Pasta recipes

Big-batch Texas-style chili with 5 lbs of rough-ground beef and pork simmered in beer, sour mash whiskey, jalapenos, and a heavy hand of cumin. No beans. No compromise. Pure cowboy heat.

Vegetarian roasted bell peppers stuffed with sauteed mushrooms, pine nuts, olives, and fresh marjoram in a homemade tomato sauce, topped with Parmesan. A colorful, hearty meatless main.

Cold spicy soba noodles tossed in a creamy tahini, sesame oil, and chili dressing with reduced soy sauce, brown sugar, and balsamic. The Japanese-style cold noodle bowl ready in 40 minutes.

Crispy chicken chunks coated in water chestnut flour, deep-fried golden, then tossed with roasted peanuts in a spicy sauce of chili paste, dark soy, sesame oil, and Chinese red vinegar. Restaurant-quality kung pao at home.

Thai pad Thai-style fried rice noodles with shrimp three ways (fresh, dried, and paste), scrambled egg, and a sweet-sour-salty sauce of fish sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar. Topped with crushed peanuts and lime.

Vegetarian black bean burritos packed with corn, bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, and smoky spices. Rolled in tortillas and baked until hot, a meatless Mexican-inspired weeknight dinner.

Molasses barbecued ribs get a salt-vinegar brine soak, then a grill basting of dark molasses sauce loaded with onion, pepper, celery, tomato, cloves and allspice. Smoky, tangy, sticky, and built for summer.

Rugged, no-bean chili made with ground beef and chewy wheat berries simmered in a smoky chile, tomato, and cumin broth. A Southwestern twist on Texas red that's hearty enough to stick to your ribs.

Vegan vegetable lasagna stacked with mashed tofu ricotta, sauteed mushrooms, cauliflower, swiss chard, and tomato sauce. A dairy-free, plant-packed casserole that holds its own against the classic.

Kasha with sauteed onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, seasoned with soy sauce and tahini for a nutty, savory vegetarian main dish. Hearty buckwheat groats in 30 minutes.

Hearty vegan vegetable soup simmered for hours with potatoes, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, beans, and a triple-tomato base. A big-batch, fat-free soup packed with whole vegetables.

Stuffed flank steak rolled with a mushroom, herb, and bread crumb filling, browned in bacon fat, and braised in beef broth with a Dijon mustard gravy.

Crisp lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bean sprouts, and tofu tossed in a rich peanut-coconut milk dressing with red curry paste. A crunchy, creamy Thai salad topped with potato chips for fun.

Italian-seasoned beef and sausage mixed with creamy ricotta and Parmesan, rolled in layers of buttered phyllo, and baked into a crispy golden strudel. A show-stopping dinner or appetizer.

Make-ahead Chinese-style chicken strata with cubed bread, eggs, milk, sesame oil, soy, water chestnuts, and red bell pepper. Overnight breakfast or brunch casserole.

Ambush your tastebuds with this savory chili made with succulent beef chuck, jalapeno peppers and red hot pepper sauce.