Recipes by Chrystal & Amir

Their never-ending zeal for eating inspires their love of cooking, which leads to experimental dishes inspired by traditional Italian fare.

  • Primavera

    Roasted Vegetable Primavera

    A medley of colorful vegetables are roasted in the oven, which brings out their natural sweetness—a complement to the earthy mushroom alfredo sauce.

  • Chicken Parmesan

    Pine Nut-Crusted Chicken Parmesan

    Sweet, buttery pine nuts juxtapose the spicy Arrabbiata sauce and give an unexpectedly delightful crunch.

  • Baked Pasta

    Pork Mascarpone Manicotti

    Three different cheeses makes this manicotti stuffing satisfyingly creamy and luscious.

  • Slow Food & Braising

    Lamb Stew with Spaghetti Squash

    Winter spaghetti squash adds an unexpected nutlike flavor.

  • Small Plates

    Fried Calamari Crostini

    These tiny seafood bites pack a flavorful punch thanks to fresh parsley and rosemary, cayenne pepper, garlic and more.

  • Spaghetti & Meatballs

    Stuffed Meatballs with Spaghetti

    Inside these meatballs made with ground pork and veal, melted mozzarella and savory bacon await.

  • Pizza

    Pancetta & Arugula Polenta Pizzettes

    Polenta moonlights as pizza dough—its sweet, corn-based flavor complements peppery arugula.

  • Shellfish & Seafood

    Salmon Crepes with Creamy Pesto

    Crisp vegetables, fresh herbs and savory Parmesan make for a delightfully delicious — and slightly unexpected — salmon crepes.

Chrystal & Amir

More About Chrystal & Amir

Chrystal and Amir are the cooking aficionados behind The Duo Dishes food blog. They started the blog as a place to share recipes with friends and family and haven't stopped since. Their inspiration is drawn from both the past and present—the places they have lived, the foods they grew up on and the mix of cultures that make up their current hometown of Los Angeles.

Amir isn't afraid to get his hands dirty and considers them his favorite kitchen tool, second only to a huge wooden spoon he bought upon moving to LA. To date, his favorite savory recipe is a Tarragon Chicken and Grape Pot Pie that they made for a pie contest. Chrystal loves her KitchenAid® Stand Mixer and anything involving sweet potatoes.

Outside of continuously coming up with adventurous, fresh and comforting recipes, Chrystal spends her time hiking, reading, watching Broadway plays and bad reality TV, practicing her French (which she's taken for many years) and traveling. Amir also enjoys traveling along with listening to music (he's played the cello his whole life), spending time at the beach, reading memoirs and going to movies on opening night.