Simple Meets Spice: 8 Exotic Dishes Anyone Can Cook (3 of 5)

4. Vietnamese Mango Salad With Mint, Red Onion, and Chili

If you’ve ever needed proof that salads can be exciting, meet your new favorite. This Vietnamese-inspired mango salad is light, zingy, and full of flavor with just the right amount of heat.

Imagine juicy strips of ripe mango mingling with slivers of red onion, fresh mint, and thin slices of fiery red chili. The whole thing gets tied together with a punchy dressing of lime juice, fish sauce (or soy sauce for a vegan twist), and a pinch of sugar. Every bite hits that perfect sweet-spicy-tangy balance that just screams summer in a bowl. It’s the kind of dish you crave on a hot day—or honestly, whenever you need a little sunshine on your plate.

5. Easy Saag Paneer With Feta Cheese

True confession: sometimes I crave Indian food but don’t feel like tracking down paneer. Enter: feta cheese. It’s tangy, creamy, and melts into the spinach in the most delicious way, making it a brilliant (and super accessible) stand-in.

Start by sautéing garlic, ginger, and onion until fragrant, then toss in some spinach and a sprinkle of warming spices like cumin and garam masala. Stir in a splash of cream (or coconut milk if you’re dairy-free), crumble in the feta, and you’ve got yourself a cozy, flavorful dish that pairs perfectly with naan, basmati rice, or just a spoon if you can’t wait. Seriously, it’s that good.