10,000 black pepper recipes

Puchero is to Mexican cooking what Pot-au-Feu is to French. The difference lies in Puchero's imaginative combination of vegetables and fruits. Since it is even more delicious the second day, this recipe will make an ample amount to serve 8 for dinner, with some left over for lunch the following day.

Salad with warm goat cheese: crumb-coated Montrachet rounds fried to a golden crust over tender greens in a champagne-cider vinaigrette. A French bistro classic worth every step.

Baked vegetarian croquettes made from chickpeas, couscous, and toasted sunflower seeds with Dijon, red wine, and fresh herbs. Crispy outside, tender inside.

Seared double-cut pork chops glazed with tamarind and molasses, served over roasted sweet potatoes with a rich mole cream of pepitas, pistachios, pine nuts, and roasted poblano.

Duck pot pie with the flavors of duck a l'orange baked right in: a giblet stock sauce brightened with orange peel and Triple Sec, loaded with broccoli, leeks, and ginger. The crispy duck skin gets rolled into the top crust.

Vegetable-packed beer chili with kidney beans, chickpeas, zucchini, and carrots simmered in a cumin-chili spice base. Topped with cheese, sour cream, and sunflower seeds.

Chilled cream of vegetable soup with spinach, carrots, celery, and green pepper, pureed and enriched with egg yolks and half-and-half. Served cold with sour cream and fresh herbs.

Cheesy rice and bean casserole with ricotta, feta, and Parmesan baked under sliced tomatoes and a golden breadcrumb crust. Hearty vegetarian comfort food with mushrooms and herbs.

Curry-dusted chicken strips simmered with Amaretto, mushrooms, and lemon in a silky sauce, served in flaky patty shells. A surprisingly elegant weeknight dinner.

No-boil lasagna with ground beef meat sauce, ricotta-mozzarella cheese filling, and uncooked noodles that soften right in the pan. Skip the boiling step and still get a classic family-style lasagna with tender layers.

Aloo Gobi with diced potatoes and cauliflower cooked in ghee with mustard seeds, cumin, garam masala, and fresh tomatoes. A classic Indian vegetarian dish ready in 30 minutes.

Stuffed Chinese black mushrooms filled with seasoned crushed tofu, ginger, garlic, sesame, and scallion, then grilled or broiled. A vegan-friendly appetizer with earthy, umami-rich mushroom caps.

Gambardella's minestrone with five dried legumes, fresh fennel, basil, oregano, and Italian vegetables simmered into a thick, hearty soup. Serve over pasta or rice.

The pesto sauce is good on any steamed, baked, broiled, or grilled firm-fleshed fish fillet.

Carol's lasagna stacks six noodle layers with a triple-cheese mix of ricotta, cottage, and romano, plus mozzarella and a slow-simmered ground beef tomato sauce. The classic baked pasta done generously.

Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with ricotta, lemon zest, chives, and chopped almonds, then drizzled with a bright lemon-Dijon vinaigrette. Served cold or at room temperature.