840 fast recipes

The pleasing almond flavor and nice crunch of these simple little cookies, from Paula Tuchscherer-Jones of Milwaukee, earned them a win in the ethnic cookie category.

Fassoulakia Yahni: Greek-style green beans slow-braised in olive oil with tomatoes, garlic, and fresh herbs. A classic ladera dish that's naturally vegan and full of Mediterranean flavor.

Smoky chipotle salsa blended from canned chipotles in adobo, tomato paste, brown sugar, and red wine vinegar. Sweet, fiery, and ready in 10 minutes. Makes 2 cups.

Homemade ginger salad dressing blended with fresh ginger, lemon zest, tomato paste, and white vinegar. A bold, Japanese steakhouse-style dressing made in your blender in 2 minutes.

Smoky chipotle meets sweet yellow tomatoes in this vibrant Mexican-style sauce with epazote and fresh cilantro. Makes 2 quarts, freezes beautifully, and livens up everything from enchiladas to grilled fish.

This hearty vegetarian chestnut and rice savoury pairs earthy dried chestnuts with brown rice, mushrooms, and a savory yeast extract sauce for a warming one-pan meal.

Vegan Sicilian lentil pasta sauce simmered with mushrooms, garlic, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Low-fat, high-protein, and hearty enough to replace any meat sauce over pasta or rice.

Miso potato salad with baby potatoes simmered in a sauce of white and red miso, sake, ginger, and honey. A Japanese-inspired side served hot or cold, no mayo needed.

Pignoli cookies (pine nut macaroons): the chewy almond-paste Italian classic studded with toasted pine nuts and dusted with powdered sugar. Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and totally addictive.

Quiche Nicoise is a Provençal savory tart with slow-cooked tomatoes, anchovies, olives, and herbes de Provence baked into an egg custard. Southern French cafe flavors in one slice.

No-cook tortilla rollups with cream cheese, ranch, chunky salsa, and cheddar on whole wheat tortillas. Chill, slice into pinwheels, and watch them vanish at any party.

Smoked haddock potato pie with a fluffy mash topping, flaked fish, and tangy fromage frais in place of butter. Grilled until the cheese turns golden and crunchy on top. A lighter take on classic fish pie.

Baby Spinach Salad with Grilled Onions,Tomato Vinaigrette recipe

Tropical fruit brunch parfait layered with non-fat cottage cheese, peach yogurt, raisins, canned tropical fruit, and crunchy granola. No cooking, 10 minutes to assemble, and a high-protein low-fat breakfast.

Chickpea salad with tahini made from dried garbanzo beans, lemon, garlic, cumin, and coriander. A from-scratch hummus-style dip that's sieved smooth and chilled overnight for the best flavor.

Peaches with white wine: ripe peeled peaches steeped in dry white wine for an hour, then served in wine glasses topped with sweetened mascarpone-yogurt cream. The Italian summer dessert that cooks itself.