What to Cook the Week of September 28 - October 4: 10 Dinner Ideas from a Chef

Every Sunday I write one week of dinners: five Classic and five Plant-Based, chosen around what is actually good at the market that week. This is the plan for September 28 - October 4, 2026. Take the ideas, cook the ones you want, or let SEASON hand you the whole week with the shopping list already done.

The Classic five

• 1
  Huli-Huli Chicken

  Pineapple-Soy Lacquer · Jasmine Rice · Charred Pineapple

  Boneless thighs turned and basted over the fire until the pineapple-soy glaze lacquers dark and glossy, served over jasmine rice

  Grill, 25 Minutes · serves 4
• 2
  Blackened Fish Tacos

  Dry Spice Crust · Lime Crema · Radish

  White fish under a dark spice crust seared ninety seconds a side in a ripping cast iron pan, folded into warm corn tortillas

  Cast Iron, 20 Minutes · serves 4
• 3
  Pork Schnitzel

  Lemon · Sharp Green Salad · Shallot

  Thin pounded pork cutlets in a shatteringly crisp crumb crust, fried fast and served with lemon and a sharply dressed salad

  Skillet, 30 Minutes · serves 4
• 4
  Turkey Meatballs

  Sun-Dried Tomato Cream · Spinach · Pappardelle

  Light turkey meatballs seared for color and finished in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with wilted spinach over wide pappardelle

  Stovetop, 35 Minutes · serves 4
• 5
  Merguez Lamb Burger

  Harissa Aioli · Feta Tzatziki · Wild Arugula

  Michael's own award-winning burger - spiced lamb at a 75/25 fat ratio, griddled hard, with harissa aioli on the bun and feta tzatziki over the patty

  Griddle, 25 Minutes · serves 4

The Plant-Based five

Fully plant-based, every week, built to stand on its own rather than as a substitution.

• 1
  Bang Bang Tofu Bowl

  Crisp Tofu · Shredded Carrot · Jasmine Rice

  Thick cubes of tofu pressed hard and fried crisp, drizzled with coral bang bang sauce over jasmine rice with carrot and scallion

  Skillet, 30 Minutes · serves 4
• 2
  Mushroom Larb

  Lettuce Cups · Toasted Rice · Mint and Lime

  Finely chopped mushrooms browned hard and tossed with lime, chili and herbs, spooned into cold lettuce cups with toasted rice powder

  Skillet, 25 Minutes · serves 4
• 3
  Onion & Olive Flatbread

  Forty-Minute Onions · Black Olive · Lemon Zest

  Onions cooked down slow until they are jammy and dark, spread edge to edge on a blistered flatbread with torn olives and lemon zest

  Bake, 55 Minutes · serves 4
• 4
  Persimmon & Little Gem

  Fuyu Persimmon · Pepita · Citrus-Shallot

  Firm Fuyu persimmon sliced into crisp little gem with toasted pepitas, mint and a bright citrus-shallot vinaigrette

  No-Cook, 15 Minutes · serves 4
• 5
  Butternut Mac

  Squash Is the Sauce · Cashew · Toasted Breadcrumb

  Roasted butternut blended with cashew into a velvety orange sauce that coats every ridge, topped with toasted breadcrumbs and sage

  Stovetop, 40 Minutes · serves 4

See every SEASON weekly dinner plan → · More September dinner ideas →