Bean connoisseurs will appreciate the characteristic taste and texture talents of pinto and kidney combined within this ancient Indian entrant. Versatility of this variety is limited only by your imagination: take them for a dip: enlist them for creative Mexican food construction: they even taste good straight!
Chinese fried chicken with a warm ginger-soy-sesame dressing, marinated in rice wine and ginger, battered and deep-fried, then chopped into bone-in slices.
Butterfly shrimp with snow peas, a fast Cantonese stir-fry where butterflied shrimp curl in a smoking-hot wok before joining crisp snow peas, straw mushrooms, water chestnuts, and a light ginger-garlic sauce.
Cajun chicken sauce piquant with a dark roux, Chablis wine, tomato sauce, stuffed olives, and hot pepper sauce, slow-cooked for hours and served over spaghetti. Big-batch Cajun cooking.
Spicy Caribbean chicken marinade with jalapeño, allspice, thyme, and honey blended smooth, then poured over chicken breasts before grilling. Sweet, hot, and aromatic, the bones of jerk seasoning without the work.
Delicious Pan-fried fillet of seabass on grilled asparagus with mustard seed, mango and toasted coconut salad, served with a glass of Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc, 2008, £8.49 from Asda, Thresher, Morrison's, Sainsbury's, Somerfield, Tesco
Black-eyed pea and crab salad with bacon, roasted peppers, and fresh herbs in a bright vinaigrette. A Stephan Pyles-style Southwestern recipe served on gorditas or crisp tortillas.
Mexican salsa dip stirs together fresh tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, scallions, olive oil, and vinegar for a chunky no-cook party salsa with tortilla chips. Best after a brief rest.
Try this quick, easy and delicious wrap with your leftover turkey with some fresh vegetables, tons of flavour!
Light spinach dip made with low-fat cottage cheese and yogurt instead of sour cream. Fresh spinach, lemon juice, and green onions in a creamy, tangy base.
Four-bean salad with green beans, wax beans, chickpeas, and kidney beans in a sweet vinegar dressing with bell peppers and scallions. A make-ahead potluck classic.
Lebanese mujaddara (Mjderah) with lentils, rice, and crispy sauteed onions served with cucumber yogurt sauce and pita bread. Simple, hearty, and deeply satisfying.
Asian-style Cornish hen wraps split hen breasts around asparagus spears and steams them in a bamboo steamer over rice with bok choy, broccoli, and peppers. Elegant pan-Asian dinner.
Cajun seafood stuffed flounder filled with shrimp, oysters, bacon, and cheddar, fried crispy on one side and finished in a blazing hot oven. Bold Louisiana flavors.
Chinese-style tofu stir-fry in a savory miso, tahini, soy sauce, and honey bean sauce with mushrooms, red peppers, and ginger. A quick vegetarian wok dinner served over rice.
Grilled black bean pizza swaps tomato sauce for a smoky black bean spread, then piles on Monterey Jack, roasted peppers, tomatoes, olives, and pickled jalapeños. A Southwest take on grilled summer pizza.
Cold asparagus salad with a Chinese-style vinaigrette of rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Marinate overnight for deeper flavor, top with butter-toasted sunflower seeds.
Pork loin scallops sauteed with baby artichokes, apple slices, sage, and Calvados in clarified butter. A Normandy-inspired one-pan saute restaurant-quality and ready in 30 minutes.
Eggplant miso soup with tofu, carrots, and scallions. A simple Japanese-style soup ready in 20 minutes with just six ingredients. Vegan and low-fat.
Chicken and chili stew with browned drumsticks, white beans, cherry tomatoes, and chili powder, finished with fresh cilantro. A make-ahead one-pot stew loaded with garnish options.
A scrumptious salad made with black beans, corn and jalapeno peppers that's perfect for the winter.
Vegetarian sweet and sour stir-fry loaded with snow peas, broccoli, enoki mushrooms, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, mandarin orange) over rice.
Easy chickpea salad with scallions, cilantro, lemon juice and a hit of cayenne. Bright, no-cook vegetarian side dish high in fiber and protein.
Vegetarian bean burritos with from-scratch mashed pinto beans and fresh salsa Mexicana made with tomatoes, jalapenos, and cilantro. No refried beans from a can needed.
Low-fat open-faced vegetable sandwiches on whole wheat toast with a cottage cheese, mushroom, and sprout spread topped with melted low-fat cheese. A vegetarian lunch under 100 calories.
Chinese egg foo young noodle bowls: crispy ham and vegetable omelets stacked over Chinese noodles in a ginger-garlic broth with sherry, soy, and rice vinegar. A one-bowl Chinese-American dinner.
Japanese miso soup with shrimp, kamaboko fish cake, and scallions in dashi stock. A quick, warming starter or light lunch ready in 20 minutes.
Korean kalbi short ribs marinated in soy sauce, sesame, garlic, ginger, and sugar, then broiled or grilled. Thin-cut, caramelized, and loaded with savory-sweet flavor.
Wild boar saddle slow-roasted over Cuban-style black beans with dark rum, smoked ham, and salt pork. Hunter's chili with deep, layered flavors and traditional egg-and-scallion garnish.
Korean barbecue short ribs (kalbi) marinated in shoyu, garlic, ginger, honey, and sesame oil, then grilled or broiled for smoky, caramelized edges.
Chicken and black bean salad with red and yellow peppers, tomatoes, and fresh coriander in a zesty lime-jalapeno dressing. A no-cook, high-protein meal ready in 20 minutes.
What makes this appetizer stand out are the grains of glutinous rice (also called sweet or sticky rice), which turn a pearly color when cooked.
Creole shrimp and crawfish pasta in a brandy cream sauce with orange zest, tarragon, and a splash of Louisiana chicory coffee. A rich, romantic dinner for two in 30 minutes.
Chilled tomato soup with cilantro, jalapeno, avocado, cumin, lime juice, and shredded napa cabbage. A no-cook Mexican-style cold soup that's refreshing, spicy, and vegan.
Jamaican beef patties with a flaky shortening crust and a spiced ground beef filling with thyme, scallion, paprika, and hot pepper. Baked golden in hand-held half-moons.
Bean and Salsa Dip layers spiced pinto bean puree, sweet chili sauce, green onions, fat-free sour cream, and chunky hot salsa on a platter. A no-cook layered party dip ready in 20 minutes.
Chinese-style basic stock made from chicken pieces and pork spareribs simmered with ginger, scallion knots, and rice wine. A clean, versatile broth for Asian cooking.
Korean-style marinated skirt steak with soy sauce, sake, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Grilled to medium rare in under 5 minutes and sliced thin against the grain.
Lightened-up spinach dip with fresh mushrooms, scallions, fat-free mayonnaise, and nonfat sour cream. A five-ingredient party dip that comes together in five minutes and keeps things low-calorie.
Angel hair pasta tossed with fresh chopped tomatoes, basil, parsley, scallions, green olives, and olive oil for a no-cook sauce that comes together in minutes.
Oven-poached fish fillets with water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, snow peas, and scallions in a soy-sesame-ginger court bouillon. A light, elegant Asian seafood dinner ready in 30 minutes.
Microwave brown rice stew with knackwurst sausage, tomatoes, carrots, celery, and Italian herbs. A one-pot weeknight dinner that cooks entirely in the microwave in about an hour.
Cold gazpacho pasta salad with rotelle, cucumber, bell pepper, jalapeño, tomato juice and fresh lime. Spanish-inspired summer pasta salad with a spicy kick.
Szechuan-style spicy pork stir-fry with green peas, carrots, and ginger in a savory oyster and soy sauce. Served over steamed rice for a quick weeknight dinner.
Beef tenderloin slit lengthwise, packed with a savory mushroom and ham bread stuffing, then broiled and served with a brandied tomato gravy. The retro dinner-party showpiece that turns one tenderloin into a memorable plated entree.
Chilled pappa al pomodoro with crab meat crostini, a Tuscan bread-and-tomato soup served cold with a lemony crab-topped baguette float. An elegant no-cook summer appetizer that turns stale bread into something special.
Bow-tie pasta tossed with salsa and melted Monterey Jack cheese, topped with crispy fried scallions. A quick Mexican-inspired pasta dish ready in 30 minutes.
Spicy tofu salad with julienned vegetables, chopped peanuts, and a chili-soy-rice vinegar dressing. Thai-inspired, loaded with crunch, and completely plant-based.