banana bread

Vegetarian Kofta Pitas with Plant Based Meat and Yogurt Tahini Sauce

Crispy lamb patties stuffed into pita have been pleasing eaters from the Mediterranean to the Middle East for centuries. This version trades lamb for plant-based "beef," seasoned with tangy pomegranate molasses, fresh mint, and hot paprika to evoke the flavors of the classic. The plant-based meat mixture is somewhat loose; getting a good hard sear is the key to helping these patties stay together. A tangle of tart, sumac-tinted onions and a drizzle of tahini-laced yogurt sauce make these plant-based pitas a hearty and flavorful meal.

Tangier Street Bread

This "bread" is Tangier's version of socca, the chickpea flour–based pancake of Nice, France, but it's much thicker and more custardy, like flan. Moroccans eat it by the slice on the street, sprinkled with cumin or smeared with harissa, but it's also delicious spread with cold salads, like Fresh Tomato and Caper Salad.

Corn Tortillas

The secret to Hot Bread Kitchen's richly flavorful tortillas is the masa made from freshly ground blue or white corn. Fresh masa is becoming increasingly available in cities with large Mexican populations, but masa harina, a dry corn flour, works well in the recipe below. Maseca is the most commonly available brand, but Bob's Red Mill (sold at health-food stores, some supermarkets, or online) has better flavor.

Piadina Italian Flatbread

Laura Lazzaroni's recipe for piadina, a traditional Italian flatbread usually made with lard, is the one she has come to rely on at home. It's made with extra-virgin olive oil (instead of lard) and sourdough starter discard. Lazzaroni lets the dough ferment in the fridge for 2 days: This adds creaminess and a delicious hint of acidity.

Chickpea Chile Flatbreads

Suvir Saran rolls the savory flatbread dough into a cone shape before griddling, flattening it to create extra-flaky layers.

Virtue Cornbread

Slightly sweet and buttery, this classic Southern cornbread is a must-order at Virtue, Erick Williams' flagship restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, where he celebrates the food of the Great Migration. Eat this cornbread warm the same day you bake it; any leftovers can be used to make Blueberry Cornbread French Toast or Lobster Tournedos with Cornbread.