Recipe Sifter

Dried porcini and tomato sauce folds earthy rehydrated mushrooms and their soaking liquid into a garlicky canned tomato base, then tosses it with fusilli. A deep, umami-rich vegetarian pasta dinner.

Thick homemade pizza sauce with sauteed onion, garlic, and oregano in tomato paste and tomato sauce. Simmers in 10 minutes and freezes beautifully for pizza night anytime.

Roasted red pepper mustard blends fire-charred bell peppers with mustard seeds, sherry, red wine, and honey. A complex artisan condiment for sandwiches, charcuterie boards, and grilled meats.

Vegan mushroom potato chowder made creamy with pureed tofu and soy milk instead of dairy. Seasoned with dill and tarragon for a rich, satisfying bowl without any cream.

Light Swiss enchiladas with ground chicken, green chilies, and tomato puree in corn tortillas topped with a skim milk sauce and melted Swiss cheese.

Sicilian-style spaghetti with eggplant sauce built from salted cubed eggplant, plum tomatoes, anchovies, olives, and capers. A rustic Mediterranean pasta with briny depth and a hint of heat.

Santa Maria beans made with pinto beans, bacon, ham, tomato puree, and red chile sauce. The classic California Central Coast side dish for tri-tip barbecue, slow-simmered until rich and tender.

Turkey enchiladas with sour cream and cheddar in corn tortillas, topped with a homemade green chile and tomato sauce. A great way to use leftover turkey.

Penne rigate with a creamy sweet red pepper sauce blended from silken tofu, carrots, basil, and garlic. A dairy-free vegan pasta sauce with dreamy texture and zero cashew soaking.

Vegetarian spinach lasagna layered with fresh spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, and three cheeses, ricotta or cottage, mozzarella, and Parmesan. A meatless Italian comfort dinner with herby flavor and bubbling cheese.

Spezzatino di vitello: cubed veal braised in Burgundy wine with smoky bacon, shallots, mushrooms, and tiny white onions. This traditional Italian veal stew is rustic elegance in a bowl.

Ginger-soy marinated chicken stir-fried with crisp asparagus, red bell pepper, and onion in sesame and chili oil with a splash of port wine. A vibrant Chinese-style wok dinner served over rice.

Cold noodle salad with tender shrimp, crisp snow peas, and luscious ginger-garlic dressing. This Asian-inspired pasta salad is ready in 20 minutes, perfect for lunch or potlucks.

Roasted tomato soup purees caramelized roasted tomatoes with potato, onion, and vegetable stock for a creamy bowl with no cream needed. Vegetarian comfort soup ready in 45 minutes.

This is a very colorful and tasty arrangement of marinated and then skewered and grilled vegetables and fish. The marinade, called chermoulla, is a blend of fragrant seasonings, oil, and lemon juice. In this version I've suggested my favorite vegetables for kebabs. You should choose your own favorites; some other good choices are eggplants, mushrooms, and onions.

Linguine with clams in a peppery watercress and white wine sauce with garlic and green onions. A light, briny pasta dinner for two that comes together in under 30 minutes.