Pasta recipes

The pleasing almond flavor and nice crunch of these simple little cookies, from Paula Tuchscherer-Jones of Milwaukee, earned them a win in the ethnic cookie category.

Pignoli cookies (pine nut macaroons): the chewy almond-paste Italian classic studded with toasted pine nuts and dusted with powdered sugar. Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and totally addictive.

Classic hummus made the simple Levantine way: chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic blended smooth, finished with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprig of parsley.

Massaman curry paste: a homemade Thai-Muslim spice blend of dried chiles, lemongrass, galangal, shallots, and warm Indian-influenced spices. The flavor base for the country's most aromatic curry.

Five beans and sausage casserole loads pork-and-beans, wax, lima, green, and chili beans into a tomato-mustard sauce with cooked sausage. A potluck legend that feeds a crowd.

Fresh spinach wok-tossed with toasted almonds, ginger, and a savory miso-soy drizzle. This 20-minute vegetarian side dish is nutty, earthy, and packed with iron-rich greens.

Sicilian-style caponata with tender eggplant, olives, capers, and tomatoes in a tangy vinegar sauce. Make it ahead and serve cold as a rustic Italian appetizer.

Onion soup topped with Gorgonzola toast instead of the usual Gruyere. Deeply caramelized onions in rich beef stock with thyme and a hit of tomato paste.

Party rye pizza: cocktail rye rounds topped with sausage, melted Velveeta, mozzarella, and tomato paste. Make-ahead freezer appetizers ready in 8 minutes.

Vegetarian Creole bean casserole loaded with bell pepper, celery, garlic, and tomatoes, topped with crispy breadcrumbs. Serve over rice with salsa for a hearty meatless meal.

This recipe was given to me by a friend who is an ex-patriot now living in Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. I serve this with yellow rice and grilled avocado halves.

Thai barbecued chicken brushes a hoisin, ketchup, molasses and chili-paste glaze onto poached chicken then finishes on the grill for sticky charred edges. The technique that prevents burnt sauce.

Bogracs gulyas (Hungarian kettle goulash) slow-stews tender beef cubes with sweet paprika, onions, and bell peppers. The traditional Hungarian comfort dish topped with cool sour cream.

Saltsa Kima, the classic Greek meat sauce with ground beef, cinnamon, bay leaf, red wine, and tomatoes. Perfect over pastitsio, pasta, or moussaka.

Fragrant North Indian chicken curry built on toasted cumin, cardamom, and cloves with a rich tomato-onion masala base. This home-style Dhawan family recipe simmers tender chicken breast in warming spices in under 45 minutes.

Vegan mushroom and barley miso soup simmers earthy mushrooms and chewy pearl barley in a savory miso-thyme broth. Hearty, low-fat, and full of umami.