20 pastel recipes

Coconut cookie nests in pastel colors with a chocolate egg in each. A macaroon-style Easter cookie with crisp edges, chewy centers, and room for candy eggs on top.

Chile garlic wet marinade paste, a blended rub of jalapeno, chipotle in adobo, garlic, scallion, and olive oil. Smoky, spicy, and garlicky, it tenderizes and flavors beef like flank steak before grilling.

Spinach and basil blended with toasted walnuts, olive oil, and umami-rich miso paste. A dairy-free, vegan pesto that's ready in 25 minutes and keeps for a week in the fridge.

Bold brisket marinade paste with Szechuan peppercorns, garlic, paprika, lemongrass oil, dry mustard, and red wine. Score the meat, rub it in, and marinate for several days for deep flavor penetration.

Rainbow trout Provencale with red bell pepper, fennel seeds, garlic, vermouth, and tomato paste. A light French-inspired fish dish cooked in minutes.

Ebi kimizushi: elegant Japanese stuffed-prawn sushi, with butterflied vinegar-marinated prawns filled with a silky, seasoned golden egg-yolk paste. A refined, bite-sized appetizer.

Thai red or green curry paste: a homemade aromatic blend of chilies, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, shrimp paste, ginger, and coriander. The from-scratch base for authentic Thai curries.

Italian veal rolls (involtini) stuffed with prosciutto and Grana Padano, browned in butter, and braised in white wine with tomato paste. A classic Northern Italian secondo.

Curry-rubbed lamb rib chops seared in peanut oil until crusty and golden, finished with a silky wine-butter pan sauce of shallots, broth, and tomato paste. A fast, refined dinner for four.

Curried deviled eggs stuffed with tuna and gherkins, coated in a creamy curry-mayo sauce with tomato paste. A bold Indian-inspired appetizer served chilled.

Thai Kaeng Khua curry paste made with dried chilies, garlic, lemongrass, coriander root, and shrimp paste. A fragrant homemade paste that keeps 3-4 months refrigerated.

Bavarian veal rouladen stuffed with bacon and hard-boiled eggs, browned and simmered in a red wine gravy with tomato paste. A hearty German main dish.

Chili-bacon rub made with bacon drippings, chili powder, cayenne, garlic, and tomato paste. A smoky, spicy paste for chicken and barbecue. Five ingredients, five minutes.

Chicken in fermented black bean sauce made entirely in the microwave with garlic, ginger, sherry, sesame oil, and chili paste. A Chinese takeout favorite ready in 30 minutes.

Fiery Thai chili fish sauce (nam pla prik) with serrano chiles, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, and roasted chili paste. A no-cook condiment that livens up everything it touches.

Homemade fish broth from fish heads and bones sauteed with onions, leek greens, celery, thyme, and tomato paste. A clean, Italian-style base for soups, stews, and seafood risotto.