Sauces/5 recipes

Lightly floured sole fillets pan-seared until golden and crackling, finished with a bright lemon-butter pan sauce. Ready in just 15 minutes for a quick, elegant weeknight dinner.

No-cook Singapore peanut satay sauce with coconut milk, shallots, garlic, cumin, coriander, and chili. Blended smooth in a food processor in 15 minutes. Serve at room temperature.

Homemade barbecue sauce with tomato juice, vinegar, Worcestershire, dry mustard, paprika, and cayenne. Simmers in 15 minutes. Enough to coat 3 pounds of ribs. A family original.

Thai fried curried rice (Khao Pad Pong Kari) with curry powder, potato, green peas, and light soy sauce. A quick, fragrant vegetarian wok-fried rice ready in 15 minutes.

A 15-minute Chinese cabbage soup with napa cabbage barely wilted in hot chicken broth, finished with soy sauce, green onions, and fresh coriander. Light, clean, and soothing.

Cocktail crab dip blends flaked crab meat with cream cheese, ketchup, horseradish, and hot sauce for a creamy, tangy party dip. No cooking, ready in 15 minutes.

Chocolate Purses with Rhubarb-Raspberry Mousse recipe

This creamy, low-fat dressing lends itself to salad greens, cooked or raw vegetable combinations, pasta and grain salads, or as a dipping sauce for crudites or steamed artichoke leaves.

Hot and sour garlic chive soup with silky tofu, cloud ear mushrooms, seaweed, and miso. A vegetarian Asian-style broth with tangy rice vinegar, chili heat, and herbaceous garlic chive garnish.

Homemade barbecue sauce with tomato soup, Worcestershire, horseradish, and brown sugar. Ready in 15 minutes with a tangy kick that beats the bottled stuff.

Microwave mac and cheese with broccoli and cauliflower: a 15-minute single-serve comfort dish built entirely in the microwave. Creamy cheddar sauce, tender pasta, and vegetables snuck right in.

Classic shrimp divan with tender broccoli, plump shrimp, and a cheesy cream of celery sauce baked under buttery golden crumbs. This retro casserole is comfort food at its finest, ready in under an hour with just 15 minutes of hands-on work.

Bacon-cheese dip blends Roquefort, cream cheese, sour cream, and crisp bacon with garlic and a hint of hot sauce. A cocktail-party classic ready in 15 minutes flat.

Tender zucchini and crisp green beans tossed in a vibrant herb sauce packed with basil, capers, and lemon. Serve warm or chilled as a bright summer side.

Marinated asparagus is crunchy and full of flavor, artichoke or palm hearts perfectly match it. It is a great side dish in spring time.

Fresh corn and summer squash sauteed in a cream sauce infused with whole cloves, coriander seeds, cinnamon, and jalapeno. A refined seasonal ragout with serious depth.