Thai chili sauce, cilantro, and roasted peanuts add zip to this easy dish. For the best texture and flavor, use leftover rice, which has less moisture than fresh-cooked grains.
The heartiness of polenta makes it a comforting menu addition when autumn's chill sets in. The coarse grains develop their characteristic mushiness when they're mixed with simmering liquid, so reserve some stamina for stirring.
Ma Po Tofu, a classic dish from the Sichuan province of China, inspired this recipe. The original is made with soft tofu and ground pork or beef with plenty of heat from dried chile peppers and Sichuan peppercorns. Portobello mushrooms stand in for the meat in our vegetarian version and convenient jarred chile-garlic sauce gives it plenty of kick. Serve with brown rice.
Marinated tofu slices acquire a golden crust when grilled; the olive-garlic mayonnaise on the sandwich adds a Mediterranean flavor. Serve with grilled asparagus.
You can stop looking now. You've found the be-all end-all of easy ideas. Four ingredients and 15 minutes to a better-for-you shrimp and veggie stir-fry.
