Baked Mexican-Style Beans with Sour Cream and Chiles

Baked Mexican-Style Beans with Sour Cream and Chiles

Bean lovers take note: The gutsy sauce in this preparation makes these beans irresistible. This would be a good choice for a potluck or party dish, and it can be easily doubled. Serve as is or over hot cooked rice. SERVES 4 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 medium onions,...

Baked Eggplant, Chickpeas, and Tomatoes

Baked Eggplant, Chickpeas, and Tomatoes

A myth has developed that says that eggplant must be salted before it is cooked in order to remove its bitterness and/or cut down on its absorption of oil during cooking. I have cooked eggplant in myriad ways and have experimented with both the salted and unsalted...

Baked Chickpeas Provenale

Baked Chickpeas Provenale

Here is an exquisite-flavored dish laced with rosemary, garlic, and red wine, and topped with a mixture of bread crumbs and more garlic and baked until crispy. Be sure to use the amount of garlic indicated; it mellows with baking and lends a subtle flavor to the...

Spaghettini with Garlic and Hot Pepper

Spaghettini with Garlic and Hot Pepper

This is a hot and spicy pasta dish that is rather light and is usually served as is, though one may add a light sprinkling of Parmesan cheese if desired. This is the ideal dish to whip up when simplicity is paramount. SERVES 4 1 teaspoon salt 1 pound spaghettini 1...

Spaghetti Squash with Broccoli Butter Sauce

Spaghetti Squash with Broccoli Butter Sauce

Though technically not a pasta, this egg-shaped squash behaves just like it when cooked, the pulp separates like strands of spaghetti. It is delicious, has considerably fewer calories than spaghetti, and adapts well to most pasta sauces. I prefer it with a delicate...

Risotto of Brown Rice and Mushrooms

Risotto of Brown Rice and Mushrooms

Risotto is a rice dish cooked in such a way that the rice makes its own creamy, rich sauce. Preparing it takes time and patience, but it is well worth the effort. It is important to regulate the heat so that you cook the risotto at just the right pace, and you should...

Polenta Puttanesca

Polenta Puttanesca

It is a good idea to keep some cornmeal, canned tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese on hand so you can put this polenta together on a moments notice. Puttanesca sauce is a robust, brazen tomato sauce (puttana means whore) and it balances the subtle flavor of the polenta...

Penne with Eggplant Sauce

Penne with Eggplant Sauce

It's amusing to contemplate how much taste is inextricably linked to texture, and the best illustration of this is pasta. Although most pastas are made from the same ingredients, their various shapes will determine the character of the dish they're in. The ingredients...