Back to María “Mari” Santiago
María “Mari” Santiago

Stories by María “Mari” Santiago

20 stories

15-Minute Crispy Carnitas & Blistered Salsa Verde Skillet

Turn ordinary midday leftovers into a craveable Brooklyn-Oaxacan lunch in fifteen minutes flat with this punchy, cheesy skillet.

September 3, 2026

15-Minute Oaxacan Chorizo & Black Bean Skillet with Crispy Tortillas

Oaxacan morning comfort on Brooklyn time, ready in just 15 minutes with a crispy, spicy flavor base.

September 1, 2026

45-Minute Fast-Braised Lamb Shoulder en Chile Guajillo (Weeknight Barbacoa)

Get rich, tender Oaxacan barbacoa energy on a Tuesday night with this fast-braised guajillo and avocado leaf lamb shoulder.

August 30, 2026

40-Minute Fast-Braised Beef Chuck en Chile Pasilla (The Tuesday Entomatado)

Get deep weekend-stew energy in 40 minutes flat with this smoky, velvety beef chuck braise.

August 28, 2026

35-Minute Quick-Braised Pork Shoulder en Salsa Morita

Get deep, smoky Oaxacan flavor on a Tuesday night without waiting hours. This quick-braised pork shoulder in salsa morita is your new weeknight hero.

August 26, 2026

30-Minute Oaxacan Pollo en Amarillito

Tender chicken thighs fast-braised in a silky, toasted guajillo-tomatillo yellow mole base because we are not suffering for dinner on a Tuesday!

August 24, 2026

15-Minute Ancho-Garlic Hanger Steak & Blistered Tomato Skillet

Turn humble pantry spices into a bodega-style feast in minutes with this flash-sautéed hanger steak and blistered tomatoes.

August 22, 2026

45-Minute Oaxacan Costillitas en Encacahuatado

Tender pork ribs fast-braised in a velvety, smoky peanut-and-chile sauce that tastes like it simmered all afternoon.

August 20, 2026

15-Minute Seared Spice-Crusted Mahi-Mahi with Sizzled Corn & Charred Jalapeño Relish

Thick mahi-mahi fillets get a fast ancho-cumin rub before hitting a smoking skillet for a gorgeous crust and a smoky, bright relish.

August 18, 2026

15-Minute Guajillo-Seared Pork Tenderloin with Warm Peach Salsa

Lean pork medallions get a smoky guajillo crust and a crown of sweet-and-spicy blistered peaches. Oaxacan flavor logic meets a lightning-fast Brooklyn weeknight.

August 16, 2026

15-Minute Achiote Ground Turkey Sauté with Crunchy Radish Slaw

Ground turkey gets a serious flavor upgrade with a quick-bloomed achiote-garlic spice paste and high-heat pan sauté, finished with a crunchy lime-radish slaw.

August 14, 2026

15-Minute Chipotle-Lime Chicken & Warm Zucchini Salad

Fast, bright, and on your plate before anyone can ask what is for lunch. This chipotle-lime chicken with warm zucchini and pepita salad is a weeknight lifesaver.

August 12, 2026

15-Minute Skillet Hake with Warm Tomatillo & Charred Scallion Sauté

A lightning-fast midday reboot featuring crisp pan-sautéed hake topped with a bright, smoky skillet sauté of charred scallions, tangy tomatillos, and jalapeño.

August 10, 2026

15-Minute Seared Shaved Pork Shoulder Bowls with Lime-Cabbage Slaw

Thinly sliced pork shoulder seared fast gives you deep, savory flavor in record time for a quick weeknight lunch.

August 8, 2026

20-Minute Pan-Seared Garlicky Chipotle Shrimp over Creamy White Beans

Juicy shrimp in a smoky garlic-chipotle butter, piled high on velvety white beans with a crunch of bright radish slaw. Weeknight dinner, solved.

August 6, 2026

15-Minute Pan-Seared Red Snapper with Blistered Tomato & Pepita Relish

Crispy-skinned red snapper topped with a warm, blistered cherry tomato and toasted pepita relish that hits every note for a chaotic Tuesday night.

August 4, 2026

15-Minute Flash-Fried Haddock with Warm Serrano-Lime Relish (The Lunchtime Rescue)

Crispy masa-crusted haddock meets a blistered serrano-lime pan sauce for the ultimate 15-minute lunchtime rescue.

August 2, 2026

The Friday Patio Hero: 25-Minute Adobo Pork & Charred Pineapple Platter

Friday nights are for cold drinks on the patio, not hot stoves. Here is my sweet-and-smoky pork platter that lets you feed friends without missing the sunset.

July 31, 2026

20-Minute Charred Corn & Chicken Esquites Skillet (The Summer Friday Lifesaver)

We are absolutely not suffering for dinner tonight. This one-pan wonder turns sweet summer corn and quick chicken into a weeknight fiesta before someone even asks for a snack.

July 29, 2026

30-Minute Pollo con Rajas: The Weeknight Poblano Braise

A rich, smoky weeknight savior that tastes like it simmered all Sunday, built entirely on blistered poblanos and Brooklyn mom math.

July 27, 2026