Cook's Illustrated

At Cook's Illustrated, our test cooks are dedicated to testing and retesting recipes 20, 30, sometimes 50 times until we come up with a recipe that will come out right the first time -- and every time -- you make it. And each issue of Cook's Illustrated is 100% ADVERTISING FREE, so you get unbiased and objective information on every page. As we like to say at Cook's Illustrated, "We make the mistakes so you don't have to."

Cook's Illustrated

STREET CRED

QUICK TIPS

Bring the Halal Cart Home • Tender chicken and golden rice doused with a cooling-spicy duo of sauces is one of New York’s best-loved street foods.

HALAL CART–STYLE CHICKEN AND RICE

Shrimp Rolls, Two Ways • Hot and buttery or cool and creamy, this more-accessible twist on the lobster roll is just as luxe as the real deal.

NEW ENGLAND–STYLE SHRIMP ROLLS

Salty-Sweet Gochujang-Glazed Ribs • Blood Bros. BBQ’s signature rack blends Texas tradition with the bold flavors of Houston’s diasporic cooking to create something unmistakably original.

HOUSTON: THE MELTING POT OF TEXAS

GOCHUJANG-GLAZED RIBS

DINNER TONIGHT

Tonnato on Everything • Italy’s luxurious, flavor-packed sauce is destined to become your signature condiment.

Som Tam Thai Is a Balancing Act • Thailand’s iconic shredded papaya salad is at once spicy, bright, salty, and sweet.

SOM TAM THAI (THAI PAPAYA SALAD)

No-Cook Veggies Speed Up Dinner

Fast, Easy Flavor Pairings • The salt-treated vegetables taste great as is but are easy to enhance with a dressing, sauce, or drizzle of bottled condiments. These recipes serve 4 and are designed to use the 12 ounces of vegetables you’ve prepped.

Crispy, Tender Tostones • Rooted in Latin American and Caribbean kitchens, fried green plantains are all about contrast: crackly, caramelized edges and soft, buttery centers.

TOSTONES (TWICE-FRIED GREEN PLANTAINS)

Turn Corn into Pasta Sauce • The vegetable’s natural starch makes it ideal for pureeing into a full-bodied sauce.

FRESH CORN PASTA

Carrot Cake, with a Twist • Brimming with nuts, ginger, and warm spices, this homey bake also happens to be gluten-free.

GINGERY CARROT CAKE WITH PISTACHIOS

Pop Culture • In Mexico, the coolest, most refreshing way to beat the heat is with a rainbow of paletas.

PALETAS

The Best Gas Grills • A gas grill makes outdoor cooking convenient and fun, but finding one that works well can be difficult. What sets the top performers apart?

Everything We Tested

The Best Hard Coolers • Premium coolers can cost upwards of $300. Do you really need to spend that much?

Everything We Tested

KITCHEN NOTES

EQUIPMENT CORNER

ASTERACEAE • The Sunflower Family