Leite’s Culinaria

A cast-iron skilled filled with choriqueso, a cheese dip topped with queso.

Starters

A sliced air fryer prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin covered in mustard-fig sauce on a white platter

Summertime Eats

Grilled Chicken Tacos with Fruit Salsa

When you face the inevitable glut of ripe stone fruits you couldn’t resist at the market, you’re going to want these grilled chicken tacos with fruit salsa at the top of your list.

6 hrs

More Grilling Recipes

Blackberry Ice Cream

So exquisite it makes folks say “This recipe is a 10.” and “Perfect.” and “Gloriously smooth.” and “Very rich.” Blackberries, lime, and cream, and not much else.

10 hrs

Fresh Peach Pie

“Best peach pie in the world!” That’s what folks are saying about this recipe. We’re not going to argue.

1 hr

Elote ~ Mexican-Style Street Corn

Does it get any better (or more like you’re vacationing south of the border) than grilled corn slathered with lime mayo, cheese, cilantro, and hot sauce? Nah.

35 mins

Grilled Pizza with Pepperoni and Mushrooms

Pizza, pizza. Here it’s topped with mushrooms, pepperoni, and fresh mozzarella cheese then tossed on the grill—yes, the grill— until crisp.

13 hrs 15 mins

A bag of David Leite's Coney Island hot dog spice blend.

For The Best Dressed Dogs

Say Howdy to My Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce Blend

Love hot dogs? Love chili? Love Coney Island-style dogs? My blend, which comes really close to the recipe my family used in their hot dog shops in Massachusetts, just dropped!

Get yours now

Hey, I’m David Leite

I’m a three-time James Beard Award-winning food writer, cookbook author, memoirist, podcast host, and publisher. I created this site in 1999 to help you find simple, quick, and wicked flavorful recipes. For the past 24 years, I’ve been cooking, teaching, and writing about all types of food, including those from my Portuguese heritage. Let’s eat! Vamos comer!

Cool Down

Aperol Spritz

A modern riff on the classic Italian cocktail. The addition of orange-flavored hard seltzer gives your drink a refreshing, and unexpected, upgrade.

5 mins

8 Easy No-Bake Desserts

Satisfy your sweet tooth without turning on your oven this summer.

Peach, Burrata, and Basil Salad

Peachy keen takes on new meaning with this little stunner of a starter or, if you’re like us and have a hard time restraining yourself, your entire dinner. Summer personified.

15 mins

Mexican Chocolate Pops

A little something dark and decadent to swoon over on a sultry summer afternoon. A little cinnamon- and cayenne-laced chocolate and cream never hurt anyone.

6 hrs 15 mins

Fresh Tomato Tart

A perfectly flaky crust. A simple goat cheese filling. Some fresh pesto. And those spectacular heirloom tomatoes sitting on your counter. Surprisingly simple. Impressively spectacular.

2 hrs 15 mins

Most Beloved Recipes

These are the most popular, most loved, and most made dishes over the past 25 years.

Find a New Recipe

Batter-Fried Chicken

Proof that it doesn’t take buttermilk or an insufferably long overnight brine to make insanely tender, crazily crisp, gosh darn perfect fried chicken.

1 hr 30 mins

Easy Slow Roast Pork Butt in the Oven

This roast pork butt, coated in a simple rub of brown sugar, paprika, cumin, and red pepper flakes, is an incredibly easy recipe to make and yields enough pulled pork to feed a small army.

10 hrs

Pastéis de Nata ~ Portuguese Custard Tarts

Not Portuguese? Not a problem. It won’t lessen your appreciation for these little lovelies with the shatteringly crisp pastry cradling ridiculously creamy custard.

2 hrs 30 mins

Mussels in a Creamy White Wine Garlic Sauce

Superbly flavored and pretty elegant for a 30 minute dinner. Serve with crusty bread because the sauce is astoundingly good.

30 mins

Portuguese Recipes

come mais

Portuguese Clams with Vinho Verde ~ Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato

A poetic take on fresh clams simmered in white wine. This comforting Portuguese classic is sorta the epitome of simple done well.

45 mins

Portuguese Deep-Fried Green Beans

In Portugal, deep-frying beans is a long-standing tradition. Serve these peixinhos da horta as a starter, snack, or, as the Portuguese do, a side dish.

45 mins