Salad recipes

Avocado and mozzarella stuffed tomatoes hollow out vine-ripe tomatoes and fill them with cubed avocado and fresh mozzarella tossed in basil-balsamic vinaigrette. Five-minute summer appetizer with caprese-salad bones.

Eggplant a la Provencale layers golden olive-oil-fried eggplant slices under a slow-simmered tomato, garlic, and parsley sauce. A chilled French summer appetizer or salad.

Fennel Nicoise braises quartered fennel with tomatoes, white wine, and thyme for a silky Provencal side dish served cold. A do-ahead starter from the South of France.

Tofu antipasto salad with bell peppers, mushrooms, olives, and tomatoes in a balsamic-oregano marinade. A colorful vegetarian appetizer or side, no cooking required.

Pasta rings tossed in cool, spiced cucumber raita with mint, cumin, and lemon. A summer pasta salad with Indian roots: tangy yogurt, crunchy cucumber, and warm cumin against tender anellini pasta.

A spiced oil made with carrots, sweet bell peppers and red pepper flakes that can really spice up pasta or steamed vegetables.

Cajun-style guacamole with crumbled feta, Creole mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and white wine vinegar. Not your standard guac, this one has a Louisiana kick.

Pasta Nicoise salad with shell pasta, fresh tomatoes, steamed green beans, black olives, and capers tossed in a garlicky olive oil vinaigrette. Ready in 20 minutes.

Italian wild mushroom topping with dried porcini, fresh portobello, tomatoes, rosemary, sage, and garlic marinated 24 hours in olive oil and lemon. Use on bruschetta or pasta.

Pumpkin curry with lentils, potatoes, carrots, and diced apples in a warmly spiced turmeric-cumin-clove base. A hearty vegan one-pot dinner with layered autumn sweetness.

Sliced cold roast beef with a bright tomato-vinegar sauce and a creamy Caesar-Parmesan dipping sauce. A 10-minute no-cook platter that turns leftover roast beef into a dinner party spread.

Low-fat Mexican casserole layered with corn tortillas, mashed tofu, green chiles, salsa, tomatoes, and a tangy yogurt topping. Vegan-friendly with a bean swap and naturally dairy-light.

Mediterranean portobello burgers pile grilled mushroom caps, feta, Kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, and greens onto crusty sourdough. A meatless vegetarian grill dinner ready in under 30 minutes.

Loaded beef tacos with a twist: lean ground beef, green chiles, and garlic topped with Italian dressing-marinated tomatoes and mozzarella. A lighter, flavor-forward taco in 30 minutes.

Insalata pizzas with garlic-mozzarella pita bases topped with dressed greens, grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, and fresh basil. A 20-minute hot-meets-cold vegetarian dinner that eats like pizza and salad in one bite.

One of my favorite Mexican dishes, so many delicious flavors and great textures.