11 pastel recipes

Pastel de choclo is a Chilean corn and meat pie with ground beef, chicken breast, raisins, and olives topped with a cumin-spiced pureed corn crust baked until golden. A South American comfort classic.

Chocolate sandwich cookies with a pastel mint wafer hidden inside each one. Thin cocoa dough rounds sealed with a fork, sugared on top, and baked until set. A fun surprise cookie.

South American pork and corn pie spoons spiced pork with sweet corn, raisins, and black olives under a fluffy cornmeal topping. Pastel de choclo style casserole, baked in 45 minutes.

Russian beef borscht is a deep-ruby vegetable soup built on shredded beets, cabbage, carrots, and cubed beef simmered with dill, bay, and tomato paste. A classic Eastern European comfort bowl that improves overnight.

Spicy plum sauce simmered from fresh plums with ginger, garlic, Chinese five-spice, lime juice, and Thai chili paste. A bright, fiery condiment for spring rolls, duck, or grilled pork.

Greek-style turkey stuffing with three meats, chestnuts, pine nuts, and white raisins simmered in red wine and tomato paste. A meat-forward holiday stuffing with rice instead of bread cubes.

Pitlai is a South Indian lentil stew with bitter gourd (karela), chickpeas, tamarind, and a ground coconut-spice paste. A tangy, complex vegetarian curry with toor dal and jaggery.

Battered eggplant slices deep-fried until crispy and drizzled with a spicy Sichuan sauce of chili bean paste, black vinegar, ginger, and tomato paste. A vegetarian Chinese dish with serious crunch and heat.

Red beans tossed in a bold balsamic-prune dressing with fenugreek, coriander, and chili-garlic paste. A chilled bean salad bursting with sweet, tangy, spicy layers.

Sorrel-chive pesto with fresh sorrel, chives, pine nuts, shallots, orange zest, and olive oil blended into a tangy herb paste. A no-cheese pesto variation that stores for months.

Fresh mint and coriander chutney with tamarind, green chili, and onion ground into a bright, tangy paste. A no-cook Indian condiment that keeps in the fridge for a week and pairs with samosas, kebabs, and chaat.