Pasta recipes

Phal base recipe: the blazing-hot curry paste foundation for Britain's spiciest Indian restaurant dish. Four ingredients blend into fiery heat for an authentic phal curry at home.

Spicy black bean salad served in halved papayas with red and yellow tomatoes, cilantro, Thai chili paste, and balsamic vinegar. No-cook and vegetarian.

Tahini and hazelnut dip with pan-roasted hazelnuts, garlic, lemon juice, and sesame paste. A nutty, creamy vegan dip with rich toasted flavor that deepens overnight in the fridge.

Chili-bacon rub made with bacon drippings, chili powder, cayenne, garlic, and tomato paste. A smoky, spicy paste for chicken and barbecue. Five ingredients, five minutes.

Briny anchovy paste and chopped green olives swirled into tangy sour cream for a salty, umami-packed dip that disappears fast at parties.

Danish Mayor's Braid (Borgmeister Krans): a braided ring of Danish pastry filled with almond paste, baked golden with sliced almonds and crystallized sugar on top. A holiday-table showstopper.

Cheesy chili over corn chips with ground beef, tomatoes, chili powder, and melted cheddar stirred in until gooey. Half nachos, half chili bowl, and ready in about 30 minutes.

Ground beef and shredded cabbage meatloaf topped with bacon strips, tomato paste, and melted American cheese. A hearty twist on classic meatloaf that stretches your grocery budget.

Stuffed mushroom caps filled with a Mediterranean eggplant and tomato mixture brightened with garlic, basil and parsley. A make-ahead vegetarian appetizer you can serve warm or at room temperature.

Mapo tofu is a Sichuan classic: silky tofu simmered with ground pork, black bean garlic sauce, and red chili paste, ladled over steamed white rice.

Falafel sandwiches with split pea and chickpea flour fritters stuffed into pita pockets with tomatoes, onions, pickles, and your choice of homemade hummus or tahini sauce. A vegan Middle Eastern lunch.

Crock pot barbecued pork turns leftover pork roast into tender pulled-pork sandwiches, slow-cooked in a homemade sweet-and-tangy tomato BBQ sauce. A freezer-friendly make-ahead, ready to pile on buns.

Kinome-ae is a classic Japanese dish pairing dashi-simmered bamboo shoots with a vivid green miso dressing colored with spinach paste. Finished with fragrant sansho pepper powder.

Crab and avocado salad: sweet crab meat tossed in a zesty picante-mayo dressing with green olives, piled into ripe avocado halves. A no-cook, 20-minute Tex-Mex lunch or appetizer that looks far fancier than it is.

Meaty one-pot goulash with sausage, ground beef, tomatoes, and 10 cups of shredded cabbage simmered in a spicy chili-tomato sauce. Dinner on the table in 30 minutes.

Jeff's favorite pizza sauce: a thick, concentrated pizza sauce made with plum tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, and parmesan. Freezer-friendly and ready for homemade pizza night.