7 Ways With Vanilla

A Teaspoon of Flavor

Use vanilla to add rich flavor to sweet and savory dishes alike. Use it in your regular poundcake recipe and you'll see the difference, then try it in salad dressings, marinades, custards, and dessert sauces.

Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée

Steeping a vanilla bean in the milk used to make the custard, and scraping seeds from that bean into the milk, gives this easy brûlée a wonderfully intense vanilla flavor. If you don't have a blow torch, check out our simple stovetop sugar topping.

Recipe: Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée

Fish in Paper Parcels with Fennel, Chives and Vanilla

Entertain in style with this show stopping make-ahead entrée. Snapper (or any white fish) gets nestled into parchment paper along with thinly sliced vegetables, seasonings, and whole vanilla beans. It couldn't be simpler, and the flavors are stunning.

Recipe: Fish in Paper Parcels with Fennel, Chives and Vanilla

Vanilla Custard Crumble with Mixed Berries

While the custard is made with a vanilla bean, the crumble topping is a simple mixture of crushed vanilla wafers, butter, egg white and vanilla extract. It's easy to make up both in advance and then add berries or any seasonal fruit.

Recipe: Vanilla Custard Crumble with Mixed Berries

Vanilla Bean Angel Food Cake

Made with cake flour and a dozen egg whites, this moist cake is fragrant with vanilla. That's because the sugar for the cake is infused with the seeds of a whole vanilla bean before being added to the batter.

Recipe: Vanilla Bean Angel Food Cake

Vanilla Balsamic Chicken

As they roast, chicken thighs are infused with the flavors of balsamic vinegar, chicken stock, orange, and a whole vanilla bean. Rather than stand out, vanilla harmonizes and complements the other flavors. Substitute chicken breasts if you'd like.

Recipe: Vanilla Balsamic Chicken

Mixed Salad with Vanilla-Pear Vinaigrette and Toasted Walnuts

Once you try this fat-free pear vinaigrette, you'll be using it on just about everything. It's that good. Even better, it's a snap to assemble with canned pears, honey, white wine vinegar, and a splash of vanilla extract.

Recipe: Mixed Salad with Vanilla-Pear Vinaigrette and Toasted Walnuts

Vanilla Cream Sauce

Drizzle this easy cream sauce over fresh berries, bread pudding, or any dessert that needs a special finishing touch. It's a slam-dunk over chocolate ice cream, and the fact that it's made with vanilla extract keeps things simple.

Recipe: Vanilla Cream Sauce

More 7 Ways With...

Beat the weeknight "What's for dinner?" crunch. Browse a few of our favorite quick-cooking entrées and pick one that makes your mouth water.

• 7 Ways With Salmon featuring Salmon Burritos with Chile-Roasted Vegetables (left)
• 7 Ways With French Bread
• 7 Ways With Tilapia
• 7 Ways With Fresh Shrimp
• 7 Ways With Rotisserie Chicken