Sauces/40 recipes

Seared bay scallops in a white wine butter sauce with pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh lemon. A quick, elegant seafood dinner ready in 20 minutes.

Oven-baked salmon cakes with sharp cheddar, cracker crumbs, scallions, and Worcestershire sauce, coated in buttered crumbs and baked crispy. No frying, just 10 minutes in a hot oven.

Fresh quartered strawberries topped with a silky blended sauce of low-fat yogurt, raspberry jam, powdered sugar, and orange zest. A low-fat, 10-minute dessert that feels indulgent without the guilt.

Two-ingredient spicy Italian dressing made by mixing picante sauce with Italian dressing. Use it on salads, as a veggie marinade, or tossed with shrimp. Ready in 10 minutes, makes 3/4 cup.

Bay scallops and shrimp in a light cream and clam juice sauce with tri-color bell peppers and zucchini over angel hair pasta. An elegant seafood dinner ready in under 20 minutes.

Wok-fried broccoli and mushrooms in oyster sauce with garlic, cooked fast and hot for crisp-tender vegetables with a savory, glossy coating. A Chinese takeout side in 20 minutes.

A crustless quiche-style torta loaded with cheddar, Monterey Jack, green chiles, and picante sauce baked in a creamy egg custard. Feeds up to 10 with minimal effort.

Blanched broccoli dressed with sesame oil, soy sauce, and toasted sesame seeds. A simple Asian-style side dish served at room temperature in under 20 minutes.

Teriyaki chicken marinates broiler-fryer pieces in soy sauce, sake, sugar and fresh grated ginger, then cooks in the microwave for tender, glossy Japanese-style chicken in 20 minutes.

Classic pizza Margherita with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and Parmesan baked on a pizza stone at high heat. Thin crust, six ingredients, and ready in under 10 minutes.

Beefy Mexican pizza stacks crisp baked tortillas with refried beans and seasoned ground beef, then tops it with pizza sauce, melty Mexican cheese, tomatoes and cilantro. A homemade copycat ready in 20 minutes.

Fettuccine with shrimp in a creamy herb sauce made from soup mix, milk, green peas, and Parmesan. A fast weeknight pasta dinner ready in 20 minutes with pantry staples.

Hoosier goulash made entirely in the microwave with ground beef, elbow macaroni, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. A Midwest one-dish dinner in 20 minutes.

Penne alla vodka tosses tubular pasta with a quick sauce of butter, vodka, hot pepper, puréed plum tomatoes, cream, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. A 20-minute Italian-American classic.

Set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker barbecue chicken simmered in a tangy tomato, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Just 10 minutes of prep and 6 to 8 hours on low for fork-tender, saucy chicken.

Garlic spaghetti with olive oil, fresh parsley, and Parmesan. A classic aglio e olio done simply with pasta water for a silky, garlicky sauce in under 20 minutes.