2,148 pasteli recipes

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.

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.

Thick-cut porterhouse steak marinated in a bold Asian-inspired blend of chili bean paste, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Fire up the grill for this fusion masterpiece that brings steakhouse quality with Pacific Rim flair.

Foolproof meringue that never weeps or shrinks, stabilized with a cornstarch paste mixed into the egg whites. Golden brown in 30 minutes on any cream pie.

Simplified nasi goreng with chicken, caramelized onions, cumin, coriander, and brown rice. A home-cook-friendly Indonesian fried rice that skips shrimp paste and keeps ingredients accessible.

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.

Cauliflower florets stir-fried and simmered in a blended ginger-onion paste with tomatoes, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and a finish of garam masala. A fragrant Indian vegetable side dish with real depth.

This spicy marinade owes its unusual flavor to the chipotle, a smoked jalapeno chile. Chipotles are usually sold canned in tomato paste. Look for them at Mexican and Latin American markets. Adobo marinade goes particularly well with pork.

Punjabi-style stuffed brinjals (eggplant) filled with a spice paste of coriander, turmeric, poppy seeds, green chilies, and fenugreek. Pan-cooked in ghee until meltingly tender and fragrant.

Grilled cheese sandwich with olivada: challah bread smeared with briny black olive paste, layered with Swiss cheese and optional tomato, grilled crisp. A Mediterranean twist on a classic.

Homemade Jamaican jerk seasoning paste with allspice, scallions, thyme, scotch bonnet pepper, and fresh lime juice. Blend and rub on any meat for authentic island heat.

Indian-style deep-fried whitefish marinated in a garlic, cumin, coriander, and star anise paste with lemon juice. Crispy, golden, and packed with warm spice.

Indian-style barbecued fish skewers marinated in a spiced yogurt paste with garam masala, coriander, ginger, garlic, and cayenne. A tandoori-inspired grilled fish kebab.

Traditional Passover haroset with grated apples, walnuts, hazelnuts, and sweet kosher wine blended into a thick, nutty paste. A 10-minute no-cook recipe for the Seder table.

Spiced pot roast marinated in a blended paste of cumin, turmeric, ginger, rosemary, French mustard, poppy seeds, and lemon. Braised tender on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.

Spicy lamb braised in a fresh paste of chilli, lemongrass, galangal, and turmeric with coconut milk, the meat first tenderized with papaya skin. Served with a sharp green papaya salad dressed in lime and fish sauce.