Stories by María “Mari” Santiago
20 stories
15-Minute Guajillo-Seared Shrimp: The Coastal Tuesday Escape
Need a Tuesday night escape? This smoky, bright guajillo shrimp and coconut rice brings the Oaxacan coast straight to your kitchen in under 20 minutes.
July 13, 2026
20-Minute Blistered Calabacita Molletes (The Weekend Bodega Lunch)
When you need lunch before someone asks for a snack, these plant-forward molletes deliver Oaxacan comfort with Brooklyn speed.
July 11, 2026
20-Minute Skillet Pollo Verde (The Rotisserie Rescue)
We all love a slow-braised green mole, but on a Tuesday at 6 PM? We need a rotisserie chicken, a blender, and my favorite flavor cheat code.
July 9, 2026
20-Minute Arrachera y Poblano Alambre (The Tuesday Taco Party)
Alambre is the ultimate weeknight rescue: high-heat blistered poblanos, violently seared skirt steak, and a blanket of melted cheese in one pan.
July 7, 2026
20-Minute Skillet Chilaquiles Rojos (The Lazy Sunday Simmer)
Sunday afternoons are for slowing down, but we're not suffering for lunch with this rapid-fire, Bodega-friendly chilaquiles shortcut.
July 5, 2026
Tuesday Night Chuletas with Ancho-Orange Pan Sauce
Thin-cut pork chops are the unsung heroes of the weeknight meat aisle. Here is how we make them sing with a smoky, bright pan sauce in 15 minutes flat.
July 3, 2026
15-Minute Ancho-Lime Shrimp Tostadas (The Tuesday Assembly Line)
When it is too hot to turn on the oven and you have exactly fifteen minutes before someone asks what is for dinner, this is your rescue plan. We are not suffering for dinner, people.
July 1, 2026
20-Minute Cod in a Smoky Tomato-Olive Skillet (The Veracruz Shortcut)
A fast, coastal weeknight rescue that brings big Veracruz energy with zero fuss, using my absolute favorite bodega shortcut.
June 29, 2026
25-Minute Enfrijoladas with Caramelized Plantains (The Saturday Morning Slow-Down)
Sweet plantains and smoky black bean sauce meet in a 25-minute Oaxacan breakfast that tastes like a weekend hug, using mostly what is already in your pantry.
June 27, 2026
20-Minute Blistered Calabacita & Chorizo Skillet (The Summer Tuesday Taco Filler)
We're not suffering for dinner. Grab bodega chorizo and farmstand zucchini for a 20-minute, flavor-packed taco filling that completely saves your weeknight.
June 25, 2026
35-Minute Pollo al Poblano con Pepitas (The Tuesday Green Braise)
Get that deep, earthy poblano flavor without standing over a flame peeling peppers. This 35-minute green braise is pure comfort, zero fuss, and saves my weeknights.
June 23, 2026
25-Minute Cerdo en Salsa Verde (The Sunday Tenderloin Shortcut)
Sunday comfort usually means babysitting a pork shoulder for three hours. We are doing no such thing. Get deep Oaxacan flavor before the kids even ask for a snack.
June 21, 2026
20-Minute Dry-Seared Seta Asada: The Weeknight Mushroom Miracle
Want peak Oaxacan comfort without the food coma? These crispy, dry-seared oyster mushrooms with bright mango salsa are a weeknight miracle.
June 19, 2026
20-Minute Red Snapper Ceviche Rojo (The Heatwave Rescue)
When the Brooklyn asphalt is radiating heat and the stove is officially dead to us, this smoky, sweet, 20-minute ceviche is how we survive dinner.
June 17, 2026
15-Minute Arrachera a la Plancha: Your Weeknight Steakhouse
Skirt steak is the ultimate weeknight savior. This is maximum reward for minimum effort, and we're not suffering for dinner tonight.
June 15, 2026
15-Minute Charred Calabacita & Chorizo Fundido (The Saturday Grazing Skillet)
Win the weekend with this 15-minute fundido that uses smoky chorizo fat to hard-char summer squash under a blanket of melting Oaxaca cheese.
June 13, 2026
15-Minute Seared Chipotle Shrimp & White Bean Ensalada (The Summer Assembly)
When the kitchen is sweltering and you have exactly fifteen minutes, this smoky, lime-soaked shrimp and bean salad is your rescue. We're not suffering for dinner, mis amores.
June 11, 2026
30-Minute Pollo al Elote (The Summer Corn Braise)
We are not suffering for dinner, even when it's 85 degrees out. This 30-minute one-skillet chicken and sweet corn braise is weeknight Oaxacan logic at its best.
June 9, 2026
20-Minute Huevos Ahogados Verdes (The Weekend Rescue)
When you need a Sunday morning miracle but have zero energy, these eggs poached in bright tomatillo salsa are your one-skillet savior. We’re not suffering for breakfast, guys.
June 6, 2026
15-Minute Pan-Fried Fish Tacos with Crunchy Bodega Slaw
Skip the messy deep-frying. These 15-minute spiced fish tacos deliver all the satisfying crunch and bright flavor without the weeknight stress.
June 4, 2026