Cilantro

Dinner rolls work well as buns for these mini burgers. Allow three burgers per person and top with tomato, red onion, and cucumber slices.

Mac and cheese goes southwestern with corn chips and salsa verde.

Use a mandoline to quickly make thin, even plantain slices.

Nuevo cubano: This is Rodriguez's riff on vaca frita, slow-cooked shredded meat that's then sautéed with onions. Rodriguez likes to serve the steak whole, with an onion mojo on the side. (Mojo usually refers to a marinade made with citrus, olive oil, and onions, but here the mixture has been transformed into a condiment.) What to drink: A selection of Latin beers like Corona Extra, Hatuey, Negra Modelo, Dos Equis, and Tecate.

Sheila Jacobs and Lynn Kramer of Abreu, Cabrera, Dominican Republic write: "We're both from the U.S., but we have lived in the Dominican Republic for about 25 years. We're friends, business partners, and neighbors, so we entertain together often. Cooking the local dishes has made us feel a part of the country." This recipe is inspired by pescado con coco (fish with tomato, garlic, and coconut).

Ají ecuatorianoají ecuatoriano Served on the table as an accompaniment to soups, this fresh sauce gets its tart, vibrant flavor from the tamarillo (tree tomato), native to South America. A small red tomato can be substituted.

Broiling tomatoes and onions concentrates their flavor in this spicy salsa that's good any time of the year.

The pineapple may be unexpected, but it brings all the flavors together and makes them shine.

Sweetened by pepper and rounded out with cilantro, vinegar, and tomato paste, this Latin American staple is perfect with anything on your table or as a meal itself.

These showcase all that's great about Indian food: They're vibrant, light, and fragrant. For a spicier patty, add a second stemmed and minced serrano chile.

Also great with lamb, duck, or chicken.

Our youth culture has even reached the green market: Baby vegetables are among the most sought-after produce, whether we buy them because they are sweeter and more tender than their full-grown counterparts or just because they look great on the plate. Seek out golden yellow, chioggia (an Italian heirloom variety that has white and pink rings inside), and Albino beets at farmers' markets.

(Ground Beef Patties) My son Samir loves shami kebabs with pooris (deep-fried wheat bread). They are also very tasty with basmati rice and raita (yogurt sauce).

(Chickpeas Cooked in a Spicy Tomato Sauce) Cholay can be served as a snack with tea or as a vegetarian side dish. Some people like to add plain yogurt on the side to balance the spices.