Recipes with sweet red bell peppers

Diet tortillas rancheros load warm flour tortillas with a fresh lime-spiked tomato salsa, black beans, shredded lettuce, and crunchy peanuts. A 35-minute light Mexican-style open-face wrap.

Jalapeño corn chowder with sweet summer corn, pickled peppers, and crumbled feta. A fast, creamy 30-minute soup with real heat and fresh bell pepper crunch.

Before winter shows up on your front door, try this scrumptious macaroni salad that goes perfect with grilled salmon.

Classic gazpacho made with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and red wine vinegar. A chilled no-cook Spanish soup pureed smooth and served cold.

Louisiana crawfish pie with the Cajun holy trinity, butter, crawfish tails, and green onions, baked in a double-crust pastry. Bayou comfort food at its best.

Rotini pasta tossed with chickpeas, broiler-roasted red peppers, roma tomatoes, fresh basil, and balsamic vinegar. A vegetarian Italian pasta dish that travels well for potlucks and picnics.

Crab puff Savannah layers flaky phyllo dough with seasoned crab meat, sauteed red peppers and mushrooms, a ricotta-spinach filling, and Swiss cheese. Scored into diamonds and baked golden.

A good spring dinner selection, light and healthy.

Louisiana gumbo built on a classic roux with okra, bell pepper, celery, onion, tomatoes, and your choice of shrimp, chicken, or crawfish. A Creole one-pot served over rice.

These Maryland-style crabcakes sear golden on the stovetop, then finish in the oven for tender centers. Old Bay seasoning, sautéed peppers, and fresh garlic pack them with classic Chesapeake Bay flavor.

Hot and spicy red pepper apricot chutney with dried apricots, raisins, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a tart-sweet vinegar simmer. Big flavor condiment for meats and cheese boards.

Meatless black bean and bulgur chili with red and green peppers, carrots, cumin, and coriander. A hearty vegetarian chili that's thick, spiced, and loaded with fiber.

Crab and portabella melt: grilled mushroom caps topped with tomato, Old Bay crab salad, and melted cheddar. A bread-free open-face that eats like a proper sandwich.

Green pepper steak stir-fry with thinly sliced round steak marinated in soy sauce, garlic, and fresh ginger, then tossed with bell peppers, scallions, celery, and tomatoes in a glossy cornstarch sauce.

Crawfish dip with sauteed trinity, Rotel tomatoes, and cream cheese served cold. A rich, Cajun-style party dip loaded with crawfish tail meat.

Portobello Philly cheesesteak sandwich with melty provolone, peppers, and onions on toasted whole-wheat buns. A meatless 25-minute vegetarian take on the Philly classic, built in one skillet.