What does “feel-good meals” imply? It is dependent upon who you ask. That’s why, every month, our Really feel-Good Meals Plan—with nourishing recipes and some wild playing cards—is hosted by somebody new. For August, deputy meals editor Hana Asbrink is taking a mellow strategy to essentially the most vibrant season of the 12 months.
Completely happy August, mates—how is your summer time going? It has been a scorching one right here in New York Metropolis and I’ve relied on a gradual food plan of watermelon, chilled noodles, and fruit slushies from the neighborhood smoothie spot to remain cool. I really like air-conditioning myself from the within out with frosty meals. However in the present day, I’m sharing one other technique for beating the warmth: Go scorching.
As in lots of cultures, Koreans consider consuming piping scorching meals brings reduction throughout hotter months. Battle warmth with warmth, if you’ll. Doing so raises your physique temperature, encouraging you to sweat and funky off. Samgyetang, a gurgling hen and ginseng soup with candy rice, garlic, and jujubes, is an iconic dish loved throughout summer time, most notably throughout sambok, the three hottest “canine days” outlined by the lunar calendar.
Impressed by samgyetang and one other Korean favourite, spicy sundubu jjigae, I created this Silken Tofu Stew With Clams and Zucchini. Fast-cooking bivalves and summer time’s bumper-crop squash be a part of forces with comfortable tofu in a relaxed, comforting soup. Whether or not you’re bodily sick or mentally fried, this recipe will refresh you in a delicate approach.
Learn on for the total meal plan—and some different pick-me-ups for the month.
August’s Really feel-Good Recipes
We’ve hit peak summer time. I’m fortunately preserving busy with weekend getaways and farmers market journeys, however some days, the climate zaps my power and retains my formidable plans at bay. (Ultimately I’ll join that pottery class. I’ll!). Dinner is after I hit the reset button. These recipes are quick for busy days and energizing for the countless humidity. Choose your favourite to make this week, then preserve it going to prepare dinner all of them earlier than Labor Day.
If zen had been a soup
Anytime a transparent soup will get made at work, our take a look at kitchen editor Kendra Vaculin rapidly identifies it as one thing I’d get pleasure from. It’s true. I really like a quiet broth. Something akin to dashi, consommé, or bone broth, and I’m there. This recipe is true up my alley, showcasing a light-weight broth, comfortable tofu, and candy clams. If yow will discover it at your native H Mart or Asian grocer, additional comfortable tofu packaged in a cylindrical tube has nice texture and is supremely satisfying to take away from its case (simply use a pointy knife to chop down the center earlier than squeezing the tofu out of every half, or scooping out with a spoon).
A rice cooker supper
My trusty Zojirushi rice cooker is my BFF, little doubt about it. Not solely is a rice cooker an categorical cease to completely cooked grains, it’s additionally a multi-dimensional equipment you may lean on to deliver a full meal collectively. Right here, you layer in a combination of rinsed rice and quinoa, shiitake mushrooms, and evenly seasoned salmon fillets for a hands-off meal, topped with a scallion-soy dressing. And the leftovers make an amazing lunch.
The official rice cooker of the Bon Appétit take a look at kitchen is a Zojirushi. Which mannequin is best for you?
No-cook noodle sauce
I began taking tennis classes throughout COVID—a present from me to me—and there’s virtually nothing I look ahead to extra every week. Once I get again from the court docket, I’m a scorching mess and must eat one thing reviving ASAP. This recipe is ideal. It’s a nod to chilled Korean kongguksu with a daring exclamation mark of fiery chili crisp to complete, and it conveniently scales down to at least one serving. (If I’m actually wiped from tennis, these useful mul naengmyeon kits from H Mart save the day.).
Very speedy shrimp
You already know what’s good after a protracted day within the solar? Not having to prepare dinner. Yeah, I mentioned it! However when that’s not an choice, I’m going for dishes that reduce my time in entrance of the stovetop. Shrimp is a go-to for me (I all the time have a bag within the freezer) as a result of they prepare dinner quicker than quick. Working example: this brilliant and zesty, 20-minute recipe worthy of its “Beautiful” moniker. It ranks excessive on the low-effort, high-impact matrix—nice for these impromptu, rosé-fueled summertime gatherings.
Extra Really feel-Good Finds for the Month
Candy reduction from bug bites
Ever since I used to be a child, I used to be all the time the one mosquitoes attacked first. It’s a small worth to pay that I readily settle for in alternate for lengthy summer time days (and sometimes having ice cream for breakfast). Through the years I’ve tried all method of pre-bite repellents and post-bite balms. These After Chew roll-ons are sufficiently small to hold round; preserve one within the fridge for an additional cool respite after your subsequent golden-hour grasp. (There’s additionally one for youths or anybody with delicate pores and skin.)
Exhibits I can’t cease watching
My summer time has been crammed with tv (generally it feels good simply to zone out, amirite?). I indulged in a whole season of RHONY on a flight and caught up on a bunch of actuality reveals spanning sports activities (Break Level and System 1: Drive to Survive are each nice) and actual property (Proudly owning Manhattan is enjoyable, Shopping for London even higher). So nobody is extra stunned than me that I haven’t caught a single episode of the cultural zeitgeist that’s The Bear. Quickly.
See you all subsequent month, when Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit’s editorial operations supervisor, will host September’s Really feel-Good Meals Plan.
