Oh, September. You are madness. You are back to school and return to work after the lazy August and Labor Day. You are impeccable new notebooks and backpacks. You are closed shoes. You’re cross calendars, organized carpools, assembled nut-free lunches.
Preparing dinner every day is already a chore, but in hectic September, it can be an ordeal.
I write a New York Times Kitchen newsletter called Five dishes during the week, with five recipes for busy people who still want something good to eat. (Register here.) And so, in honor of September, I’ve selected 100 dinner recipes that I think you should try this year, ideas that make delicious eating easy.
The 100 recipes are simple and many require only 30 minutes of preparation. None take more than an hour, and if they take that long, most of the time is hands-off. I thought of the kids when I chose these recipes, but the truth is that no matter where you are in life, September has the power to sweep us all away. I hope you find dishes here that you love and repeat them all year round.
Miso-honey chicken and asparagus. These boneless chicken thighs grill instead of baking, reducing cooking time to about 10 minutes. This miso-honey marinade is good enough to sip with a spoon.
Chicken and sticky coconut rice. In this all-in-one meal, chicken and rice cook together in a bath of coconut milk.
Baked chicken thighs with mustard and herbs. This is the chicken recipe you need to please everyone. Replace the mayonnaise with mustard if you wish.
Grilled chicken with tajin. The chili-lime touch of Tajín is sublime sprinkled with mango and watermelon; as a rim on a margarita, it’s unmatched. It’s also a great spice blend for chicken (and seafood too).
Chicken Katsu. Schnitzel, Milanese, katsu – all are breaded and pan-fried cutlets, and very adorable ones at that. Katsu is a Japanese staple, served with tonkatsu sauce.
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Pasta, noodles, rice and other grains
Vegetable pulao. Cardamom, cinnamon, cumin and turmeric flavor this warm and easy-to-cook dinner.
Kimchi fried rice. There’s butter in this fried rice, which produces particularly tasty results. I love this recipe.
Miso glazed fish. It couldn’t be simpler or more foolproof.
Shrimp with spicy sauce. An incredibly simple move: toss shrimp in a bowl with hot sauce and butter. I keep the shrimp in the freezer to prepare them.
Salmon bites. These fish cakes use an underrated pantry staple: canned salmon. But you can use freshly cooked salmon or leftover salmon if you like. Serve with tartar sauce, hot sauce or both.
Coconut curry fish. This staple dish relies on Jamaican curry powder for its powerful flavor and hue.
Skillet Fish Tikka with Spinach. The star of this clever recipe is the vibrant tikka marinade, which flavors both the fish and the greens.
Vegetable pajeon (Korean pancakes with green onions and vegetables). Make these crispy-edged pancakes with whatever vegetables you have on hand, even leftovers.
Soy-braised tofu with bok choy. This recipe is a weeknight staple at my house, a quick and flavorful braise that can take on any vegetable you throw at it.
Sabich bowls. The signature elements of sabich, the Israeli sandwich made with eggplant, hummus, tahini sauce and boiled egg, are just as good in bowl form. Chickpeas replace traditional hummus.
Bean and Cheese Burritos. For all the tweens in your life who recently became vegetarian, and for anyone else in your house who loves salty refried bean mash.
Plantains with candied tomatoes and eggs. Tomatoes and eggs are a popular pair around the world; This particular recipe is inspired by a version you’ll find in Lagos, Nigeria, made with firm plantains.
Kejriwal eggs. I’ve made this spicy egg on toast dish with many kinds of bread (even bagels), and it always works. The combination of mustard, cheddar and chili pops.
Gyeran Bap (egg rice). It has become part of my regular cooking routine.
Chilaquiles. For transcendent chilaquiles, fry or bake tortillas to make the chips yourself. For quick chilaquiles, buy the chips. It will always be good.
Çilbir (Turkish eggs with yogurt). The dinner eggs of my dreams.
