About David Leite

In the pantheon of great Portuguese foods, there are few sandwiches that are more superlative than the bifana. Essentially pork, bread, and sauce, it’s comfort food at its simplest.

Sufficiently creamy and indulgent to feel worthy of a special occasion. Yet made from pantry staples and completely doable on a weeknight.

A traditional Azorean dish that boasts meltingly tender oven-braised beef, potatoes, chouriço, and onions. It’s a rustic, homey, Sunday supper sorta dish from David’s VERY Portuguese mom.

These sweet and spicy nuts are addictive, so serve with care. The sweet comes from sugar, the spicy is the result of red pepper flakes. Use any kind of nut.

A cool, creamy version of our favorite pie. Pumpkin ice cream with chunks of crunchy crust and, get this, swirls of marshmallowy meringue.

This is, without any doubt, the BEST brined chicken recipe we’ve EVER tasted. Seriously. (And did we mention how quick and easy it is?!)

Pasta made fresh according to Italian tradition is unspeakably more supple, satisfying, and gratifying than the dried-out store-bought stuff and will make your mouth water. Here’s how to make it at home.

This Ooni pizza with Portuguese sausage and sheep’s cheese has a smoky, spicy flavor that is great for pizza Fridays.

Why should you have to choose between chocolate and Oreo ice cream when they taste so magnificent together?

Some nights we dream of being lost amid giant steaks piled high with mounds and mounds of sweet caramelized shallots made according to this recipe. Hate to wake up.

Remember your mom telling you, “Pretty is as pretty does…”? This lovely elixir knows no distinction–it’s just pretty through and through.

To his surprise, and horror, some of the best salt cod fritters David Leite ever ate weren’t Portuguese, but Spanish. Light, crunchy, and perfectly balanced.

This spaghetti carbonara recipe tosses pasta with eggs, cheese, guanciale, pancetta or bacon, and pepper to form a creamy sauce. Quick and easy.

An impressive dessert, created by David himself, gets an autumnal lilt from pumpkin purée in the batter and maple syrup in the frosting. One of our most popular cakes.

Upgrade your potato gratin with a little French onion flair. Layers of mushrooms and onions are slipped between potatoes and it all gets covered in cheese.

These wonders of wonders are irresistible cakey donuts baked in muffin tins that are spiked with nutmeg and cardamom and rolled in melted butter and cinnamon sugar.

This isn’t just an upgrade to French onion soup. This isn’t just roasted chicken. It’s an incredible combination of all the best parts of both, darling.

Even the most candy-obsessed could use a little healthy upgrade on Halloween. A slice of apple covered in chocolate hits all the sweet spots.

Dense and rich, this gluten-free cake is a fave among the Portuguese, and anyone who’s ever tried it. Its unforgettable taste comes from almonds, lemon, cinnamon, and vanilla.

Sweet, crispy apples crown this elegant apple rose tart. The apples aren’t baked, so their crisp bite of honey and citrus shine.