232 blanched recipes

Buttery shortbread cookies shaped like tiny strawberries, rolled in red and green sugar crystals with almond "stems." A whimsical baking project kids will love.

Grilled green onion tarts on puff pastry with swirled new potatoes, melted provolone, and crispy bacon. Individual savory tarts that combine grilling and baking for smoky, cheesy bites.

Traditional Spanish almond soup from Castilla la Vieja: ground almonds blended into rich consomme, ladled over toast strips, broiled with Parmesan, and scattered with toasted almonds.

Chewy coconut almond macaroons made with homemade almond paste, ground coconut, and egg whites. Naturally gluten-free, crisp on the outside, soft in the middle. Makes 3 to 4 dozen.

Roasted Long Island duck with a gastrique sauce made from caramelized sugar, red wine vinegar, and duck stock, garnished with fresh grapefruit sections. A refined, restaurant-level dish.

Lobster smoked over black lychee tea, brown sugar, and rice, then wrapped in rice paper with ripe mango, jicama, fresh herbs, and bean thread noodles. A spicy mango-sambal dipping sauce ties it all together.

This delicate soup, popular 100 years ago, is now unusual. On no account should it be liquidized at any stage, as that ruins the texture

Persian sweet rice (shirin polo) cooked in fresh orange juice with orange zest, shredded carrots, toasted almonds, and raisins. A fragrant, jewel-toned side dish for special occasions.

Moroccan vegetable stew with chickpeas, butternut squash, sweet potato, dried apricots, and raisins, spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric. Served over couscous.

Oxtails braised 4 hours in red wine with tomatoes and capers, then stripped, stuffed into cabbage rolls with Parmesan, and baked golden. Served on mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort meal.

Cape Cod cranberry-blueberry crisp with maple syrup, oat-almond topping, and whole wheat flour. A naturally sweetened, butter-free fruit dessert bursting with tart berry flavor.

Gelo di Mellone, a traditional Sicilian watermelon pudding thickened with cornstarch, studded with pistachios, chocolate, and candied citron, finished with cinnamon.

Panforte is the dense, chewy Sienese Christmas cake packed with toasted hazelnuts and almonds, dates, cherries, cocoa, and warm spices, bound by hot honey caramel. A traditional Italian holiday confection.

Punjabi masala brinjals: eggplants scored and stuffed with cumin, pomegranate seeds, garam masala, and turmeric, then braised in a spiced tomato-ginger sauce until tender.

While Schwartz describes the name for this Israeli dish as slightly pretentious, he notes that it won a cooking competition and found its way onto the menus of five star hotels. He recommends serving it over a bed or bulgur pilaf.

Florentine triangle cookies with a buttery shortbread crust, candied cherry and pineapple topping with almonds, and a semi-sweet chocolate drizzle. A stunning holiday cookie.