Sauces/30 recipes

Bananas in rum caramel sauce with pineapple juice, cinnamon, and butter, served over vanilla ice cream. A quick stovetop dessert ready in 30 minutes.

Creamy bacon and pea pasta: crispy bacon, garlic, and sweet peas tossed with pasta in a silky Parmesan cream sauce. A 30-minute, nonna-style weeknight comfort bowl.

A bright Italian-style vegetable sauce with three sweet bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, and garlic, simmered in stock and tossed with pasta. Vegetarian, low-fat, ready in about 30 minutes.

Creamy macaroni with ham and asparagus comes together in about 30 minutes, tossing tender pasta with sauteed onion, diced ham, and crisp asparagus in a quick cream-and-cheese sauce. Easy springtime comfort.

Quick microwave red snapper topped with zucchini, melted cheese, and a punchy homemade tomato-chili sauce spiked with horseradish and Worcestershire. A light, low-fat fish dinner ready in under 30 minutes.

A bold barbecue sauce built on orange, lime, and lemon juice with ancho chiles, red pepper, and fresh cilantro. Bright, smoky, and ready in 30 minutes flat. Brush it on chicken, ribs, or grilled shrimp.

Crisp-tender carrots, zucchini, and mushrooms tossed with chicken in a glossy ginger-soy sauce, spooned over hot rice. A 30-minute stir-fry for two that beats takeout every time.

Stir-fried vegetable stew drenched in a spicy peanut sauce with ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Loaded with broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and bell peppers. Ready in 30 minutes.

Cajun chicken tortillas stuffed with bell peppers, yellow squash, chickpeas, and a hit of hot sauce. A 30-minute spicy weeknight wrap.

Cold tuna rice salad with green peas, celery, and scallions in a light lemon and hot sauce dressing. A no-cook, mayo-free lunch that chills in 30 minutes.

Moo goo gai pan stir-fries sliced chicken breast with fresh mushrooms and scallions in peanut oil and soy sauce. Six ingredients, classic Cantonese takeout favorite, ready in 30 minutes.

Minnesota-style hamburger hot dish with ground beef, egg noodles, American cheese, celery, and olives in a tomato-ketchup sauce. A one-pot comfort food classic that simmers in 30 minutes.

Red snapper fillets simmered on a bed of sauteed onion rings with tomato sauce and sweet basil. A simple, healthy fish dinner ready in 30 minutes with just a handful of ingredients.

Ground chicken and ramen noodles tossed in a tangy tomato-sour cream sauce with Worcestershire and mustard. A 30-minute skillet dinner that upgrades instant noodles into a real meal.

Salmon steaks poached in a white wine sauce with scallions, lemon, cinnamon, and ginger. A light, subtly spiced French-leaning fish dish in 30 minutes.

Plump shrimp and 8 cloves of boiled-then-sauteed garlic in a thick Parmesan cream sauce over linguine. The garlic gets boiled first to turn it mellow and sweet, then sauteed for nutty depth. Ready in 30 minutes.