recipes

The 10 Most Popular Recipes of August 2020

The zestiest chicken thighs, a peachy chaat, and more reader favorites from this month.
Corn and Peach Chaat Recipe
Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Sohla El-Waylly

Sorry to be a glum Captain Obvious, but summer is now closer to its end than its sweet beginnings. Somehow—really, HOW?!—September is upon us, and to commiserate, the data lords say we’ve all been making the most of our last warm weeks with recipes that share two unique qualities: 1) They’re easy (read: simple ingredients, no arduous cook time, foolproof deliciousness) 2) They overfloweth with fresh summer produce, which, duh, is at its peak perfection right now. (Run, don’t walk, to your nearest farmers market!) This month's batch of recipes are the kind of bright seasonal dishes that make me want to belly flop into a natural body of water, feel the grass between my quaran-toes, and double-fist a couple of shandies. We’re talking about Brigid Washington’s ultra-zesty six-ingredient chicken thighs. Chaat bursting with sweet corn and juice-down-your-wrists peaches. Sohla El-Waylly's adobo-style eggplant in all its crispy-creamy glory. So for the love of all that is sun-kissed and good, here are this month’s most popular recipes, starting with No. 1.

  • Blistered Cheesy Poblano Peppers
    Photo by Molly Baz
    1/10

    Blistered Cheesy Peppers

    It’s almost silly how easy this dish of impossibly delicious, ooey-gooey cheesy chiles is to execute. 

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  • Photo and Food Styling by Sarah Jampel
    2/10

    Trini Stewed Eggplant

    In Brigid Washington's home country of Trinidad and Tobago, this garlicky eggplant dish, known colloquially as baigan or melongene, isn’t considered a recipe because all it requires is a low flame, a handful of garlic cloves, a generous dash of curry powder, and eggplant. The process of making this dish seethes with a simplicity that defines island life.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro
    3/10

    Tuesday Night Meatballs

    We stripped meatballs down to the most essential elements for weeknight realities: beef, parm, store bought tomato sauce. You got this.

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  • Photo and Food Styling by Sohla El-Waylly 
    4/10

    Grilled Naan and Tomato Party

    Snatch up summer’s last big, juicy heirloom tomatoes and join Sohla El-Waylly for a grilled naan and tomato party. Grated raw tomato and ghee-sizzled nigella seeds create a base for pretty-in-pink raita and do double duty smeared on the naan during grilling. Meanwhile, big tomato wedges get tossed in spiced yogurt before charring on the grill. The dough for the naan is sticky and soft, but don’t be tempted to add flour. Trust in thy flatbread!

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  • Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown 
    5/10

    Buttery Tomato and Cinnamon-Spiced Rice

    This Persian rice dish, known as kateh gojeh farangi, is the ideal late summer comfort food. The cinnamon tames the natural acidity of tomatoes, creating a sweet-savory aroma and flavor.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    6/10

    Adobo-Style Eggplant

    Adobo—both a style of preparation as well as the name of a dish—is one of the most widely known foods of the Philippines, often referred to as its national dish. Like many good things, it originated as a preservation technique and can be broadly categorized as anything cooked in vinegar, often with soy sauce, black peppercorns, and bay leaves. And in this case: pork for extra richness. Although this dish will work well with any eggplant, try it in late summer when they reach their peak at the farmers market.

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  • Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou
    7/10

    Apple Cider Doughnut Loaf Cake

    This is the cake you bake on the weekend and then eat a slice of every evening (or morning) throughout the week. It’s called meal prep.

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  • Photography by Nassima Rothacker
    8/10

    Whole Moong Dosa

    Growing up, Chetna Makan's mum would make these moong dal dosas often. She loves their vibrant green color, but they're also deeply flavorful and extremely nutritious, thanks to the mung beans and spinach. 

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  • Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Sohla El-Waylly
    9/10

    Corn and Peach Chaat

    Juicy ripe peaches, raw sweet corn, and roasted peanuts come together in this peak summer snack—a perfect way to refresh after a day in the sun.

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  • Photo and food styling by Sarah Jampel
    10/10

    Citrusy Chicken Thighs

    The zest and juice of lime and lemon deliver a simple but powerful flavor-packed punch to this everyday staple.

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Ali is a writer and editor at Bon Appétit whose culture and lifestyle work includes reporting on the health claims behind fake meats, interviews with opinionated chefs about the evolution of restaurants, personal essays on the intersection of work and identity, and subtle attempts to propagate her favorite Australian foods.... Read more
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