The Two Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients This Top Chef Adds To Everything

There are two ingredients that Gourdet adds to nearly everything he cooks, for their bold flavor and health benefits.

“Ginger is something that is always in my pantry. It’s an ingredient that’s actually in the food of a lot of different cuisines,” he says. “It’s delicious; it adds brightness; it adds depth; it adds complexity. Chilies are the other thing that I really don’t cook without,” he laughs. “Literally, every dish I make has chilies.”

Truly, you’d be hard-pressed to find a recipe that doesn’t use at least one, and, in most cases, both, of these anti-inflammatory aromatics. Even in a chapter aptly titled “Eggs All the Time,” you’ll find ginger and chilies featured in some surprising dishes (think breakfast).

Research suggests that both ginger and chilies have inflammation-fighting abilities and compounds, among other benefits. Ginger has well-documented health perks including supporting digestion and promoting healthy blood sugar levels.

“A few simple steps transform ho-hum sautéed greens into this unforgettable one-pot dish,” writes Gourdet of this recipe in his book, “perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Packed with vitamins, fiber, and other good stuff, collards, chard, and kale can taste a little too healthy. They need a boost.” That boost comes from the aromatics (which also includes garlic here) and plenty of olive oil, plus “a last-minute dose of fresh herbs” to help cut through the satisfying richness that baking the eggs and greens provides.