Vegan

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe originally accompanied Roast Beef, Basil, and Spicy Tomato Chutney Lavash Sandwiches.

After experiencing a dazzling meal and the gracious hospitality of Martín Berasategui, one of the top Basque chefs, at the restaurant that bears his name in Lasarte-Oria, he gave us a final taste of his talent in a wonderfully refreshing granizado de cava. The following concoction I devised is very nearly the same, and surprisingly simple.

This recipe is an accompaniment for epi:recipeLink id="10953">Lobster Potpies Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 30 min

<p>This recipe originally accompanied <epi:recipeLink id"100941">Roasted Pousins with Cumin and Lemon</epi:recipeLink>.</p> <p>You can roast these potatoes along with the poussins. Simply put them into the upper third of the oven about 10 minutes before the birds go in. Then move the potatoes to the lower third of the oven so that the birds can fit in the upper third, and roast them about 45 minutes more.</p>

The oats in this salad are a distant cousin of the familiar breakfast staple oatmeal. As whole grain, oats have a wonderful, slightly chewy texture and nutty flavor.

Rick Rodgers, cookbook author and teacher, says, "The inspiration for this recipe came to me one Thanksgiving when my friends and I were sipping mugs of mulled wine while preparing dinner. I was doing a basic cranberry sauce and tossed in a bit of the spiced wine. The result was a fabulous mix of sweet and spice—and I've been making it this way every year since."

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 2 hr

Tidbits to serve with before-dinner drinks.

Serve with jicama sticks, radish slices, peeled cooked shrimp, and corn tortilla chips.

Cut and toss the avocado garnish in lemon juice just before serving to prevent discoloration. Then sprinkle it over the top without tossing, or the salad will be mushy.

The griddled persimmon cakes we had with duck in Xi'an inspired this salad.

Sliced tomatoes are topped with sun-dried tomatoes, olives and capers.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Round out this satisfying soup with a composed platter of marinated beets, red onions, sliced hard-boiled eggs, pickled vegetables and a wedge of imported Parmesan. Try a purchased berry tart for a pretty dessert.