Herbs & Spices

This recipe boasts a Japanese marinade and a slightly sweet glaze. Like many other Asian stir-fries, it goes well over steamed brown rice.

Transform leftover cooked chicken into a dish that will delight the senses with color, texture, aroma, and flavor. Lemongrass, Thai red curry paste, and coconut (our heart-healthy recipe uses coconut extract) are the popular Thai ingredients that do the trick.

A taste of Italy, this tender roast gets a robust herb rub, then is left to bake or cook in the slow cooker. Among the recipes we’ve included for using the planned-over portion are Thai Beef Salad (page 91), Beef Salad with Vinaigrette or Horseradish Dressing (page 92), and Blue Cheese Beef and Fries (page 201).

Turn ordinary chicken and cauliflower into a flavor sensation with curry powder and tangy yogurt. Serve over couscous, noodles, or rice.

Known as a festive, regal dish in India and Pakistan, biryani is packed with flavor. Don’t be scared off by the long list of ingredients. The dish really is quick and easy to prepare.

This recipe will eliminate all doubt that good-for-you tofu can be tasty, too!

This fantastically easy recipe utilizes bottled sun-dried tomato pesto to cut your prep time.

Rajma, red beans slowly simmered in a rich blend of spices, is a favorite in India and other parts of Asia. Don’t be daunted by the long ingredients list—your slow cooker does the work for you. Just remember to soak the beans the night before you plan to prepare the rajma.

Bottled peanut satay sauce is a convenient way to add the traditional Thai flavor combination of basil, peanut, and coconut to your cooking.

To vary this flavorful dish, serve the sauce over another kind of pasta or brown rice.

Roasting vegetables usually takes 45 minutes or longer. The technique we use here takes only 15 minutes, yet provides excellent slow-roasted flavor. For a change, omit the pasta and serve the vegetables as a side dish.

Fresh ginger and garlic are perfect seasonings for grilled trout.

Rosemary and two kinds of pepper ramp up the flavor of this tempting, inexpensive entrée.

This dish is elegant enough for company, quick enough for a “desperation dinner,” and convenient enough for any cook. You can put it together at the last minute or assemble it in the morning so it’s ready to cook when you are.

When the French cook en papillote, they steam the food in cooking parchment. Here we use aluminum foil to provide the same results. Both preparation and cleanup are super quick.

The fresh herbs in this salad add an exotic flavor that’s reminiscent of Mediterranean favorites.

Here’s a new twist on chicken salad. Serve this one with baked tortilla chips on lettuce-lined plates, garnished with jalapeño rings.

You won’t want to go back to traditional mayonnaise-based tuna salad after experiencing the fresh crispness of this citrusy version.

This exciting, inviting fruit salad is especially delicious served with grilled pork or chicken.

This colorful and crisp medley of fresh vegetables is easy enough to prepare for everyday meals, yet elegant enough for guests.