Papaya

Similar in texture to lemon bars, these have a shortbread cookie base and a delightful tropical fruit filling.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

Simply omit the ginger for a classic crème brûlée. A small blowtorch (made for the kitchen) is a useful gadget for caramelizing the sugar topping. You can also broil the custards until the sugar turns dark brown.

Ultra-rich mascarpone in the batter produces an extraordinarily creamy cheesecake. The cheesecake must be chilled at least six hours before serving.

A rich cheesecake filling is baked in a tart crust for an elegant twist on a favorite.

At the ranch, Lisa Ahier makes this salsa with and without avocado. At Gourmet, we liked it with.

The word chutney comes from the Hindustani chatni, which means "strong spices." The sweet juiciness of golden pineapples — much more intensely flavored than ordinary pineapples — balances the spices with the lusciousness that only tropical foods possess. But you can substitute regular pineapple if you cannot find the golden variety, and the chutney will still be complementary. Serve it with Jerked Pork Chops or any grilled meat.

There is no oil in this most original salad.

This impressive frozen dessert has a crisp gingersnap crust, cool mango and lime sorbet filling, and refreshing fruit topping.