Cilantro

(Deep-Fried Pastry Stuffed with Spicy Potatoes)

Aromatic without being spicy, this dish has a touch of the exotic but will please traditionalists, too. The spice paste hits on sweet, hot, salty, and sour, and the lamb is wonderfully tender.

Inspired by aloo paratha, Indian potato bread, these pancakes are loaded with flavorful herbs and spices.

Most salsas are too chunky and juicy to use as a dip. This one is finely puréed, with olive oil added to thicken it.

Classic Mexican comfort food, minus most of the fat.

Lightly blanched squid makes a simple and elegant salad with the tang of fish sauce and fresh lime juice.

Find a good-quality jerk paste, and it's like Caribbean magic—you can make a complete island meal in a flash.

Improv: Substitute chopped red or yellow bell peppers for the tomatoes in the salad; try basil instead of cilantro in the dressing.

There's depth, subtlety, and just the right amount of heat here. Start preparing this dish one day ahead since the chicken needs to marinate overnight.

He may be executive chef at London's luxe Conservatory at The Lanesborough, but Paul Gayler knows a thing or two about American cuisine, too. In The Gourmet Burger, he rethinks the barbecue classic using premium and international ingredients. Here, he adds mildly spicy North African flavors.

Chicken fatigue? Turkey cutlets require little cooking time and provide a tender platform for a deliciously garlicky sauce with toasted almonds.

We started out with half the amount of corn chips but increased the quantity because we love their addictive crunch in this Southwest-influenced salad.

Brandi Neuwirth of Cary, North Carolina, writes: "My family and I moved here from Los Angeles last year, and my new surroundings have really influenced my cooking. There's a great farmers' market nearby where I get lots of local ingredients like tomatoes, squash, and, of course, okra. The produce there inspired me to create this dish, which is a real taste of the South." Tossing the okra in cornmeal before frying creates a crisp coating, adding texture to this colorful, summery dish.