Green Curry Coconut Cod and More Recipes We Made This Week

It’s no secret that Bon Appétit editors cook a lot for work. So it should come as no surprise that we cook a lot during our off hours too. Here are the recipes we’re whipping up this month to get dinner on the table, entertain our friends, satisfy a sweet tooth, use up leftovers, and everything in between. For even more staff favorites, click here.

October 24

Strikingly green pasta e fagioli

Former test kitchen editor Kendra Vaculin’s very verdant riff on pasta e fagioli, Green Pasta e Fagioli, is the kind of hearty, satiating dinner I crave when the weather turns chilly. I honestly don’t really enjoy kale unless it’s cooked or very well-massaged in a salad, but this recipe transforms the famously fibrous leaves into silky and tender ribbons I’ll eagerly ladle into my bowl. And the striking green broth is cleverly made with boiling water and raw kale blitzed in a blender, saving you time and dishes. Packed with nutty whole wheat pasta and creamy canned white beans, it’s on regular rotation in my kitchen from now til the (eventual) snow thaws. —Kelsey Jane Youngman, senior service editor

A pound of chocolate covered dates

I recently came into an unexpected wealth of Medjool dates by way of food director Chris Morocco, who, after receiving a large shipment of them from Rancho Meladuco, generously bestowed the boxes on the Bon Appétit staff. The same day, I put 10 of them to use in an easy dessert I’d been keen to try: chocolate covered dates filled with almond butter. I bisected the dates, removed the seed, filled them with a spoonful of nut butter, and, after a quick chill in the freezer, dipped them in chocolate and showered the lot with Maldon sea salt. The process was both easy and meditative, and the results were delicious. My roommates depleted the stash nearly immediately and enthusiastically requested more. Though I’d planned to direct some of my date stash to this chicken recipe, every last one ended up cloaked in chocolate and filled with almond butter. —Li Goldstein, associate newsletter editor

Homemade chicken soup

I must be reaching an advanced age because last week I was unreasonably excited by chicken soup for dinner. To say the thought of it got me through the last two hours of my workday is, sadly, not a lie. I made Eden Greenspan’s version because the addition of dried fenugreek makes it particularly fragrant. The potatoes were so soft they were fuzzy around the edges, and I disassociated as I ate a bowlful alongside another senior citizen food: cigar length breadsticks. —Shilpa Uskokovic, senior test kitchen editor

Celebratory cinnamon rolls

I won the food writer-lottery, by which I mean, I found a KitchenAid stand mixer for cheap at a garage sale. To celebrate our luck, my girlfriend and I broke in the new appliance by making a batch of yeasted cinnamon rolls following Claire Saffitz’s recipe. Her technique incorporates a tangzhong (a mix of milk and cooked flour similar to a roux) that helps the final product turn out light and pillowy. We let the dough rise overnight and baked the rolls in the morning ahead of breakfast, served with a generous layer of cream cheese icing. —Alma Avalle, editorial operations associate

Warming green curry coconut cod

With a definitive and unmistakable chill in the air this week, a steaming bowl of brothy goodness called out to me. About a year ago, commerce writer Alaina Chou developed what I consider to be the ideal dish to scratch this itch: Green Curry Coconut Cod. Her recipe, the result of her contribution to Bon Appétit’s Feel Good Food Plan, features a vibrant, punchy sauce which acts as the poaching liquid for tender cod filets. She would be the first to tell you that its richly developed flavor is largely thanks to store-bought Maesri curry paste, a staple in the Test Kitchen pantry. While the curry paste is non-negotiable, the recipe is otherwise riffable, so feel free to swap cod for haddock like I did, or omit the chile if you don’t want an additional kick. —Carly Westerfield, associate manager, audience strategy

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October 17

Feta and harissa meatballs

With the very last in-season tomatoes, I made Claire Saffitz’s harissa-kissed sheet pan meatballs with feta and chickpeas, but instead of chicken, I used pork. This recipe uses the salty brine from feta cheese, which I would typically dump down the drain, to flavor the meatballs. Harissa also does some heavy lifting, adding a subtly sweet heat. For a hearty accompaniment, I made farro in my rice cooker. It turned out to be a relatively low-lift dinner, with extra servings for the week. —Urmila Ramakrishnan, associate director of social media

A celebration of fall produce

I dove into fall by returning to an old favorite, Paul Kahan’s marinated mixed roasted and charred vegetables. I had a random assortment of Hakurei turnips, red- and purple-skinned potatoes, and carrots, and even added in a fennel bulb, in an effort to do a fridge cleanout before leaving town for a few weeks. In the final 10 minutes of cooking, I threw some oiled mustard greens into the pan too. I piled it all on a platter, doused it with a lemony yogurt sauce, and topped the dish with store-bought pickled cauliflower. It was not only a great way to use up my bounty, but also a celebration of autumnal produce. —Joe Sevier, senior editor, SEO & Cooking

Creamy sweet potato gratin with no cream

I had the joy of cooking through Camélia’s Sweet Potato Gratin in the Test Kitchen before Bon Appétit’s restaurant issue was published, and let me tell you: it’s good. So good that I made it once more at home when I had some friends over. Japanese sweet potatoes are creamier, sweeter, and far more exciting than your typical orange variety, and they’re what gives this gratin its silky texture without having to use any cream at all. I served mine alongside a roasted chicken and everyone raved about it. If you’re looking for a fun autumnal side to serve at the holidays (or any day of the week), I highly recommend it. —Jesse Szewczyk, senior test kitchen editor

Weeknight white chicken chili

If you want unsolicited advice about which chili recipes you should have in your back pocket, you’ve come to the right place. Former BA staffer Kendra Vaculin’s White Chicken Chili is one such gem, a workhorse of a recipe great for busy weeknights. White chicken is, of course, its own subset in the chili-category and my favorite of them all. Kendra’s version features bouncy ground chicken, tender white beans, and pantry-friendly green chiles. It’s dairy-free, but I welcome a dollop of sour cream. And with football season upon us, you might just want to double the recipe for the perfect game day watch party contribution (it makes enough to fit a standard-sized slow cooker). —Hana Asbrink, deputy food editor

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October 10

Filipino spaghetti for FAHM

I’ve banned the word authentic from my personal lexicon (emphasis on personal!). Plenty of ink has been spilled on the subject as it relates to recipes and cuisine—the discourse is out there for those who want to engage in it. I’m writing this to get ahead of anyone dropping into my inbox to cast aspersions about something I am authentically (ahem), genuinely excited to cook and share: Filipino spaghetti. October is Filipino American History Month (FAHM), marking the first recorded arrival of Filipino immigrants to what is now the US in 1587. This recipe for an iconic Filipino celebration dish, from food writer Amelia Rampe, is an excellent rendition for those unfamiliar with the sweet-tangy classic. You can find me in the kitchen tweaking my own recipe, as I prefer a bit more spice and heat to balance out the banana ketchup (yes, banana ketchup) in the tomato sauce, but this dish will always taste of home and family. —Joseph Hernandez, associate director of drinks and lifestyle

Game day tater tot chaat

I don’t know anything about football, but I do know a thing or two about making a good game day snack. In honor of the season, I whipped up my Tater Tot Chaat. Rather than using boiled potatoes like the ones you’ll find in traditional chaat, I opt for crisped up, seasoned tots. What you get is a snack bursting with flavor and texture. The chutney can be altered to your pleasing—if cilantro tastes like soap to you, double the mint. I like using both which serve as a bright and vibrant counterpart to the creamy yogurt and tangy tamarind. —Urmila Ramakrishnan, associate director of social media

Chocolate chip olive oil cookies

These chewy, crispy, dare I say lightly savory Chocolate Chip Cookies With Olive Oil and Sea Salt have been calling my name since senior test kitchen editor Jesse Szewczyk started working on the recipe in the test kitchen several months ago. And since there are no more test batches of cookies for me to sneak home, I finally baked them for myself. (A quick note: I planned to share them with some vegan friends, so I made sure to use organic sugar and vegan dark chocolate, but they work equally well with standard sugar and bittersweet chocolate if desired.) They are so good. The cookies stay moist and tender for days without going greasy, are packed with grassy olive oil flavor that plays beautifully with fruity, rich dark chocolate, and the toasted flour lends each bite a warm, almost nutty taste. The best part? I didn’t even have to remember to soften butter the night before. —Kelsey Jane Youngman, senior service editor

This dish that won over beet skeptics

This week’s mission: turn my circle of beet-hating friends into beet lovers. You have to start the skeptics with roasted beets––not canned, cold, or raw––so senior test kitchen editor Shilpa Uskokovic’s Sheet-Pan Pierogies and Beets felt like a great choice. The oven helps bring out the natural sugars of the veg, which downplays any woody notes some people may dislike. Shilpa skillfully pairs the beets with warm pierogies, because who can say no to those precious pockets of fluffy potato. As they cook, the pierogies take on a softly crisp exterior. A dollop of sour cream, wisps of dill, and a light sprinkle of Everything Bagel Seasoning (because I was out of standalone poppy seeds) all elevate the dish. The result: a warm, salty-sweet meal that successfully won over my group. —Jaia Clingham-David, research fellow

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October 3

Fritters to cherish summer

This was the summer I became a person who likes summer. I don’t know if it’s because I spent a lot of it in air-conditioning, but for the first time summer didn’t feel like a soupy slog I simply had to endure. I embraced the sweat running down my back, relished the late sunsets, and enjoyed every farmers market. I am fully in denial that it’s over, and just this week bought four pounds of zucchini to make me feel better. I made zucchini keftedes for dinner to use up my hopefully-not-last-of-the-season stash. Eyeballing almost everything, I definitely skipped the mint (because I hate it so) and used olive oil instead of canola for frying. The breadcrumbs are a genius touch—the reason, I believe, these fritters are juicy and tender rather than gummy and soggy, the way fritters bound with flour tend to be. They were gone a little too soon, just like my first favorite summer. —Shilpa Uskokovic, senior test kitchen editor

Tomato tart

I sliced my last bunch (perhaps for the year?) of tiny heirloom tomatoes thinly to layer onto mascarpone-slicked puff pastry, a nod to a late-summer classic from The New York Times. My version had some tweaks, but I think the similarities are obvious. I layered in whisper-thin wedges from a quarter of a red onion, dusted it with ancho chile flakes, and drizzled the whole thing with olive oil that I’d infused with a grated garlic clove. When the tart emerged from the oven, edges puffed, I dolloped on mounds of cottage cheese, doused with more olive oil, and sprinkled it with a shower of chopped cilantro. Ah, summer. We barely knew ye. —Joe Sevier, senior editor, SEO and cooking

Branzino for Monday supper

When I cook fish at home, I usually default to salmon. It’s not too pricey and widely available (plus there are enough salmon recipes to fill up a whole year of meals). But I also love branzino. I’ll always order it at a restaurant, and every time I make it I’m reminded how delicious it can be with just salt, pepper, lemon, and some herbs. The branzino this week was extra special because it came from Seatopia, a sustainable seafood subscription box, and was incredibly high-quality. I crisped up the skin and served it simply with a salsa verde, the last of the season’s farmers market tomatoes, and farfalle pasta. Most definitely the best Monday night supper I could dream up. —Kate Kassin, editorial operations manager

Halloumi pasta salad

For the very first time in my life, I grew tomatoes. I watched a lot (I mean a lot) of YouTube videos, spoke to anyone I could at the community garden for advice, and got my hands dirty. The reward: plump beefsteak tomatoes. This is the gift that keeps on giving—even in the first week of October I’m still getting the love apple straight from the vine. I’ve eaten them straight up, on sandwiches, and the latest, in this Orechiette Salad With Halloumi Croutons from Yossy Arefi. Buttery fried cubes of Halloumi cheese get mixed with cooked pasta, Persian cucumbers, red onion, tender greens, and, of course, juicy tomato chunks. When tossed with a simple vinegary dressing, all of the flavors sing. —Nina Moskowitz, associate editor, cooking

Cookies for any and all cravings

The best cookie hack? Make a double batch of dough, portion it out into balls on a sheet pan, freeze for about 10 minutes so they won’t stick together, then store in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer. This way they’re ready to be baked off whenever I get a hankering for sweets. I’ve been making a different cookie recipe each week in my quest to be a more confident baker. I’ve learned about dough hydration, melted butter versus softened, and so much more. This recipe has been on my want-to-make list for a while now—I’m toffee’s biggest fan. After making these, I’m not sure I’ll want to try another recipe. Skor bars are a nonnegotiable addition; the cookies have the perfect toffee-to-chocolate ratio and wonderful texture. —Urmila Ramakrishnan, associate director of social media