TIMKEN INSPIRED RECIPES

Celebrate art, culture, and cuisine through the Timken-Inspired Recipe series. Twice a month we explire an object from our collection through an epicurean narrative. Created for aspiring cooks, and seasoned gourmets alike, each detailed recipe features an imaginative take on a masterpiece using seasonal ingredients and the regional cuisine of the artist.



French Vanilla and White Pepper Ice Cream

Timken-Inspired Recipe: French Vanilla and White Pepper Ice Cream

Click here for the recipe

The French Vanilla & White Pepper Ice Cream, is based on one of the paintings in the French Gallery - Vernet's "Seaport at Sunset". The French vanilla and white pepper elevate a traditional dessert while paying homage to the history of spice trades in Mediterranean seaports such as the one idealized in Vernet's painting.

Blueberry Almond Tart

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Blueberry Almond Tart

Click here for the recipe

Today’s Timken inspired recipe, Blueberry Almond Tart, honors American artist Fitz Henry Lane and his work, "Castine Harbor and Town". Lane painted with gentle blue colors, bringing to mind the native blueberries grown in the region. Quintessential blues of the Maine landscape, simple ingredients at the height of their season. We couldn't imagine a better pairing of art and cuisine.

Summer Courgette Salad

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Summer Courgette Salad

Click here for the recipe

As summer heats up, the Timken is turning to the Interior of the Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam by Emanuel de Witte for culinary inspiration. The strong vertical lines, repeating arches, and cool palette draw comparisons to this refreshing Courgette Summer Salad.

Classic Italian Pesto

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Classic Italian Pesto

Click here for the recipe

Who hasn't gotten lost in Italian artist Bartolomeo Veneto and his work, 𝑷𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔? Veneto's mastery of the opulent folds of the sitter's vibrant green overdress inspired this classic Italian Pesto Recipe. The pesto's signature rich color and a bright mouthful of flavor is best when basil is at its peak. An Electric alchemy of simple summer ingredients. Culinary perfection.

Steamed Mussels in Saffron and White Wine

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Steamed Mussels in Saffron and White Wine

Click here for the recipe

Our culinary inspiration for this week is Peter Paul Ruben’s "Portrait of a Young Man in Armor", which brings to mind another Belgian masterwork, steamed mussels. Both can be easily defined by their distinctive armor, romanticizing the practical nature of the protection they offer. But equally important in each is the application of red that creates a necessary foil. For this Steamed Mussels with White Wine & Saffron Broth recipe, saffron elevates Belgium's national dish with rich, exotic notes. A gastronomic ode to the regal figure and decadent red color in Ruben's painting.

Rotisserie Chicken Sandwiches

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Rotisserie Chicken Sandwiches

Click here for the recipe

Milder weather is beckoning us outside and what better tribute to the great outdoors and national parks than Albert Bierstadt's Cho-looke, the Yosemite Fall painting, the inspiration for this week's Timken recipe. Bierstadt celebrated his trips West with grand paintings including this monumental landscape. We imagine the figures in the grassy meadow may have enjoyed a hearty repast such as a Rotisserie Chicken Sandwich with Green Goddess Mayonnaise. The art of picnicking inspired by one of the American masters of landscape painting.

Fish and Chips

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Fish and Chips

Click here for the recipe

Searching for a decidedly summer repast that pays homage to Britain on this Independence Day? Look no further than this week's Timken-inspired recipe, Fish & Chips, a culinary nod to both the British and America's first marine artist, Thomas Birch.  Birch developed a reputation for his dramatic seascapes, as seen here with An American Ship In Distress.  What better way to celebrate the sea and the nation's history than with a summer seafood classic?

Flemish Tart

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Flemish Tart

Click here for the recipe

Did you know strawberries symbolize spring, righteousness, love and, in some faiths and cultures, the Virgin Mary? It seems only fitting for this week's Timken-inspired recipe, a culinary nod to Petrus Christus' powerful interpretation of the biblical story, Death of the Virgin.  

We're confident you'll find this Flemish Strawberry & Almond Tart a sweet and seasonal tribute to Christus' masterpiece.

Beet Hummus

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Beet Hummus

Click here for the recipe

The beginning of a new year signals a healthy turn for this week's Timken-inspired recipe, Roasted Red Beet Hummus. Based on John Singleton Copley's captivating portrait, Mrs. Thomas Gage, the subject's fashionable costume served as muse for both the dish and selection of ingredients.


Mrs. Gage's exotic turban took us on a culinary journey for hummus, a staple of Middle Eastern cuisine. The addition of roasted beet created a delicious flavor and startling hue mimicking the sitter's rose silk caftan. And with each taste, the realization that in the realms of art and cuisine, a few choice elements can elevate something simple into something quite regal.

Rice Pudding

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Rice Pudding

Click here for the recipe

17th-century Dutch artist Frans Hals was known for his spare but extraordinary compositions including Portrait of a Man, his masterpiece in the Timken collection. The artist reigned supreme among Dutch/Flemish artists for his commanding brushwork, creating an elegant simplicity in his works. Some might say the same paired down methodology is used to elevate a simple grain into this week's Timken-inspired recipe, a beguiling Dutch favorite, Rice Pudding. How sublime.

Cranberry Cobbler

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Cranberry Cobbler

Click here for the recipe

With the Thanksgiving holiday almost upon us, we would be remiss not to recreate the most literal culinary representation of the Timken collection, Eastman Johnson's The Cranberry Harvest with this Cranberry Cobbler. Johnson's homage to the holiday staple can be found in his work and personal letters. In fact, Johnson once proclaimed himself afflicted with "cranberry fever".  

Cranberry dishes have evolved since Johnson's time, but this classic recipe seems best suited for the painting. Signature deep crimson berries are contrasted by caramelized sugar and butter. Baked to perfection, the cobbler is then finished with an orange glaze to deepen the golden color. A dessert inspired by the Nantucket cranberry bog and harvest season.

Lemon Panna Cotta with Summer Fruits

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Lemon Panna Cotta with Summer Fruits

Click here for the recipe

As summer wanes, we savor the long days transformed at dusk by vibrant sunsets, best enjoyed outside. American painter Thomas Moran captures this fleeting nature of time in his sublime landscape, Opus 24: Rome, from the Campagna, Sunset. What better way to celebrate Moran's compelling sunset and the end of summer than with this Timken-inspired recipe, Lemon Panna Cotta with Summer Fruits? 

Roasted Butternut Squash and Wild Rice Salad

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash and Wild Rice Salad

Click here for the recipe

As we settle into fall, there is a natural inclination to return to the coziness and familiarity of home.  What better time to seek inspiration for this week's Timken-inspired recipe than from American trompe l’oeil master, John F. Peto?  The generous dark tones in Peto's earnest composition, In the Library, can only be matched by the seasonal ingredients in this Roasted Butternut Squash & Wild Rice Salad Recipe.  Despite their somber hues, both offer an abundance of pleasure befitting the season. We invite you to settle into this comforting repast.

Dutch Baby Hasselback Potatoes

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Dutch Baby Hasselback Potatoes

Click here for the recipe

Dutch master painter, draftsman and etcher, Rembrandt van Rijn, was known for his unsparing detail in self-portraits and biblical figures. His dramatic composition, Saint Bartholomew, a study in light and dark, serves as inspiration for this week's Timken recipe, Dutch Baby Hasselback Potatoes. The innovative preparation of this cool season vegetable elevates the humble potato into a culinary work of art. A fitting dish, worthy of Rembrandt and his evocative style.

Tumeric and Ginger Ice Cream

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Tumeric and Ginger Ice Cream

Click here for the recipe

From the Dutch Gallery, we bring you van Dyck's portrait, Mary Villiers, Lady Herbert of Shurland, the elegant muse for this week's Timken-inspired recipe. Viewers are drawn to the sitter's dress and the bursts of deep yellows painted by van Dyck. We reinvent these opulent hues with this Tumeric & Ginger Ice Cream recipe. Like van Dyck's masterpiece, this voluptuous dessert confronts both the eyes and tastebuds. We dare the comparison. 

Shchi, Russian Cabbage Soup

Timken-Inspired Recipes Shchi, Russian Cabbage Soup

Click here for the recipe

For today's Timken-inspired recipe, we pay homage to the 19th-century Russian icon, The Guardian Angel, Deed and Two Saints, pairing it with the traditional Russian cabbage soup, Shchi. The dish dates back to the 9th century soon after cabbage was introduced from Byzantium. Its slow preparation of winter vegetables provides culinary comfort, a devotion to healthy eating this time of year.

Cannolis

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Cannolis

Click here for the recipe

During this holiday season, we turn our attention to Niccolo di Buonaccorso's The Madonna of Humility, with St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Christopher, the Annunciation, and the Crucifixion for a Timken-inspired recipe. This 14th-century representation of the holy family is defined by the sophisticated techniques used by Buonaccorso, a leading artist of his time. We can only imagine the quintessential Italian pastry, Cannoli, being worthy as a culinary tribute to Buonaccorso's work. The dessert's heavenly infusion of ingredients is sure to elevate any celebration.

French Macarons

Timken-Inspired Recipe: French Macarons

Click here for the recipe

For today's Timken-inspired recipe, we pay homage to the artistry of accomplished 18th-century French artist Nicolas de Largillière and his opulent painting, Portrait of Marguerite de Sève, Wife of Barthèlemy-Jean-Claude Pupil. The bright colors and exceptional details in his masterpiece can only be reimagined through the delicate confections, French Macarons. These fashionable culinary luxuries, a result of exacting methods, are an elegant and decadent treat. We couldn't imagine this royal lady enjoying anything less.

Shashlik, Grilled Pork Kebabs with Tomato Salad

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Shashlik, Grilled Pork Kebabs with Tomato Salad

Click here for the recipe

The jubilant gathering in the Timken's 16th century Russian Icon, The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, has inspired us to recreate a signature Russian summer classic, Shashlik - Grilled Pork Kebabs with Tomato Salad, for this week's Timken recipe. The smokey kebabs are elevated by the bright flavors of tomatoes, cucumbers and radishes, a culinary reinterpretation of the colorful robes worn by the figures in the icon. We invite you to add this popular dish to your grilling repertoire, an ode to Russian culture.

Savory Blinis with Smoked Salmon

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Savory Blinis with Smoked Salmon

Click here for the recipe

For today's Timken inspired recipe, we pair two classics of Russian culture. The icon of Vladimir Mother of God, a symbol of unity, is one of the most famous icons of the Mother of God, historically linked to Moscow, Kiev, tsars, and the Russian Orthodox church. Throughout their centuries-long history, blinis have been a celebrated and revered culinary tradition to mark the end of winter, gatherings and special events. Today we invite you to enjoy this Savory Blinis with Smoked Salmon recipe. A refined repast, or zakuski, to mark any occasion.

Champagne Cupcakes with Raspberry-Infused Chantilly Cream

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Champagne Cupcakes with Raspberry-Infused Chantilly Cream

Click here for the recipe

For today's Timken-inspired recipe, we'd like to celebrate François Boucher's splendid composition Lovers in a Park and what we imagine would be its culinary cousin, Champagne Cupcakes with Raspberry-Infused Chantilly Cream. Both celebrate Rococo ideals of delicate pastel colors and graceful shapes. We know this recipe is over the top, a tad whimsical, but who could resist this confectionary opus the Boucher and the light-hearted nature of spring?

French Breakfast Radishes with Herb Butter

Timken-Inspired Recipe: French Breakfast Radishes with Herb Butter

Click here for the recipe

In honor of spring, we look to the French Gallery and Jean-Honoré Fragonard's sublime masterpiece, Blindman's Buff, as muse for the latest Timken-inspired recipe. This lighthearted scene of couples and families at play in a garden evokes the vibrant pink French Breakfast Radish, and what better way to indulge in this mild, almost sweet radish than with herbed butter on toasted baguettes? A classic, elegant French snack worthy of sharing outdoors.

Antipasto Salad

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Antipasto Salad

Click here for the recipe

For today’s Timken-inspired recipe, we return to the Italian Gallery and Luca Carlevarijs’ The Piazzetta at Venice. The colorful and detailed painting brings to mind this Antipasto Salad of marinated carrots, artichokes, salami, cheeses and olives, an epicurean party of signature Italian ingredients. We imagine the merchants in the piazza enjoying such a repast while taking in the bustling Venetian scene. Do you?

Minestrone Soup

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Minestrone Soup

Click here for the recipe

Today we take an artistic, culinary, and decorative exploration of Italy's history thanks to The Magdalene Master and an Unknown Florentine Painter painting in our Italian Gallery. The object depicts twelve scenes from the Passion, including the Last Supper. In 15th-century Italy, the subject of the Last Supper was a popular choice for the refectory walls of monasteries and convents. We imagine the nuns and monks would have enjoyed their meals in the presence of Jesus’ final repast, including the time-honored Italian classic, Minestrone Soup. Some would say the dish itself seems only befitting the object, simple but layered with ingredients, as vibrant as the figures painted by an unknown artist. A classic Italian composition layered in history. 

Split Pea Soup

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Split Pea Soup

Click here for the recipe

The blustery weather of late reminds us of Jacob van Ruisdael's landscape painting, A View of Haarlem and Bleaching Fields and serves as inspiration for this week's Timken-inspired recipe, Split Pea Soup. In this richly textured canvas, the artist arranges the buildings and rows of linen to lead the eye diagonally through alternating areas of shadow and light. Ruisdael's detail of a pending storm with ominous clouds are strikingly realistic if not chill producing. So grab a sweater, linger over a bowl of hearty soup, and enjoy this culinary tribute to Ruisdael's masterpiece. Whether in Haarlem or your home, a traditional Dutch soup that is meant to satisfy.

Black Licorice

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Black Licorice

Click here for the recipe

Just in time for Ditch Your New Year's Resolutions Day, a decadent Timken-inspired recipe, Black Licorice Twists. The culinary inspiration for the sweet treat is François Clouet's portrait, Guy XVII, Comte de Laval, that graces the Timken's French Gallery. Comte de Laval, was the son of one of the great noble families of France and Clouet vividly celebrated the sitter's position in society, painting Comte de Laval in a dark velvet suit embroidered in lines. There is rich symbolism in this display of wealth and the effect is quite powerful, striking. Bold words that could easily describe this popular, anise-flavored candy of France.

Cheese Stuffed Blinis with Raspberry Sauce

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Cheese Stuffed Blinis with Raspberry Sauce

Click here for the recipe

For today's Timken inspired recipe, 𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒅 𝑩𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑹𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒖𝒄𝒆, we look to the Russian Icon Gallery and the dynamic "Last Judgement" icon. The Last Judgement contains many figures but Saint Nicholas, in his vibrant red cape and mitre, or cap, quickly draws attention. During this holiday season, it only seems appropriate to pair this saint perpetually linked to Christmas with blinis, those traditional Russian packages of culinary bliss. What a decadent treat for the holidays! We invite you to enjoy this recipe, from our museum to your home.

French Onion Soup

Timken-Inspired Recipe: French Onion Soup

Click here for the recipe

On this cold morning, we take comfort and culinary inspiration in the passage of time celebrated in Jacques-Louis David's painting, Portrait of Cooper Penrose. David paints his distinguished subject with noted grace, using little ornamentation to distract the viewer from Cooper Penrose's age. The effect is an homage to a full life and passage of time. It seems only befitting then to pair this portrait with a classic French Onion Soup recipe. Time is the essential ingredient, a necessity to coaxing out the refined flavors of red wine, beef broth, and caramelized onions. Simple yet sophisticated. A fitting tribute to David's masterpiece.

Russian Honey Cake

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Russian Honey Cake

Click here for the recipe

Look no further than the Timken’s Russian Icon collection for a bit of culinary inspiration and this week’s Timken recipe. The 17th-century icon, Georgian Mother of God, is reimagined for the 21st century through the classic Russian Honey Cake or “Medovik”. Deep gold colors of the cake’s signature ingredient pay tribute to the ornate background and halo in the work. Elaborate and regal, yet deliciously comforting, a dessert befitting of this icon.

Okroshka, Chilled Russian Soup

Timken-Inspired Recipe Okroshka, Chilled Russian Soup

Click here for the recipe

For today's Timken-inspired recipe, we literally translate the 19th-century Russian Icon, The Protection of the Mother of God with Selected Saints. The soft pinks and grey green botanicals, framed by voluminous clouds, influence this take on the traditional chilled summer soup okroshka. As the last of the summer heat lingers, we invite you to savor this refreshing dish.

Panzanella Salad

Timken-Inspired Recipe: Panzanella Salad

Click here for the recipe

From the Timken's Italian Gallery, we bring you Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio's Portrait of a Youth Holding an Arrow, the inspiration for a variation of an Italian summer staple, Panzanella Salad. The high contrast of red and green complementary colors used by Boltraffio are deliciously replicated by pairing tomatoes, cucumbers and basil in this Panzanella Salad.

Roasted Leek, Prosciutto, and Fig Pizza

Timken-Inspired Recipes Roasted Leek, Prosciutto, and Fig Pizza

Click here for the recipe

Italian artist Paolo Veronese was known for his themes of religion and mythology seen here with Madonna and Child with Saint Elizabeth, the Infant Saint John the Baptist and Saint Catherine. We follow Veronese’s lead and take one of the most iconic religious symbols, the fig, to reinterpret an Italian classic for today’s Timken-inspired recipe, Roasted Leek, Prosciutto & Fig Pizza. Symbology aside, the roasted leeks and figs unequivocally mimic the colors found in the figures' clothing. We find this culinary homage to Veronese's masterpiece quite delicious.