This minestrone is brothy yet hearty, with a sweet soffritto base, tender vegetables, creamy cannellini beans, and tiny chicken-herb meatballs in every spoonful. A final shower of parmesan and a thread of olive oil give it the comforting depth of a true home-style Italian soup.

These lettuce cups are savoury, aromatic, and fast enough for a weeknight dinner. Juicy minced chicken is stir-fried with ginger, garlic, and crisp water chestnuts, then piled into cool butter lettuce leaves for a fresh, crunchy bite.