Jalapeño

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Pair this with a green salad for a light lunch.

From Ristorante Chianti, Geneva, Illinois.

Gaeng Pah Muu Most curries from southern Thailand use coconut milk. This one, from the mountainous north, doesn't, because the climate is too temperate for coconut palms to survive. Don't be intimidated by the start-to-finish time; the curry paste and chicken stock can be made days ahead. Once you have those components at hand, the recipe only takes about 1 hour to put together. If you prefer your food less spicy, use the smaller amounts of curry paste and vegetable oil. Active time: 3 1/4 hr Start to finish: 7 1/4 hr (includes making curry paste and stock)

As in many Mexican recipe names, there is a playful personification at work here: The eggs are "separated" by their salsas—one is topped with fiery red, the other with jealous green.

Pesto is, of course, a great sauce for pasta, and this topping is also good on steamed vegetables and grilled meats. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

You can prepare this brightly colored dip up to two days ahead.

This recipe was created to accompany Grilled Ground Lamb Kebabs with Fresh Hot-Pepper Paste

Turmeric add color and chilies add heat to this superb side dish. Mound it in the middle of the Vegetable Stir-fry.

Here's a new take on calabacitas, a traditional Mexican side dish with zucchini, onions and peppers.