Alexandra Burghardt, Recipe Tester

Ropa vieja is a magic act of sorts. Slowly braised beef and a handful of ingredients become more sumptuous than the sum of its parts.

Given the dozen enthusiastic reviews we receivved from our testers, these Instant Pot tikka masala lentils are your answer to a quick and healthy weeknight dinner.

Soft cheese dreams are made of labneh, which is ultra lush, creamy, and tangy. You may find you need to stop yourself from spreading it on everything.

Swear you’ll forget you’re eating healthy with these crisp-edged carrots and cabbage that are burnished to tempting heights after being slathered with an iconic Korean spice paste.

Real-deal candied sweet potatoes that are, yes, indecently sweet in that traditional Southern way. Yet they’re also spiced just so to satisfy in more way than one.

An Italian tradition that, in true form, transforms simple ingredients into something sublime.

Whole roasted cauliflower takes center stage when painted with tahini, garlic, and pistachios and roasted until tender on the inside, spiffy on the outside.

Inexpensive everyday ingredients become incredibly satiating and comforting with very little effort. You know, in that rustic French home cooking sorta way.

Proof that spectacularly fudgy, messily gooey, intensely chocolatey brownies can be made without butter or eggs.

Perfectly spiced. Simple to make. Welcome any time of day or night. And so lovely no one will EVER guess it’s vegan. Swear.