Recipe Sifter

Gratin of red beans baked with caramelized onions, sweet red peppers, tomato, red wine, and a parmesan-breadcrumb crust. A hearty, mostly vegetarian one-dish dinner.

Green chili with pork shoulder, diced green chilies, and canned tomatoes. A New Mexico-style chili verde browned in lard with no beans and loads of pepper flavor.

Healthy meat loaf packed with sauteed cabbage, shredded carrots, and potatoes mixed into lean ground beef with whole wheat bread crumbs. More vegetable than meat, baked covered then uncovered for a golden crust.

Hearty lentil tomato sauce with dried lentils, fresh tomatoes, and Italian herbs simmered into a thick, protein-rich vegetarian pasta sauce. Meaty texture without the meat.

Hearty ground beef chili loaded with kidney beans, green chiles, tomato paste, and a generous amount of garlic and onion. A thick, satisfying weeknight chili that simmers in just 20 minutes.

French bread pizza hero loaded with homemade mushroom-pepper-onion pizza sauce and melted cheese. Split-loaf pizza with a sauce simmered 15 minutes for real pizzeria flavor without the dough.

Hearty tomato soup with cooked rice, tender carrot, celery, and a base of canned tomatoes thickened with whole wheat flour and finished with milk. A creamy 30-minute one-pot soup that fills a bowl properly.

Herbed chickpea patties blended with egg whites, bread crumbs, dry mustard, oregano, and basil, pan-fried on a nonstick griddle. Low-fat vegetarian fritters similar to falafel but lighter and easier to make.

Herbed oatmeal pan bread, a soft, savory bread machine loaf with rolled oats, butter, garlic, basil, oregano, and a parmesan crust. Tastes like garlic bread and pizza dough had a kid.

Herbed zucchini-pea soup blends tender zucchini and shelled green peas with parsley, oregano, chervil, a touch of horseradish, and half-and-half. A chilled summer soup with a sneaky sharp finish.

Hot green chili with chicken (or pork), four pounds of green chiles, tomatillos, and a long slow simmer. Southwest-style chile verde thick enough to ladle over enchiladas, eggs, or grilled steak.

Killer salsa made with dried pequin chilies softened in vinegar, then blended with tomato juice, garlic, cumin, and oregano. Serious Tex-Mex heat for chip dipping and tacos.

Kokoretsi recipe with lamb sweetbreads, heart, and kidneys marinated in lemon-oregano, skewered, wrapped in sausage casing, and grilled over charcoal.

Lasagne rolls stuff cooked lasagna noodles with a three-cheese ricotta filling, then bake them under tomato sauce and Parmesan. A portion-friendly twist on classic lasagna.

Lentil pasta sauce: hearty meatless tomato sauce with lentils, oregano, and a kick of hot sauce, perfect for vegan or vegetarian pasta night. Protein-rich alternative to classic meat ragu.

Marinated asparagus bundles tied with blanched green onion strips and marinated in red wine vinegar with oregano and tarragon. An elegant make-ahead appetizer.