Basil

A quick blanch helps take away the bitterness in the kale for the pesto. A bit of lemon brightens it up and help the pesto retain its bright, green color.

A raw creamed corn sauce takes the place of the traditional eggs in this silky, summer-fresh "carbonara."

Forget the freezer aisle! This classic is just as easy to make from scratch. Bonus: it's tastier, too.

Some say using a blender rather than a food processor results in a smoother puree. When combining pesto with pasta, Ligurians mix a small ladle of the cooking water into the pesto just before adding the noodles; this dilutes the concentrated sauce and helps it adhere to the pasta.

A gallon-size ziptop bag is the perfect vessel for storing the base while it chills.

Tartare should be served very cold and right after making. If needed, prep the ingredients ahead and chill them; assemble at the last minute.

Don't obsess over getting these exact ingredients in this precise combination. Any nut you like will work here for crunch, and you're looking for a mix of bright herbs and enough cooked grains to make it substantial.

This raw tomato sauce gets texture from zucchini and body from toasted nuts that are blended into the base. You can sub almonds for hazelnuts.

With a mega-flame and a gargantuan pot, you can cook an ocean's worth of seafood in a fraction of the time it would take on the stovetop—without stepping foot in a steamy kitchen.

This juicy, crunchy salad-on-toast gets even more texture (and flavor) thanks to quickly fried capers and basil.

Skip the dried-out grocery store slaw packets. Instead, grate broccoli stems and toss with chopped florets and an Asian-inspired dressing for a great combo of textures and bold, beautiful flavor.

This sweet and spicy Vietnamese-inspired pasta salad features chicken—use leftovers or grab a rotisserie chicken at the store. Make it for dinner tonight, or pack it up for lunches—it’ll be just as good tomorrow.

These make-ahead packs are perfect for camping trips as well as quick and easy breakfasts on the go.

If this were our party, we'd get all the grilling out of the way early in the day and toss this Mediterranean fantasy of a salad together in our caftans.

Skillet smoking is a chef's trick that's easy to do at home.