Recipes with salt

Canned refried beans transform into a velvety smooth soup with chicken broth, green chilies, and cilantro, topped with melted cheese and sour cream for a quick Mexican-inspired meal ready in 20 minutes.

Farfallette Dolci are Italian bow-tie fried pastries flavored with orange and almond, tied into loose knots and dusted with powdered sugar. A traditional Italian Carnevale sweet with a crisp, delicate shatter.

Moroccan tagine of okra and tomatoes uses a clever string-the-okra technique to keep pods whole while poaching in spiced tomato sauce. A vegetarian Maghreb classic served hot or warm.

A Moroccan-inspired beef stew marinated overnight in red wine with cinnamon, ginger, saffron, and cloves, then braised for three hours and finished with cognac-soaked prunes, almonds, and sesame seeds.

Rich fettuccine Alfredo with lump backfin crabmeat folded into a butter, cream, and Parmesan sauce. A luxurious Chesapeake-meets-Italian pasta in just five core ingredients.

Calves liver stroganoff with sautéed mushrooms, onions, and white wine in a tangy low-fat yogurt sauce over noodles. A lighter, iron-rich spin on the classic in just 30 minutes.

Golden-seared chicken simmered in raspberry vinegar and chicken stock, finished with a velvety cream reduction. A French nouvelle cuisine classic that balances fruity tartness with rich, savory depth.

This is a good "guest" food. You can appear to have mastered esoteric Oriental cooking techniques without ever having actually prepared the dish before... Unless you drop the pot on the kitchen floor and set it on fire with the hot salt, it's a pretty foolproof cooking technique.

Vegetarian cabbage rolls stuffed with tofu, pearl barley, bulgur, rice, and pine nuts, baked low and slow in a sweet-tangy tomato sauce. A hearty, meat-free comfort classic.

Lou Pastis en Pott, the classic Languedoc potted meat: beef and pork slow-cooked in red wine with juniper, sealed under lard, and built up over weeks. Traditional French preservation cooking.

Classic New England johnnycake made with yellow cornmeal and tangy buttermilk. This diabetic-friendly cornbread uses sugar substitute and comes together in 40 minutes with no fuss.

Pork stir-fry with green beans and mushrooms cooks quick in a wok with soy sauce and a cornstarch gravy. Tender shredded pork, snapping green beans, meaty mushrooms. A 30-minute Chinese-American weeknight dinner from one pan.

Finely chopped pork shoulder mixed with water chestnuts, dark soy, and sesame oil, topped with salty Tianjin preserved vegetable and steamed until tender. A traditional Cantonese home-style pork dish.

English farmhouse vegetable soup simmers carrots, leek, onion, celery, and potatoes in lamb stock with a bouquet garni. Potatoes break down to thicken the broth naturally.

You can taste all the flavours in this cream pie, it is so rich, smooth and creamy; the almond crust adds the nutty and tangy flavor.

Grilled grouper marinated in tequila, triple sec, and lime juice, served with fresh tomato-jalapeno salsa. A margarita-inspired fish dish straight off the grill.

Moroccan sweet rice with cinnamon, a buttery side dish dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. A classic North African accompaniment to spicy tagines or roast lamb.

Greek squid baked with rice (kalamarakia pilafi), simmered in white wine, tomato, garlic, and rosemary. Tender squid rings folded into a tomato-stained pilaf.

A moist chocolate banana snack cake made with buttermilk, mashed ripe bananas, and cocoa. No eggs, low in oil, topped with chocolate chips and nuts. Cut into lunchbox-friendly squares.

A chilled rice salad tossed with shrimp, cucumber, radishes, and peas in a zingy ginger-sesame-horseradish dressing. Served on fresh spinach leaves, this no-cook sushi-inspired bowl comes together in 10 minutes flat.

Authentic Goan pork vindaloo marinated 24 hours in vinegar, ginger, garlic, and a dry-spice masala of cumin, coriander, cardamom, and cloves. Tangy, fiery, and deep-flavored Indian curry.

Hungarian-style peasant potato soup built on a paprika-tinted blond roux with cubed potatoes, carrots, tomato, and green pepper. Simple pantry ingredients, deep flavor.

Quiabada is a Bahian Brazilian beef and okra stew with garlic, tomatoes, and malagueta peppers, simmered into a reddish sauce served over rice or angu.

Tropical drop cookies loaded with candied papaya, mango, pineapple, dried apricots, macadamia nuts, and white chocolate chunks. The fruitcake reimagined as a chewy island-style cookie.

Boiled pierogi topped with caramelized onions and red peppers in a sweet-tangy vinegar glaze. A quick, comforting Eastern European weeknight dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Crispy, crunchy chocolate chip cookies with rice cereal folded right into the dough. Lighter and snappier than a traditional chocolate chip cookie. 30 minutes from bowl to cooling rack, and they freeze like a charm.

Grilled chicken basted in a tangy limeade, soy sauce, and curry glaze with coriander and ginger. East African-inspired flavors that'll own your next cookout.

Heaven and hell cake stacks airy angel food and dark devil's food layers with peanut butter mousse between, all under a glossy chocolate ganache. A showstopping light-and-dark cake with a chocolate-peanut butter heart.

A lighter, golden fruitcake with apricots, golden raisins, candied orange peel, and walnuts in a buttery brandy batter. Baked in decorative molds for a gorgeous holiday centerpiece.

Ground beef and green beans in Worcestershire gravy topped with sour cream mashed potatoes and melted American cheese. A shepherd's pie shortcut done entirely in one skillet.

Grilled marinated tofu with a Mediterranean chopped salad of tomato, cucumber, kalamata olives and parsley. Bright vegetarian main with Greek flavors.

Cheesy Mexican chicken casserole layers corn chips, cooked chicken, Rotel-spiked cream soups, onions, and sharp cheddar into a Tex-Mex weeknight bake. Freezer-friendly comfort food.

Pumpkin orange cake: moist sheet cake with canned pumpkin, orange juice concentrate, and zest, finished with a citrus glaze. Fall flavors with a bright twist on standard pumpkin spice.

Classic Italian sponge cake made with a warm egg foam, cocoa powder, and no butter at all. Light as air with a deep golden crust and tender chocolate crumb.

Pan-seared fish fillets in a Mediterranean sauce of kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers. Ready in 25 minutes with trout, sole, or orange roughy. Quick, elegant weeknight dinner.

Classic French beurre blanc with fresh basil, Chablis, shallots, clam juice, and cream whisked with butter until velvety smooth. A luxurious 30-minute sauce built for seafood.

Minced oysters baked with eggs, cracker crumbs, celery seed, and butter until golden brown. A classic Southern oyster casserole from a quart of fresh oysters.

Homemade German-style mustard with whole mustard seeds, cider vinegar, cinnamon, allspice, and honey. Bold, grainy, and fiery. Keeps in the fridge for months. Gift-jar worthy.

Easy hamburger hash with ground beef, potatoes, onions, and bell pepper. A 30-minute one-pan dinner with crispy edges and tender, savory bites.

Authentic crawfish etouffee builds on a dark roux with the Cajun trinity, a small army of garlic, and Louisiana crawfish tails. Smothered over rice, this is true New Orleans comfort food.

A unique bread machine loaf made with creamed corn, applesauce, cornmeal, and a hint of nutmeg and vanilla. Slightly sweet, incredibly moist, and totally hands-off.

One-pot cheesy tuna and rice with dill and parsley, ready in 30 minutes. Melted American cheese makes the sauce gooey and kid-friendly. A pantry-staple dinner when time is tight.

When spring arrives, asparagus is always one of our favorite vegetables; and the best way to cook them is roasting or grilling that develops tons of flavor, simply toss with the marinated artichoke hearts, hmm, now there is a good reason to allow yourself to indulge.

French-style prune and Armagnac cake with a cornmeal crumb, yogurt for moisture, and a boozy glaze from the prune soaking liquid. Rustic and elegant.

Citrus dressing gives peppery arugula extra sweetness, a very good balance!

Moist prune cake made with baby food prunes, cinnamon, and nutmeg. A one-bowl spiced cake that beats everything for 3 minutes and bakes hands-off.

Silky baked egg custard with fresh ginger, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gently cooked in a water bath for a wobble-in-the-center finish. Serve warm or chilled.