Lime

Fish sauce and dried shrimp flavor the sweet, spicy, and bright chile jam used to glaze this side dish with deeply savory notes.

Don't be intimidated. This is actually just a Southeast Asian twist on beef-noodle soup: steak, fragrant broth, and eminently slurpable noodles.

Skirt steak, which is full of flavor and holds marinades well, is the essential beef cut for fajitas.

Papaya brings a fresh twist to the traditional tomato salsa.

Chilies, lime juice and mint enhance the flavor of our Thai Summer Rolls .

To make curls, soften a chocolate bar briefly in the microwave and run a vegetable peeler along one long side.

Yuca, also called cassava or manioc, is a staple of many Latin American cuisines. This traditional Cuban preparation brings together yuca's mild flavor and starchy texture with a piquant citrusy garlic sauce. Simple and delicious, it will quickly become a staple of your kitchen as well.

To give this salad more crunch, add blanched soybeans (edamame) or fried wonton strips.

This sweet-tart syrup will be enough for both the rickeys and the fruit cup.

Just as a touch of bergamot brings hints of floral and citrus to the blend of teas in Earl Grey, the essence of Seville orange and lemon scents the Lady Grey brew. Here, lime and tarragon provide yet more layers of fresh flavor.

Mango, kiwi, and pineapple are enhanced with a little lime syrup for a tangy, and not incidentally yellow and green, fruit salad.

Kids will need no explanation: They will marvel at these red-and-green-striped drinks that they swirl with a straw. And for grown-ups who may want to get in on the fun, you can make another batch—a shot of gin makes a pleasant, and civilized, addition.

For a fun presentation, serve the granita in hollowed-out lime halves. To prepare the limes, snip the membranes with scissors, then scrape clean with a grapefruit spoon.

Why you'll make it: Because its tart and spicy cream topping does butter one better. Stubborn strands of corn silk are most easily removed by rubbing with a damp paper towel, or even with a little oil.

Why you'll make it: Because it's an all-purpose refresher — drink it straight, top with sparkling water, or spike with vodka, gin, or tequila.

Quinoa is a fast-cooking, protein-packed whole grain. Steamed, it makes a perfect partner for lime-spiked black beans and fresh tomato.