Pasta recipes

Bajan black bean soup from Barbados: dried black beans simmered with a ham hock, fragrant with allspice and lemon, finished with cream and an optional splash of dark rum. Caribbean comfort in a bowl.

Leg of lamb Nicoise marinates butterflied lamb in a Provencal paste of anchovy, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and red wine vinegar. Broiled or grilled to a juicy pink center for a Mediterranean dinner.

African-style eggplant curry with potatoes, tomatoes, cumin, cardamom, turmeric, and hot chiles simmered into a thick, syrupy sauce. Vegetarian and served over rice.

Swordfish marinade with soy sauce, orange juice, tomato paste, garlic, and lemon. A savory-citrus blend that caramelizes beautifully on the grill.

Creamy vegan tempeh party spread with tahini, black olives, cumin, and turmeric, shaped into a ball and served with crackers or veggies. A high-protein, make-ahead appetizer that's a plant-based spin on a cheese ball.

Pork tenderloin kabobs marinated in homemade chile barbecue sauce with molasses, jalapeños, and Dijon mustard. Broiled or grilled until juicy. Served with steamed cabbage.

Vegetarian Spanish rice cooked with tomato paste, bell peppers, celery, garlic, and paprika in vegetable stock. A one-pot side dish loaded with flavor.

Chana masaledar: spiced chickpeas simmered with cumin, cinnamon, coriander, cloves, fresh ginger, and garlic in a tomato-laced sauce. Vegan Indian comfort food.

Ground turkey and black bean chili: a leaner, tomato-paste-thickened weeknight chili with sweet bell peppers, carrots, chili powder, and cumin. Healthier than beef chili, just as satisfying.

Ayam Panggang Mesanten features charcoal-grilled chicken sliced and simmered in a coconut milk sauce with shrimp paste, red chiles, shallots, and lemongrass. Smoky, fiery, and deeply savory Indonesian grilling.

Red-wine-marinated beef stew oven-braised with blanched bacon, dark-roux broth, and tomato paste. A freezer-friendly French bourguignon-style stew built in a Dutch oven.

Roasted sweet potato salad with five-spice, watercress, toasted almonds, and tangy goat cheese for warm vegetable sides ready in 60 minutes.

Smoky, flame-kissed whiskey BBQ sauce with molasses, brown sugar, and a splash of hot sauce. Sauteed in scotch then flambeed for deep, complex flavor that only gets better with age.

Tuscan-style white bean and potato pie: garlic-pureed navy beans topped with caramelized onions, potatoes, and Parmesan, baked into a golden rustic torta. Vegetarian Italian main dish.

Vegan eggplant bake layered with a savory nutritional yeast and tahini sauce. Sliced eggplant and sauteed onions in a creamy, dairy-free, cheese-like sauce with tamari and basil.

Kahlua chili: ground beef chili spiked with coffee liqueur, served Cincinnati-style over spaghetti with cheddar and onion. The coffee-and-cocoa background note that makes it work.