Moin Moin (Nigerian Steamed Bean Cake)

A tender cake of black-eyed peas that can be steamed in ramekins or packages formed out of sturdy moin moin leaves.

Homemade Yakimochi (Grilled Mochi With Soy Sauce and Nori)

Also known as isobeyaki or yakimochi, these tender grilled Japanese rice cakes come together from scratch with the help of a stand mixer.

Akara (Nigerian Black-Eyed Pea Fritters)

With their crunchy shells and creamy interiors, these black-eyed pea fritters are the quintessential Nigerian Saturday breakfast.

Masa Ball Soup (Corn Dumplings in Chicken Soup)

A lot of people will tell you that punning is one of the lowest forms of humor. No matter—this soup, born of a silly pun, is tasty whether you like that kind of wordplay or not. Based on a classic matzo-ball soup recipe, this one uses masa harina for tamales in place of matzo meal for light and moist poached dumplings that have more than a little in common with tamales themselves. We serve them in chicken broth spiked with Mexican flavors, like jalapeño, lime juice, and cilantro.

Quick Masa Dough

Homemade masa dough might sound intimidating, but doesn't have to be: prepackaged masa harina, the coarse flour ground from hominy that's already been slaked with lime in the traditional manner, makes its preparation a snap. Enriched with lard and lightened with baking powder, the dough makes a flavor-packed base for a variety of dishes, including Mexican tacos, gorditas, and sopes, as well as Salvadoran pupusas.

Nigerian Fried Rice

Vegetable-studded fried rice seasoned with Nigerian-style curry powder, dried thyme, and bay leaves.

Bibingka (Filipino Rice Cake)

A simple coconut-flavored, banana-leaf scented rice cake topped with caramelized coconut strips.

How to Make Mochi by Hand

This Sunday marks the Lunar New Year for the Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean cultures. While no single dish can represent the diverse practices of each cuisine, rice is a common thread, a symbol of wealth and plenty. This year, I'm...

Nigerian Jollof Rice

Seasoned with Caribbean-style curry powder, dried thyme, bay leaf, ginger, and garlic, jollof rice is enjoyed as a main dish. It is often paired with beef, chicken, goat, and fish, or eggs.

Rich and Creamy Saffron Arancini With Mozzarella

Scarred by childhood memories of dry, tasteless rice balls, I created arancini the way we all want them to be: crisp on the outside with a shattering crust that breaks open to reveal tender grains of rice suspended in a rich and flavorful creamy sauce. At the center: stretchy melted mozzarella cheese.