Regional Cuisine Recipes

Bhindi masala with three pounds of okra cooked in a garlic-heavy base of browned onions, fresh green chilies, turmeric, and cumin. A straightforward Indian okra dish that's vegan, quick, and full of warm spice.

Meshoui is Moroccan-style roast lamb: a leg rubbed with paprika, garlic and pepper, roasted on a bed of aromatic vegetables, then braised tender in a tomato-spiked pan sauce. Fragrant, fall-apart North African lamb.

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.

Santa Maria runner bean stew with garlic, tomatoes, basil, and a splash of olive oil. A simple Mediterranean-style vegetable stew that holds up hot or cold.

Classic feijoada, Brazil's hearty black bean stew simmered with sausage, beef, pork, and bacon until thick and rich. Served over rice with bright orange slices, the way it's done in Brazil.

Korean cucumber salad (Oi Namul) with sesame oil, garlic, and a kick of cayenne. A crunchy, nutty banchan side dish that's ready in 45 minutes with no cooking required.

Fresh no-cook salsa with Roma tomatoes, lime juice, green chiles, and scallions. A quick chunky salsa you can adjust to your heat level, ready in 15 minutes.

Dried tomato crostini with sun-dried and fresh tomatoes, olives, capers, balsamic vinegar, and garlic on toasted baguette. An Italian bruschetta-style appetizer with optional melted cheese.

Extra cheese lasagne layers homemade pasta sheets with ricotta-spinach filling and a triple-cheese mix of provolone, mozzarella, and parmesan. A weekend project Italian classic for six.

Indian-style garlic wheat flatbread with cardamom and crushed garlic, griddle-cooked into eight tender rounds. Yeast-free Indian roti-style bread for curries and stews.

Garlicky paella loads saffron rice with prawns, clams, and browned chicken, perfumed with a heavy hand of garlic. The golden, one-pan Spanish classic, simmered low and never stirred so the rice cooks up tender with a crisp bottom.

Grecian stuffed tomatoes filled with rice, currants, garlic, and onion, baked in olive oil and garnished with fresh mint or basil. Vegetarian and vegan.

Gujarati dal: a Western Indian lentil stew with eggplant, zucchini, and tomato, tempered with mustard seed, cumin, and asafetida in ghee. Vegetarian, warmly spiced, served over rice.

Kuo Fan Gee Chiu is a Szechuan-style diced chicken stir-fry with dried red chilis, bamboo shoots, and straw mushrooms. Velveted chicken, no-bland heat.

Latigo chili is a serious Tex-Mex three-meat chili of brisket, venison, and pork simmered with ancho chiles, beer, tequila, and staged cumin additions. Built for a crowd of 20.

Liula kebab, Caucasian-style ground lamb skewers seasoned with fresh mint, ginger, garlic, and red pepper, grilled over hot charcoal. A boldly spiced lamb kebab tradition.