Sauces/515 recipes

Herbed tomato soup microwaves a tomato sauce base with sauteed onion, basil, and thyme into a 15-minute single-serve soup. Low fat, low calorie, served with Parmesan croutons.

Mexican spaghetti tossed with a chipotle tomato sauce and topped with diced fresh avocado. A 15-minute weeknight pasta where smoky chipotle meets cool, creamy avocado.

Another favorite recipe, courtesy of Grandma. Serve over hot cooked rice and topped with chow mein noodles.

Buttery yeasted beignets scented with orange zest and rum, fried until golden, dusted with powdered sugar, and served with a warm homemade butterscotch dipping sauce.

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.

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.

White clam sauce made in the microwave with olive oil, garlic, canned clams, parsley, and oregano. A 15-minute pantry-friendly pasta sauce for spaghetti.

Quick sweet and sour chicken with frozen breaded chicken, mixed vegetables, rice, and bottled sweet and sour sauce. A 15-minute weeknight dinner using pantry shortcuts.

Flambe bananas in brown sugar butter sauce with raisins, walnuts, and brandy. A 15-minute showstopper dessert with caramelized fruit and a dramatic flame finish.

Tomato basil mussels: fresh mussels steamed open in a broth of white wine, garlic, diced tomatoes, basil, and hot sauce. A 15-minute Mediterranean dinner served in its own briny-tomato broth.

Garlic rosemary butter sauce blends softened butter with fresh rosemary, garlic, citrus zest, and a touch of white wine. A 15-minute compound butter for grilled fish, steak, vegetables, or warm bread.

Pineapple salsa with fresh pineapple, red bell pepper, scallions, and a splash of fish sauce or salt with bright lime juice. A 15-minute tropical salsa for grilled fish, tacos, or chips.

Apple City Championship BBQ ribs with a 6-spice dry rub, apple juice basting, and a homemade sauce with grated apple, soy, and Worcestershire. Smoked low and slow for 5.5 hours of pure competition flavor.

Gai Paht Meht Mamuang Himapahn is the Thai chicken cashew stir-fry where dried red chilies fry to blackened smoke, then meet seared chicken strips, onion wedges, fish sauce, and roasted cashews. A 15-minute weeknight stir-fry that punches above its ingredient list.

Homemade whole wheat pizza dough with cheddar and caraway baked into the crust, topped with broccoli, mushrooms, and mozzarella. A hearty, fiber-rich pizza.