Pasta recipes

Almond cream filling made with almond paste, toasted ground almonds, and egg yolks cooked into a silky custard. A rich pastry filling for tarts, cakes, and croissants.

Japanese miso soup with shrimp, kamaboko fish cake, and scallions in dashi stock. A quick, warming starter or light lunch ready in 20 minutes.

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.

Asparagus and crabmeat salad layers crisp-tender spears over butter lettuce, crowned with sweet lump crab folded into a tomato-Dijon mayonnaise. Elegant cold appetizer or light lunch that comes together in minutes with make-ahead dressing.

Halvah shortbread made with tahini and butter creamed together with brown sugar and cake flour, studded with toasted pecans and cut into wedges.

A creamy, tangy tahini sauce blended from sesame paste, garlic, lemon juice, and water in 10 minutes. The essential Middle Eastern drizzle for falafel, shawarma, and roasted vegetables.

You're sure to go nutty over this sauce that you can use on pasta, pizza and sandwiches.

Traditional Italian-style almond macaroons made with just four ingredients: almond paste, powdered sugar, egg whites, and a pinch of salt. Naturally gluten-free with crisp shells and chewy almond centers.

Ligurian caviar is an Italian olive paste spread blended with capers and red pepper flakes. A briny, spicy vegetarian crostini topping that keeps in the fridge for two weeks.

Smoky BBQ baked beans with chicken sausage, collard greens, molasses, and navy beans in a tangy barbecue sauce. A hearty, high-fiber one-pot meal that's on the table in under 30 minutes.

Creamy tahini sauce blended with mashed tofu, yogurt, and ginger. A high-protein, no-cook dipping sauce for tofu, vegetables, or grain bowls.

Creamy tofu dip blended with ripe avocado, fresh ginger, garlic, tahini, and parsley. No cooking required, just five minutes and a food processor. Vegan and naturally dairy-free.

Shredded green and red cabbage toss with a tangy tahini-spiked dressing in this lighter coleslaw where balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard bring bold flavor without the mayo overload.

Basic peanut-style dipping sauce (no actual peanuts) with cashew butter, tahini, coconut milk, lime, miso, and ginger. A richer, Thai-leaning satay sauce for grilled skewers, coconut shrimp, or crudités.

A soup this hearty makes a wonderful morning meal by itself or served with whole grain bread.

Basic miso soup with wakame, onion, carrot, and a swirl of miso paste stirred in off-heat for an authentic Japanese starter ready in 20 minutes.