6,200 lowfat recipes

To highlight the onion's diversity, below are four recipes, each with a different type of onion, and a different cooking technique, (one not cooked at all).

Four-ingredient stuffed mushrooms with Parmesan, chopped stems, green onions, and butter, broiled until golden and bubbly. Ready in 20 minutes, makes 30 bite-sized appetizers.

Mexicali pizza on flour tortillas with Monterey Jack, tomatoes, green chiles, bell peppers, and black olives. A crispy, cheesy Mexican-style flatbread in under 30 minutes.

Crispy roasted onions seared in a smoking-hot skillet and tossed with fresh cilantro. A 3-ingredient Indian-style side dish ready in under 5 minutes.

Chinese-style vegetarian broth made with dried shiitake mushrooms, Sichuan preserved vegetables, scallions, and both light and dark soy sauce. A rich, savory base for soups and stir-fries.

Very great orzo and toasted barsley, light and healthy.

Pita pizza bites loaded with mushrooms, red onion, bell pepper, and melted mozzarella. Split, top, and bake in 20 minutes for a quick vegetarian appetizer.

Drunken pioneers pasta: wagon wheels topped with sauteed peppers and onions in a quick red wine and beef-stock sauce with basil and rosemary. Pantry weeknight pasta in 25 minutes.

Vegetarian Chinese boiled dumplings (shwei jow) with handmade wrappers and a tofu, mushroom, and lily bud filling. Served with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce. Makes 24.

Michaelmas broth is a traditional Irish chicken and rice soup served on the Feast of Saint Michael in late September. Whole chicken simmered with mirepoix, then strained and finished with long-grain rice.

A spicy twist on the classic margarita, the Beaurita blends vodka and tequila with fresh lime juice and a fiery hit of hot pepper sauce, served in a salt-rimmed glass with a jalapeño garnish.

Pickled sweet green tomatoes turn end-of-season fruit into spiced jewel-toned slices. Brown sugar, vinegar, and a spice bag of mustard seed, allspice, celery seed, and cloves give them a sweet-tart bite for canning.

Homemade orange honey mustard with dry mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, and fresh orange zest. Cooked in a double boiler and aged overnight for a bright, tangy condiment.

Baby banana mash thins ripe banana with a splash of breast milk or formula for a smooth, naturally sweet first food. Single-ingredient simplicity that introduces babies to the joys of solid food.

Vegan Italian barley simmered with chunky tomatoes, green pepper, garlic, oregano, and basil. An oil-free, high-fiber side dish that reheats well.

Fresh mango chutney: a raw, uncooked chutney of ripe mango, jalapeño, red onion, ginger, and black beans. Bright, spicy, fiber-packed condiment for grilled fish, chicken, or tacos.