The Culinary Institute of America

Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja is a James Beard Award Finalist and serves a Middle Eastern menu at Shukette restaurant in New York. Her plant-forward dishes draw on the rustic, vibrant flavors found throughout Morocco and Tunisia. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Ayesha is the daughter of an Indonesian father and Italian mother. She talks about her culinary influences, and her penchant for taking inspirations from classic dishes with unique flavorful ingredients. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Chef Nasim Alikhani of Sofreh, in Brooklyn, shows us how she makes a’ash reshteh, a classic Iranian stew. This intensely aromatic and rich stew is made with beans, lentils, noodles, herbs, the liquid from strained yogurt, and liquid whey. The a’ash reshteh is topped with mint oil, more liquid whey and onion chips. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Chef Nasim Alikhani of Sofreh, in Brooklyn, shows us how she makes anarbij with cauliflower steak. Anarbij is a fragrant stew from northern Iran, made with an abundance of herbs, pomegranate molasses, onion, and ground walnuts. She serves the stew as a hearty vegan entrée at her restaurant plated in a shallow bowl and topped with a grilled cauliflower steak brushed with pomegranate molasses. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Nasim Alikhani is chef/owner of celebrated Persian restaurant, Sofreh, in Brooklyn. Growing up in Iran, Nasim Alikhani was a passionate cook from childhood, spending the first years of her life in the kitchen alongside her mother. When she departed after the revolution, it was by re-creating the dishes of her youth that she was able to feel connected to home. It took Nasim 25 years to realize her dream of opening a restaurant, and, in the summer of 2018 at age 59, she opened Sofreh to great critical acclaim. Chef Nasim Alikhani strives to create a hospitable, dinner-party atmosphere in her restaurant. She talks about the plant-forward traditions of Iranian cuisine and her love of cooking with herbs. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Samuel Yoo is chef/owner of Golden Diner in New York City’s China Town, and shows us how he makes a vegan chili crisp wedge salad. He delights in taking a traditionally creamy dish and transforming it into a vegan creation, and this salad is no exception. He tops the iceberg lettuce wedges with vegan ranch dressing, vegan blue cheese, mushroom bacon, diced tomatoes, and a generous amount of chili crisp. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Samuel Yoo is chef/owner of Golden Diner in New York City’s China Town and shows us how he makes a Mushroom Reuben Quesadilla. He uses Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and mushroom pastrami. Making the mushroom pastrami is a 3-day process. Portabella mushrooms are cured overnight, drained, roasted, chopped, and smoked for 2 days. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Momofuku alum, Samuel Yoo, is a rising star and chef/owner of Golden Diner in New York City’s China Town. Fusing his fine dining background with a reverence for traditional American diner fare, Golden Diner serves Latin, Chinese, Greek and “Brooklyn vegan” inspired cuisines. Samuel Yoo talks about techniques for making vegetables shine, and how eating in Queens diners in his childhood influenced his menu. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Chef Mike Pyers is chief culinary officer at three-Michelin-starred restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, and shows us how he makes silken tofu with tomato and anise hyssop. He makes the tofu in-house using locally produced soymilk. The tofu sets in a steam box for 5 minutes, then is topped with tomato confit, fresh tomatoes, Calabrian chilies, and anise hyssop. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Chef Josh Hardnen, creative culinary director at Eleven Madison Park in Manhattan, shows us how he makes sunflower salad with beans and epazote. The dish utilizes all parts of a sunflower blossom. The core of the sunflowers have an artichoke-like flavor and texture, and are cooked in saffron and white wine. The petals are served three ways: baked, fermented, and fresh. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Daniel Humm is the chef and owner of Eleven Madison Park in Manhattan, which has held three Michelin stars since 2012 and was ranked first by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2017. In 2021, Eleven Madison Park famously transitioned to a plant-based menu. Chef Daniel Humm talks about how shutting down the restaurant during the pandemic gave him time to think about his legacy, and the impact a plant-based menu would have on the culinary world. He reflects on the challenges of preparing, cooking, and presenting vegetables, and his continued passion to change diner perceptions about plant-based eating. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Michaela Duke, sous chef at Michelin-starred restaurant, Dirt Candy in New York City, shows us a whimsical take on corn tamales. She starts the dish with an intensely-flavored corn puree dotted with mole, corn salsa verde, and raw baby corn slices. She tops the puree with a corn tamale steamed inside of a corn mold. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Michaela Duke, sous chef at Michelin-starred restaurant, Dirt Candy in New York City, shows us how she makes Zucchini Spring Roll Rangoon. She starts with a salad of torn zucchini, squash blossoms, and bamboo, dressed in vegan fish sauce and lime juice. She creates a wanton-like shell by frying a zucchini dusted in cornstarch. The crispy zucchini shell is filled with a creamy puree of zucchini and squash blossom. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Michaela Duke is sous chef at Dirt Candy in New York City's Lower East Side. Dirt Candy is a vegetable-focused restaurant with a 5-course tasting menu. She talks about the restaurant’s evolution since it opened in 2008, as well as the culinary team’s creative process in developing the seasonal menu. Dirt Candy’s Michelin star brings in more destination diners, and Chef Michaela loves to change their minds about what vegetarian cuisine can look like. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Amanda Cohen is the James Beard-nominated chef and owner of Dirt Candy, the Michelin-starred vegetable restaurant in New York City's Lower East Side. Dirt Candy was the first vegetable-focused restaurant in New York City, and a pioneer of the plant-forward movement. Dirt Candy was also the first restaurant in the city to eliminate tipping and share profits with its employees. In this interview, Chef Amanda Cohen talks about how diner perceptions have changed, as well as the creative process in developing her whimsical vegetable dishes. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

Inside the Plant-Forward Kitchen: New York is the second edition of a new educational video produced by The Culinary Institute of America—a first-of-its-kind video reference library documenting the best of plant-forward cuisine. In this documentary series, we explore the markets and restaurants of New York with the chefs who are on the leading edge of this culinary mega-trend. We talk to Chef Amanda Cohen, a pioneer in the plant-forward movement at her restaurant Dirt Candy. We meet Chef Daniel Humm, who discusses how he transformed his world-famous restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, into a fully vegan establishment. We’ll experience the Middle Eastern creations of Shukette, traditional Iranian and Persian food at Sofreh, organic Queens diner fare at Golden Diner, and Southern Soul Food cooking at Cadence. We visit two Mexican restaurants, Cosme and Oxomoco, where the chefs combine Mexican gastronomy with locally grown New York produce. Finally, we leave New York to see how plant-forward principles can be scaled at high volume foodservice, when we head to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with Chef Alexander Ong. Watch the full documentary and find recipes here!

A sabich is traditionally pita or laffa bread stuffed with fried eggplant, hard-boiled egg, chopped salad, amba, and tahini sauce. It’s an Iraqi Jewish street food that has become a staple of Israeli cuisine. This creative twist features watermelon salad and watermelon rind "amba." Amba is traditionally a super pungent, tangy mango sauce popular in Iraq and Israel. In this version, Chef Magnus Young, Chef de Cuisine and Culinary Manager at the Bruschetteria Food Truck for Clif Family Wines in St. Helena, CA, makes the sauce using watermelon rind in place of mango. This dish is a delicious way to use all parts of the watermelon and reduce food waste. Get the sabich recipe here!

For a delicious dish that balances the richness of grilled lamb with the bright and fruity sweetness of watermelon molasses, try these grilled lamb chops with watermelon molasses, watermelon sofrito, and polenta. Your guests will love the combination of savory and smoky lamb with sweet and fruity watermelon glaze, spiced watermelon sofrito, and creamy polenta. Chef de Cuisine and Culinary Manager at the Bruschetteria Food Truck for Clif Family Wines in St. Helena, CA, Magnus Young shows us how to make this stunning entree. Get the Grilled Lamb Chops recipe here!

This fruity, sweet, and refreshing drink inspired by the traditional michelada, uses watermelon juice in place of tomato juice. Chef Magnus Young, Chef de Cuisine and Culinary Manager at the Bruschetteria Food Truck for Clif Family Wines in St. Helena, CA, shows us how he makes this watermelon “melonchelada.” Get the recipe for this Melonchelada Cocktail here!

Chef de Cuisine and Culinary Manager at the Bruschetteria Food Truck for Clif Family Wines in St. Helena, CA, Magnus Young shows us how to make a watermelon stack cake. This stack cake filling gets its beautiful color and sweet flavor from watermelon molasses and watermelon butter, and is inspired by a classic Appalachian dessert. Some historians believe that stack cake was a 19th century Appalachian wedding tradition, where each guest brought a single cake layer to the ceremony, which would then be assembled and spread with apple butter. This cake features sweet, jammy watermelon butter in between the layers. Get the Watermelon Stack Cake recipe here.

Here’s an elevated version of a banana split. This Maple Pecan Ice Cream Sundae is made with Caramelized Bananas, Pecan Honey Tuile, Orange Cranberry Compote and Candied Pecans. This Pecan Delight Ice Cream Sundae brings together familiar and nostalgic flavors that your guests will love. This was one of the winning recipes created by Tkaiya Dryden, a student at The Culinary Institute of America during the New Mexico Pecan Student Innovation Challenge. Get the Pecan Delight Ice Cream Sundae recipe here!

Delight your guests with this delicious dish that’s perfect for fall: Pecan and Mascarpone Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage Sauce. The crisp and buttery New Mexico pecans, the creamy mascarpone, and the rich brown butter sage sauce create a dish that’s both indulgent and comforting. These ravioli are the taste of fall in one creamy, sweet, and savory bite: Pecan and Mascarpone Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage Sauce. This was one of the winning recipes created by Jayden Kemanian, a student at The Culinary Institute of America during the New Mexico Pecan Student Innovation Challenge. Get the Pecan and Mascarpone Ravioli recipe here!

Wow your guests with this delicious vegetarian pasta dish: Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Pecan Ricotta, Roasted Brussels Sprout Leaves and Apple Fennel Salad. The combination of pillowy soft gnocchi, creamy pecan ricotta, and refreshingly crisp apple fennel salad, make this a winning menu option. This was one of the winning recipes created by Olivia Delisle, a student at The Culinary Institute of America during the New Mexico Pecan Student Innovation Challenge. Get the Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Pecan Ricotta recipe here!

This beautiful dish brings the comforting flavors of fall to your guests: Acorn Squash Mousse Tart with Spicy Pecan Brittle and Candied Bacon. The crisp and nutty pecan brittle, the smoky bacon, and sweet creamy mousse work together to make a delicious combination. These tarts can be served as a nice fall appetizer, an amuse bouche, or even a light lunch accompanied by a salad. This was one of the winning recipes created by Nyah Marshall, a student at The Culinary Institute of America during the New Mexico Pecan Student Innovation Challenge. Get the Acorn Squash Tart Recipe here!

These mouthwatering Chipotle Tofu-Crumble Tacos are quick and easy to make, and they’re packed full of healthy, plant-based protein. We’re using Nasoya Plant-Based Meat Crumbles in place of meat and topping it off with some fresh tomatillo salsa and pickled red onions for the ultimate plant-based taco night! These plant-powered tacos re-imagine tofu as an exciting new menu item in your kitchen. Get the recipe at: https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/recipe/chipotle-tofu-crumble-tacos

This scrumptious Crispy Tofu Bites Sandwich is topped with Spicy BBQ Sauce and Southern Slaw for a delicious plant-based take on a cookout classic! We’re giving this sandwich a healthy twist by swapping traditional BBQ’d meat with Nasoya Crispy Tofu Bites, which are crunchy on the outside, and meaty and tender on the inside. Sweet, tangy and guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser! Get the recipe at: https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/recipe/crispy-tofu-sandwich

Chef Mica Talmor of Mediterranean restaurant, Pomella, in Oakland, Calif., shows how she makes shawarma using American lamb loin. Chef Talmor says the key to shawarma is the marinade. The robust warm spices and vinegar help to tenderize the lamb and balance the flavor. Tender American lamb loin is perfect for this dish because it grills quickly on high heat. Serve the grilled lamb with hummus, shirazi, sumac onions, tahini, and amba– all wrapped inside of a fresh pita or a laffa wrap. This tantalizing combination of savory, smoky, aromatic spices, and tangy accents, makes an epic sandwich! This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the American Lamb Board. Get the Grilled American Lamb Shawarma recipe here!

Mrouzia is a sweet and spicy North African lamb stew that has graced tables for centuries. Chef Mica Talmor of Pomella restaurant in Oakland, Calif., shows us how to prepare Mrouzia with American lamb shank. Her version draws from tradition, but includes some modern updates. The combination of rich, tender lamb, aromatic spices, and sweet, roasted grapes makes this iconic dish a menu favorite. This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the American Lamb Board. Get the American Lamb Mrouzia recipe here!

Bourek is a savory pastry made of flaky phyllo stuffed with meat, potatoes, or spinach that is enjoyed all over the Middle East and Central Asia. In this version, Chef Mica Talmor of Pomella restaurant in Oakland, Calf., makes bourek stuffed with bold and spicy American lamb merguez sausage. Merguez is a North African sausage that has been enjoyed for centuries and is popular on menus today. Chef Mica serves the American Lamb Merguez Bourek with tahini-yogurt sauce and a garnish of mint, cilantro and harissa. The dish's combination of spicy lamb and flaky pastry makes it a popular appetizer at Pomella. This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the American Lamb Board. Get the American Lamb Merguez Bourek recipe here!

Chef Mica Talmor of Mediterranean restaurant, Pomella, in Oakland, Calif., demonstrates how to make lamb roulade, a traditional dish that she reimagined for her menu. She stuffs lamb necks with mint, freekeh, and dried sour cherries that she then rolls, ties and braises. Chef Mica slices the roulade and serves it with a salad of grilled romaine lettuce, freekeh, and a preserved lemon vinaigrette. This combination of ingredients elevates and complements the flavor of the lamb neck. This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the American Lamb Board. Get the American Lamb Roulade recipe here!

Chawanmushi is a savory egg custard that is a beloved Japanese comfort food. Chawanmushi means "steamed in a teacup" because the custard is cooked and served in a small serving bowl or cup. In this chawanmushi with a twist, the custard is served like dan tats, or the Chinese egg custard tarts served in Dim Sum. These chawanmushi tartlets are a beautiful shared appetizer, grab and go snack, or amuse bouche. Get the Savory Egg Tartlets recipe here!

Cookbook author and Chinese food expert Fuchsia Dunlop guides us through a Chengdu market and introduces us to the robust seasonings that distinguish the local food and to the abundant fresh produce at the heart of the wholesome Sichuan diet.

Chimichangas are delicious deep-fried burritos popular in Tex-Mex casual dining. These Asian-inspired chimichangas are made with rice paper, and filled with sushi rice, roasted peppers, halibut, and sweet and spicy Thai Chili Sauce. These rice paper chimichangas are a fun and delicious Tex-Mex and Asian mash-up! Get the recipe for Rice Paper “Chimichangas” here!

Fat washing is a mixology technique in which you infuse fat into a liquid, and the fat separates and rises to the surface. The result is two flavorful products. The fat is infused with the flavor of the liquid, and the liquid is infused with the flavor from the fat. Mixologists like to fat wash various alcohols to add more depth, mouthfeel, and complexity to cocktails. Chefs can use the infused butter, duck fat or olive oil to make delicious sauces. In this video, Kikkoman Executive Chef Andrew Hunter shows us how to make fat washed citrus seasoned ponzu. Using the fat washed ponzu, he makes a delicate and aromatic beurre blanc served over roasted halibut. Go to the Fat Washed Ponzu & Beurre Blanc Sauce recipe here!

The status of the BLT as the king of all sandwiches is based on its perfect balance of salty, savory bacon, creamy mayo, sweet and acidic tomato, and crunchy lettuce and bread. This PLT gives a BLT an upgrade! In place of regular bacon, this sandwich includes pork belly breaded in potato chips and panko for an added level of umami and crunch. This decadent pork belly, lettuce and tomato sandwich is sure to become a signature menu item! Get the PLT sandwich recipe here!

Kikkoman Executive Chef Andrew Hunter makes a delicious twist on onion rings using portabella mushrooms. He cuts the portabella mushroom caps using ring cutters of various sizes, then roasts, breads, and fries them. The crispy and meaty mushroom rings are finished with a drizzle of sweet and savory Kikkoman Sushi Sauce, or unagi tare. These mushroom rings make a fabulous savory and crispy appetizer, or a delicious addition to a burger or salad. The mushroom rings are crispy on the outside and have a great meaty texture on the inside. Get the Portabella Mushroom Rings recipe here!

This grilled mahi mahi is paired with New Mexico green chile and coconut coulis, tostones, and a pineapple, jicama, and black bean salsa. The coulis is made with sweet and earthy New Mexico green chiles, garlic, cilantro and coconut cream for a delicious and luxurious sauce that will pair well with any protein. This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Get the Grilled Mahi Mahi recipe here!

A Smørrebrød is a Scandinavian open-faced sandwich traditionally served on sourdough rye bread called rugbrød. In this video we show you how to make a Smørrebrød topped with roasted New Mexico green chiles, cured salmon, radish and herbed cheese. This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Get the Smorrebrod recipe here!

This New Mexico Pizza is topped with Roasted New Mexico Chile Pesto, Goat Cheese, Prosciutto, Arugula, Honey, and Toasted New Mexico Pecans. Give it a try and it might become your new favorite pizza! This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Get the New Mexico Pizza recipe here!

This New Mexico Chile, Sweet Potato, Charred Corn and Smoked Cheddar Pudding has a wonderfully rich, creamy, and custardy texture with delicious southwest flavors. This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Get the New Mexico Chile, Corn and Cheddar Pudding recipe here!

Shakshuka is a North African and Middle Eastern dish made of stewed tomatoes and peppers. Although it’s traditionally enjoyed for breakfast in Israel, this dish really is great for any meal of the day. In this recipe we make a shakshuka with a green twist by using New Mexico chiles and spinach. This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Get the Green Shakshuka recipe here!

This beautiful plant-forward meal is inspired by the flavors of Morocco: Green Vegetable Tagine with Almond Raisin couscous. Chermoula is used as the flavor foundation of many North African dishes, and when you try it, you’ll want to put it on everything! This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Get the Moroccan Green Vegetable Tagine recipe here!

Chef Jeong Min Gi at Pulmuone’s corporate headquarters in Seoul, South Korea makes tofu noodles stir fried with bell peppers, carrots and oyster and shiitake mushrooms. He stir fries the vegetables and tofu in a classic Koran bolgogi sauce. Tofu noodles are a healthy gluten-free alterative to wheat flour noodles. Watch the full Asian Plant-Forward Kitchen: Korea documentary and find plant-forward recipes at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/korea

Soon Tofu Soup, or soondubu jjigae, is a popular spicy Korean stew made with soft tofu called soondubu. In Korean, soondubu jjigae translates to “soft tofu stew;” soondubu meaning “soft tofu” and jjigae meaning “stew.” Chef Jeong Min Gi at Pulmuone’s corporate headquarters in Seoul, South Korea shows us how he makes this delicious and healthy comfort food, using oyster and shiitake mushrooms, zucchini, onion, and gochugaru, or Korean chili flakes. The gochugaru gives the dish its heat and beautiful red color. He adds the soft tofu at the end so that it does not break apart. Watch the full Asian Plant-Forward Kitchen: Korea documentary and find plant-forward recipes at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/korea

Chef Jeong Min Gi at Pulmuone’s corporate headquarters in Seoul, South Korea shows us how he makes a hot pot full of colorful vegetables, including napa cabbage, bok choy, chrysanthemum greens, shiitake mushrooms, and leeks. He tops the vegetables with cubes of firm crispy-fried tofu stuffed with a mixture of ground beef and aromatics. This hot pot is a healthy and delicious comfort food that with a beautiful presentation. Watch the full Asian Plant-Forward Kitchen: Korea documentary and find plant-forward recipes at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/korea

Song Jeong Eun is chef and owner of the eco-friendly restaurant, Flower Blossom on the Rice, located in Seoul, South Korea’s Insadong district. All ingredients used are organic and vegetarian, and focus on regional Korean products. The signature dish at this restaurant is the Bojagi Bibimbap, rice topped with five different sautéed vegetables, wrapped in an omelet, and served like a little gift with a seaweed ribbon and flower on top. The restaurant has a Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendation. Watch the full Asian Plant-Forward Kitchen: Korea documentary and find plant-forward recipes at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/korea

Jinah Chang is chef and owner of Base is Nice Restaurant in South Korea, where vegetables are the star of the menu. She prepares grilled lotus root and shishito peppers with sesame sauce and two types of rice. Watch the full Asian Plant-Forward Kitchen: Korea documentary and find plant-forward recipes at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/korea

Kang MinGoo is chef and owner of the two Michelin-star restaurant Mingles in Seoul, South Korea. Mingles aims to reinterpret Korean cuisine by serving creative dishes with seasonal local ingredients. In this video, Chef MinGoo prepares a dessert inspired by bibimbap. He makes ice cream made from glutinous rice pudding, garnished with fresh herbs, sesame oil and soy sauce. Watch the full Asian Plant-Forward Kitchen: Korea documentary and find plant-forward recipes at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/korea

Kim Byung-jin is the Chief Executive Chef of Gaon restaurant in Seoul, South Korea. In this video, he shows us how he makes white kimchi stuffed inside an Asian pear. Watch the full Asian Plant-Forward Kitchen: Korea documentary and find plant-forward recipes at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/korea

Chef Cho Heesuk from the Michelin-starred restaurant Hansikgonggan, located in Seoul, shows us a number of traditional Korean pickles. She explains the three foundational techniques for fermenting vegetables in Korea: soy sauce, soy bean paste, and gochujang. Known as the “Godmother of Korean cuisine,” Chef Che Hee Sook was named Best Female Chef as part of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants of 2020. She is known for bringing traditional Korean cuisine onto the fine dining world stage. Watch the full Asian Plant-Forward Kitchen: Korea documentary and find plant-forward recipes at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/korea

Kimchi Master Lee Ha Yeon shows us how to make three different classic kimchis: red kimchi with napa cabbage, white kimchi with napa cabbage, and a red kohlrabi kimchi. She discusses the ingredients and techniques used in the fermentation process, as well as the health benefits of kimchi. She prepares these recipes in the Museum Kimchikan in Seoul, South Korea, which is dedicated to the history, regional varieties, and cultural importance of kimchi. Watch the full Asian Plant-Forward Kitchen: Korea documentary and find plant-forward recipes at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/korea