five dinner recipes to make when you’re feeling a little fancy
Sometimes you have a slow week or a free night to spend some time in the kitchen. Sometimes you want to treat yourself or your friends to a pretty-looking meal. Sometimes you’re just feeling a little fancy.
Here are five recipes that are perfect for those sometimes.
green curry pork tenderloin
Bon Appétit
This recipe is a bit of a commitment — you need to marinate ahead of time and put some substantial prep + assembly work in — but you will be so glad you were feeling ambitious. Great for one of those nights you’re having a few guests over and want to serve something that’ll plate nicely.
Those caramelized cumin-spiced pepitas are something special, and be warned: you may want to drink this green curry sauce. It’s got just enough sweet and just enough heat, and while the recipe calls for grilled tenderloin, it’ll work great on any cut of pork cooked according to your preference (I used it on a seared chop pictured here). Honestly, you could drizzle this sauce on an old shoe and it’d still taste delicious.
perfect roast chicken
Ina Garten
When Ina says something is “perfect”, she means it. This roast chicken comes out perfectly every single time, and the best part is that it’s actually super simple to make. A whole roast chicken can look daunting, but aside from getting your hands a little dirty it’s really very minimal work. All it takes is stuffing some lemon, garlic, and herbs inside and a little rub-a-dub-dub of some melted butter; the oven does the rest of the work.
Plop the chicken on top of a chopped vegetable medley, and sit back for an hour and a half while the roasting works its magic. The result: a perfect bird, crispy and flavorful on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside, that makes for the ultimate combo of sophistication + comfort.
cumin lamb chops w/ charred scallions + peanuts
Alison Roman
This comes from one of my favorite cookbooks, Dining In, and may honestly be one of the quickest recipes in the book. The only preparation required is to crush up a spice mixture, and from there it’s just searing and charring until you have this deliciously spiced + garnished lamb chop that anyone will feel fancy eating.
The cumin gives the meat a lovely warm flavor while the Sichuan peppercorns pack some generous heat, and it’s all perfectly complimented by the vinegary scallions + peanuts that make use of any lovely lamb fat. Simple, flavorful, delicious.
pork marbella
Adam Rapoport // Bon Appétit
This one has become a house staple that’s proven to be a crowd pleaser, even for those who think they won’t like it. The somewhat surprising mix of ingredients — prunes, olives, capers — produce a sweet + salty sauce with the most delicious flavors. All together, it just feels sophisticated (and it even has a fancy name). This recipe can be made with chicken thighs too, but pork tenderloin is my preferred version.
Again, it’s one of those recipes that requires some planning ahead so you can make the most of the marinade, but otherwise it’s very low effort. When it’s time to cook you just sear the pork, dump in the marinade, and bake in the oven. That’s it. No chopping involved, only one pan needed, and definitely leftover-friendly. Wins all around.
oven-roasted chicken shawarma
Sam Sifton // NYT Cooking
Cumin seems to be a recurring theme here; I hope you like it, and if you don’t, please try. I love that middle-eastern flavor profile, the warmth and deliciousness of a roasted chicken shawarma. This recipe takes a bit of time and effort, but it delivers on all of those quintessential shawarma spices for a dish that won’t disappoint.
The best part is that chicken shawarma can be served with whatever sides your heart desires — roasted veggies, hummus, rice, couscous, cucumber salad, pita. Drizzle a little garlic tahini concoction on top and you’ve got a filling (and fulfilling) comfort meal that feels leveled up.
