Every week, Executive Food Editor Keith Dresser pairs each main dish with a side to give you a complete, satisfying dinner without the guesswork. Look for the game plan section to learn tips on how to streamline your kitchen work so that dinner comes together quicker.
Weeknight Cooking
Dinner This Week: Grilled Shrimp
This week’s menus include Grilled Shrimp Skewers, Teriyaki Tofu, and Skillet-Roasted Chicken for dinner in about an hour.
By Published Aug. 9, 2023.
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Dinner 1: Grilled Shrimp Skewers and Sautéed Corn
Game Plan: Start by skewering the shrimp (step 1). Prep the ingredients for the corn and the sauce for the shrimp while the grill heats. Sauté the corn right before grilling the shrimp.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers are designed to be served with a sauce (links follow), but it’s also fine to simply serve them with lemon wedges. (If omitting the sauce, grill the shrimp for an extra 15 to 20 seconds.) Larger shrimp (16 to 20 per pound) and smaller shrimp (26 to 30 per pound) can be used, but the cooking times will need to be adjusted to suit the size. Sautéed Corn with Cherry Tomatoes, Ricotta Salata, and Basil has a rich, toasted flavor. If ricotta salata is unavailable, try feta or queso fresco. Parsley, chives, or cilantro make good substitutes for the basil.
Printable Shopping Lists: Grilled Shrimp Skewers and Sautéed Corn
Sauces for Shrimp: Spicy Lemon, Fresh Tomato with Feta, Charmoula
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Dinner 2: Teriyaki Tofu and Sautéed Snow Peas
Game Plan: Prep and bake the tofu. Sauté the snow peas 5 minutes before the tofu is done.
Teriyaki Tofu starts with from-scratch teriyaki sauce made with soy sauce, sugar, mirin, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch. If you don’t have mirin, 1 tablespoon of white wine or sake mixed with 1 teaspoon of sugar can be substituted. Firm tofu can be used instead of extra-firm. Adding a little sugar to Sautéed Snow Peas with Ginger, Garlic, and Scallion helps to bump up the peas’ natural flavor. To keep the pods crisp, we limit the cooking time: Two minutes is just right.
Printable Shopping Lists: Teriyaki Tofu with Sautéed Snow Peas
Equipment Review
The Best Nakiri
Beloved by Japanese home cooks, these traditional vegetable-cutting knives deserve a place in your kitchen.Read Our Review
Dinner 3: Skillet-Roasted Chicken and Succotash
Game Plan: Prepare the chicken through step 3. While the chicken roasts, prep the ingredients for the succotash. While the chicken rests for 5 minutes, cook the succotash. When the succotash is done, finish the chicken.
Skillet-Roasted Chicken in Lemon Sauce calls for a mix of chicken parts, but all white or dark meat will work just fine. We like the color and flavor that the combination of fresh parsley and oregano add to the sauce, but the parsley can be omitted and ¼ teaspoon of dried oregano can be used. Large butter beans add a hearty texture to Modern Succotash, but other types of canned beans, such as cannellini or pinto, are good substitutes. Cilantro or basil can stand in for the parsley.
Printable Shopping Lists: Skillet-Roasted Chicken and Succotash
To view more quick weeknight dinner ideas, check out the rest of the Dinner This Week series.
- Dinner This Week: BBQ Pork Kebabs
- Dinner This Week: Pan-Seared Steaks
- Dinner This Week: Garlic-Lime Pork Tenderloin
- Dinner This Week: Speedy Shrimp Scampi
- Dinner This Week: Spaghetti Puttanesca
