What's For Dinner: Broil And (No) Trouble

Not feeling inspired by your usual dishes? Here's what's for dinner.

It's no secret: Ovens are great. They give us timeless classics like cake and roasted chicken, but most of us aren't using our ovens to their full potential. Lying dormant within the oven's roof is the broiler, a built-in upside-down grill, ready to beam warm vibes from above to give your food a near-instant char. Broiling results in the crisp coating and juicy flavors that we love about roasting, but since it uses direct heat rather than radiation (which is what an oven typically does), it takes a fraction of the time. Put your broiler into action tonight with a dinner of salmon, green beans and crème brûlée that comes together in minutes.

① Main Course: Chile-Garlic Broiled Salmon with Ginger Yogurt Sauce
This salmon dish is bursting at the seams with flavor. The no-cooking-required sauce is a savory tug-of-war of soothing and spicy that no one wins, with hits of chile spice countered by refreshing yogurt.

② Side Dish: Szechuan Green Beans
Ten minutes is all it takes to get charred green beans when you use a broiler. They're the perfect match for the Asian-inspired salmon ingredients, and fresh ginger juice takes the beans to another level. Be warned: These greens have a spice that bites back, so you might want to cool off with an extra spoonful of yogurt sauce.

③ Dessert: Bay Leaf Crème Brûlée
Take a note from some current pastry chefs' recent creations and add savory notes to your dessert. Slide cooked custard under the boiler to get the iconic, caramelized crunch atop this not-too-sweet take on the French classic.