Recipe Sifter

Shrimp with mango and basil sears turmeric-spiced shrimp and tosses them with ripe mango cubes, scallion greens, and fresh basil. Tropical-bright weeknight dinner.

Shellfish shell marinara with littleneck clams and shrimp in a slow-simmered tomato sauce with red wine, basil, and garlic, served over shell pasta. A seafood pasta with real Italian soul.

The victual of choice to be served with vodka is of course caviar but other kinds of seafood and various salty morsels are also good choices.

Firm tofu cubes sauteed with crushed garlic, onion, and green pepper in a chunky tomato sauce over whole wheat spaghetti. A filling plant-based dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Italian turkey burgers seasoned with oregano, basil, garlic, and onion, baked until golden and topped with a mushroom-tomato sauce with thyme. A lean, flavorful burger done oven-style.

Vegetable lasagna layered with zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, and a red wine tomato sauce. Make-ahead and lighter than meat lasagna, with cottage cheese standing in for ricotta.

Arugula is most commonly employed in salads as in the infamous tricolor salad.

Layered sausage and macaroni casserole with mushrooms, cottage cheese, and Italian herbs, topped with bread crumbs. A hearty weeknight bake with big savory flavor.

These calzones are very healthy, some kinds of vegetables, very light and savory.

Chicken, pea, and rice casserole: flour-dredged browned chicken breast over rice and frozen peas with basil and sliced onions. A nostalgic one-dish dinner for ten.

Shiitake mushroom and potato galette layers russet slices around earthy shiitakes and parmesan, pressed under a brick and baked into crisp wedges. Broiled to golden brown on both sides.

Italian vegetable stew with eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, bell pepper, and briny black olives. Rustic Southern Italian peasant dish that tastes even better the next day, served hot or at room temperature.

Caprese-style tomato basil and mozzarella salad drizzled with olive oil and cracked black pepper. A fresh no-cook summer salad with only 5 ingredients and 20 minutes of prep.

Anaheim or poblano peppers stuffed with herbed goat cheese, mozzarella, shallots, and fresh basil, then egg-dipped and fried golden. An elevated take on classic chiles rellenos.

Penne alla puttane d'Elba tosses hot pasta into a no-cook sauce of raw tomatoes, zucchini, capers, olives, basil, and chili. A sun-soaked Tuscan summer pasta from the island of Elba.

Cozy white bean chicken chili spiced with ground red chile, basil, and a warm hint of cloves. Simmers for an hour and serves 6 with tortilla chips on the side.