Pasta recipes

Romanesco sauce is a Spanish-inspired vegetarian pasta sauce of charred roasted red peppers, toasted almonds, garlic, and bright lemon zest, pureed and spooned over hot or cold spaghetti. Smoky, nutty, and no-cook simple.

Potato garbanzo gnocchi: instant mashed potatoes bound with chickpea and rice flour, deep fried into crispy fritter-style dumplings with garlic and cayenne. Naturally vegan, ready in 15 minutes.

Zlicni rezanci are traditional Croatian drop noodles made from a simple egg batter spooned into boiling broth. Just four ingredients, 15 minutes, and you have tender homemade noodles for soup or a buttery side dish.

Fresh porcini tomato sauce with white wine reduction, garlic, and ripe tomatoes. A quick vegetarian pasta sauce ready in 30 minutes with earthy, rich flavor.

Serve this dish for breakfast, lunch or as a snack or as a side dish in a Western- style meal.

Vegetarian black bean feijoada spiced with fresh ginger, cumin, and cayenne, finished with plum vinegar and roasted red peppers. Thick, smoky, and satisfying over rice or pasta.

Japanese noodle soup with shiitake mushrooms, snow peas, red pepper, and rice noodles in a hot sesame broth, finished with ginger, brown rice vinegar, and roasted cashews. A vegetarian, low-fat Asian soup ready in 45 minutes.

A lighter noodle casserole made with low-fat cottage cheese, skim milk, carrots, and mushrooms seasoned with basil and thyme. Diabetic-friendly and big enough to feed a crowd. Serves 12.

A simple but succulent chicken dish that can be served with pasta, rice or a crusty bread.

Chickpeas simmered in a thick Italian tomato sauce with basil, oregano, and a surprising dash of cinnamon. Serve over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes for a hearty vegan meal.

Chicken marinara made with a fast homemade tomato sauce of diced tomatoes, tomato paste, red wine, and basil spooned over cooked chicken pieces. A 25-minute weeknight Italian dinner with pantry staples.

Vegetarian eggplant tomato pasta sauce with dry sherry, red bell pepper, nutmeg, and fresh basil. A chunky, low-calorie sauce that simmers in under 30 minutes.

Once upon a time I was reading a magazine article about good cooking. The journalist tried to convince me not to use some combinations of ingredients. One of the "banned" combinations mentioned was green and black olives. And so this soup was born to enjoy me.

Fruited smoked turkey salad with mostaccioli pasta, cantaloupe, strawberries, scallions, and toasted almonds. A bright summer pasta salad with smoky, sweet, and crunchy in every bite.

A light main or hearty side dish, pearls of couscous with grilled veggies and a Lemon-Balsamic dressing.

Vegan spinach lasagna with tofu ricotta, miso, and nutmeg in a mushroom tomato sauce. A dairy-free lasagna with fresh blanched spinach and nutritional yeast Parmesan topping.