Fry

Crisp herb fritters are an unusual way to savor fresh herbs. Dipped in beer batter, fried lightly in oil, and served with lemon wedges, they make a delightful accompaniment to a glass of wine. If the batter is too thick, thin with a little water; if it is too thin, add a little flour.

Haloumi is a semihard cheese made from sheep’s milk; look for it at Middle Eastern markets.

An old-fashioned cast-iron skillet with shallow round indentations is ideal for making uniform corn cakes. Since these pans can be rather hard to find, you can use a regular cast-iron skillet and achieve equally lovely results. Pepper jelly adds a bit of sweetness and subtle heat. Look for it at farmer’s markets and in gourmet shops.

These are fun to make, especially with kids. Instead of baking the bread in the oven, the muffins are baked in a skillet or on a griddle. If you want to get the big holes that the professionals get, you will need to work with a soft, but not sticky, dough and bake or grill the muffins at just the right time, catching them on the rise. The dough, a fairly straightforward enriched dough, can also be used to make English muffin loaf bread, a holey white bread that kids—well, not just kids—love.

This fast-to-fix faux-fried entrée with its crunchy, herby crust is the perfect foundation to complement one of our sauces or salsas, such as Barbecue Sauce (page 265) or Roasted Tomato Chipotle Salsa (page 269). Pair this dish with Green Beans and Corn (page 236) or Greens with Tomatoes and Parmesan (page 245) to add color to the plate.

As these patties cook, the mozzarella cheese browns and creates a deliciously crisp crust. Prepare the sauce while the patties chill and let it stand at room temperature so the flavors blend.

Mild yet rich tasting, this easy-to-make dish gets a lot of Mediterranean flavor from the Greek seasoning blend and mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Creamy, cheesy polenta tops a chunky mixture of vegetables in this hearty casserole.

Using potatoes instead of tortilla chips as the base for beans, salsa, and other traditional nacho toppings helps you control your sodium intake. The potatoes are a good source of potassium, an important nutrient in helping lower blood pressure.

A citrusy aroma will fill your kitchen as fish fillets and a variety of vegetables bake in foil packets. Spoon on the sauce and enjoy!

Oregano, shallots, and lemon juice enhance the vegetables in this barley-based dish. You can replace the chard with other greens, such as spinach, turnip greens, or collard greens, if you prefer, adjusting the cooking time as needed.

This pairing of two all-time favorite vegetables is simple but colorful.

No potluck meal or barbecue is complete without baked beans. These cook for a long time but need very little attention. The result is well worth the wait.

The flavors of the fennel and caramelized onion make this unusual dish a standout.

The vibrant color contrast between the greens and the tomatoes adds eye appeal to this tasty dish.

In less than 30 minutes from starting to prep the ingredients to serving, you can make this exotic fish dish and the accompanying fruit relish. Another time, make only the fruit relish and serve it with roasted pork or chicken.