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For truly uncomplicated cooking, it all comes down to a good, sharp knife and a big, hot pan (preferably an oven-safe one). With those two tools, you can make a wide range of recipes, from Indian spiced rice to baked eggs in tomato sauce to simply sauteed chicken with sage. And that's just the beginning. Let these 10 recipes inspire you to eat better and cook more, all with a limited kitchen.
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Tomato Rice (Tamatar Biryani)
This colorful rice is loaded with aromatics and spices. You can vary the heat with the type of chiles you choose (Thai are much spicier than serrano), and whether you remove the seeds and heat-packed white ribs—bear in mind that the spice will continue to build as you eat. Get the recipe on Food52.
Moroccan Merguez Ragout with Poached Eggs
The perfect meal for the middle of the day—or the beginning of the day, or the end of the day—with spicy merguez sausage bathed in a lush, smoky sauce of tomatoes, onion, garlic and spices, with runny eggs cooked right in the sauce. Get the recipe on Food52.
Pasta e Fagioli
Hearty, savory, flavorful, and miles better than that can of bean soup you found in the back of your pantry. Get the recipe on Food52.
Okonomiyaki
Eggy and crisp, these Kyoto-style pancakes are studded with plump morsels of tender shrimp and threaded with ribbons of cabbage and rings of scallion. It's street food at its best, without any sketchy origins. Get the recipe on Food52.
Turkey Pho
The perfect home for your Thanksgiving leftovers, with a warm, comforting, brothy result. Get the recipe on Food52.
One-Eyed Sandwiches
Egg in the basket, egg-in-the-hole, bird's nest—whatever you call it, this toast filled with an over-easy egg hands down beats that styrofoam-y egg sandwich you were thinking about picking up from the drive-thru. Just don't try to eat it with your hands. Get the recipe on Food52.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Serving suggestions for this classic, creamy carbonara? Straight out of the pan. Get the recipe on Food52.
Soft Scrambled Eggs
A no-frills staple that is totally essential to any hot-plate cook's repertoire. Get the recipe on Food52.
Chicken Breast with Fresh Sage
So easy, so lemon-y, and so ready in 20 minutes. Get the recipe on Food52.
Bell-less, Whistle-less, Damn Good French Toast
The outside of this toast is a crisp crepe-like shell. Inside, pudding. And there's actually nothing to making it but a little stirring. What are you waiting for? Get the recipe on Food52.
