Cilantro

Erin Franzman of New York City, writes: "After reading that duck was part of the Aztec diet, I put it in this simple, hearty tortilla soup for an unexpected, rich twist." Corn tortillas add both body and crunch to this filling dish. Try sliced avocado on top for a splash of cool, vibrant flavor.

Enriched with coarsely mashed potatoes, this lively soup makes for an easy supper. Serve the Accompaniments in separate bowls for an interactive touch.

The entrée and side dish roast together for a quick yet elegant meal.

Editor's note: This recipe was included with two others from our roundup of great cookbooks for Dad. Use this fresh, spicy salsa to top grilled steak tacos or as a dip for tortilla chips.

Fresh ginger and yellow mustard seeds make these sweet potatoes much more worldly than their candied incarnations. The cilantro takes them in an unexpected but very welcome direction.

his delicious vegetarian soup is a take on the Persian dish ash-e reshteh.

This quick dish has all the deep, exciting flavors of Southeast Asia. The curry paste already has lemongrass in it, so don't worry if you can't find fresh: It will still be delicious without it.

This dish was the surprise of the year. The ingredients might seem ordinary, but trust us — it's fantastic.

This light starter can be prepared ahead of time and is a smart alternative to fussy holiday hors d'oeuvres. It has an unbelievably fresh flavor, even when made with frozen soybeans.

This sweet-tart chutney is great alongside lamb or pork chops, atop goat cheese and crackers, or on biscuits with sliced ham.

Swordfish or lamb —guests can choose just one kind of kebab or both. (Chicken can be substituted for the lamb, if you prefer.) The same quick marinade flavors the kebabs, then gets reduced to a sauce for serving alongside.

In Mexico, this breakfast dish is called huevos ahogados, meaning "drowned eggs," since the eggs are served in soup bowls with a lot of sauce.

Stars and studio moguls often do their wheeling and dealing at this legendary Hollywood haunt, where Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tyra Banks have been seen. Chef Sam Marvin tweaks dishes to anyone's liking (A-lister or otherwise) and purchases the freshest ingredients daily from local farmers' markets. Think of this colorful bowl as an alphabet soup of vitamins, delivering a healthy dose of A, B6, C, and K, not to mention lycopene, a potent antioxidant.

If you want to eat this entire menu with your fingers, the corn can be served hot on the cob, brushed with the butter mixture and sprinkled with cilantro. To save space on your stovetop, you can boil the corn first, then boil the crabs in the corn-cooking water.