130 sugar paste recipes

This savory sauce is goes well together with pasta, rice and any type of meat.

French-style almond macaroons piped from almond paste, filled with rum-spiked chocolate ganache, and dipped in a semisweet chocolate glaze. An elegant three-part cookie.

Sweet red peppers simmered with paprika-stained onions, tomatoes, and a splash of red wine vinegar in this classic Russian lecho. Serve warm, cold, or at room temperature.

Falafel sandwiches with split pea and chickpea flour fritters stuffed into pita pockets with tomatoes, onions, pickles, and your choice of homemade hummus or tahini sauce. A vegan Middle Eastern lunch.

A bold Texas-style BBQ sauce made with beer, brown sugar, jalapeños, tomato paste, and lime juice. Five cups of tangy, smoky heat for ribs, brisket, and pulled pork.

Crab and avocado salad: sweet crab meat tossed in a zesty picante-mayo dressing with green olives, piled into ripe avocado halves. A no-cook, 20-minute Tex-Mex lunch or appetizer that looks far fancier than it is.

Vegan Sicilian lentil pasta sauce simmered with mushrooms, garlic, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Low-fat, high-protein, and hearty enough to replace any meat sauce over pasta or rice.

Italian rainbow cookies (seven layer cookies): three almond paste sponge layers tinted red, green, and yellow, stacked with raspberry jam, and coated in chocolate. A classic holiday bakery tradition.

Chewy coconut almond macaroons made with homemade almond paste, ground coconut, and egg whites. Naturally gluten-free, crisp on the outside, soft in the middle. Makes 3 to 4 dozen.

Layered Mediterranean casserole with brown rice, pearl barley, zucchini, and a basil-tomato sauce topped with melted mozzarella. A hearty vegetarian whole grain bake.

Thai-style stir-fried clams with chili paste, garlic, fish sauce, and fresh mint leaves. A fast, fragrant one-pot seafood dish with bold Southeast Asian flavors.

Delicately flavored orange cookie cups, topped with an orange, almond-paste filling.

Hearty Greek meat stew simmered with broad beans, tomatoes, red wine, and warm cloves. Tender beef in a rich, rustic broth that fills the house with the smell of a Mediterranean kitchen.

A luxurious almond cake made with real almond paste, sour cream, and a full cup of butter for an ultra-moist, tender crumb. Golden on top, dusted with powdered sugar, and worth every indulgent bite.

Thai-style stir-fried clams with garlic, chili paste, fish sauce, and fresh mint. A fast, fiery shellfish dish where the clams steam open in a fragrant, spicy broth.

Vermicelli tossed in a chunky ground beef and plum tomato sauce with fresh basil, finished with crumbled feta cheese. A Greek-Italian mashup that's on the table in 40 minutes.