combination, but at dinnertable in NYC, their team adds in a unique Japanese twist: mixing in sesame yogurt, marinated trout roe, and a seaweed (hijiki) dressing.

The perfect accompaniment to a meal, or a healthy snack on its own, these kale chips are easy, fast, and healthy. Smoked paprika and truffle salt give added depth of flavor, but don’t feel like you have to use those spices. Add some heat with some red pepper flakes or cayenne, maybe sprinkle on a little cheese if you so desire. Just make sure to keep an eye on these while they’re in the oven as they tend to burn fast!

Here’s a quick and simple spin on traditional hummus from Chef Dakota Weiss, Executive Chef and Partner of Sweetfin Poké and Estrella in Los Angeles. “I love this Cauliflower Hummus because it’s so tasty and it’s EASY to make. It has the basics of what a traditional hummus consists of, but with an extra added bite from the cauliflower and it’s so creamy!”

These polenta pizzas work equally well as a great appetizer or main course and are dead easy to make to boot! You just need some precooked polenta tubes, onions, sun-dried tomatoes, and walnuts (and whatever other toppings you’d like to add to the mix). Simply slice up the polenta tube into rounds, lay them out on a baking pan, pile on the toppings, and bake. The caramelized red onions mixed with the sun-dried tomatoes add a subtle sweet flavor and the walnuts add texture and some bitterness.

Shishitos are so delicious, but enjoy with caution! About one in 10 of these little peppers is spicy. The seeds tend to be the spiciest part so avoid those if you can’t handle a lot of heat. Serve alongside a little dish to discard stems and seeds.

This recipe from Marcel Vigneron, Chef & Owner of LA’s WOLF and Beefsteak is a great option if you want something light and fresh, but bursting with flavor from the pomegranate seeds and apples. Apples and pomegranate seeds are in the peak of their season right now, so it’s a really great salad that celebrates the end of winter. The brussels add texture, and the pine nuts add sustenance, which makes it absolutely delicious!

Toffee is one of those things that Christina Lane used to be too intimidated to make at home. She’d had a few failures, she will admit. When Lane figured out that she could make toffee based on watching the sugar change color instead of using a thermometer, she was a changed woman. Lane makes this often over the holidays, but it’s welcome any time of year.

Are you surprised to see such a fancy dessert? Don’t be! Christina Lane made this one dairy-free and naturally sweetened so that she doesn’t feel badly about eating it for breakfast. And she tops it with fruit soaked in honey just because it tastes good. (Honey is acidic and it breaks down the fruit while it rests.) Lane used figs because summer was in full swing when she perfected this recipe, but mango and raspberries are great here too.

Breakfast rice bowls such as this have taken over Los Angeles in the last half decade. People are obsessed with them. And for good reason: they’re satisfying and healthy, and there’s just something about spooning rice and runny eggs from a bowl and into your mouth that makes you feel all wrapped up and warm; it’s like a free hug.

Rum, cognac, curacao and some lemon juice is all it takes to calm nerves and mend a relationship. Or so San Francisco cocktail and spirits evangelist Yael Amyra claims.

An adorable, festive and super easy recipe for memorable party treats. Crushed Oreos get combined with cream cheese, rolled into balls and covered in white chocolate. These Oreo truffles dressed up as snowmen are great addition to any party and sure to be the first to go!