Spinach

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Offer this simple, hearty dish with a green salad, crusty garlic bread and a light red wine, like Beaujolais.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A staple of Milanese cuisine, polenta is delicious here teamed with tomatoes and spinach, two other ingredients typical of the Lombardy region. The combination of Parmesan and Gruyère cheeses adds richness to the dish. If you prefer, the eggs in the center can be replaced with more spinach. Simply sauté ten ounces of fresh spinach leaves in one tablespoon olive oil, then divide the spinach among the cups. Serve these with Dolcetto d'Alba, a mild red wine from the neighboring Piedmont region.

Use leftover chicken if you have any on hand, or start with a rotisserie chicken. Be sure to pick up the sliced peppers from the salad bar while you're at the market. Crunchy sesame breadsticks are all you need to complete the meal — except, of course, dessert, which could be pineapple slices sprinkled with coconut and broiled.

Who knew bulgur could be such a great substitute for rice in risotto? And without all that stirring. No, bulgur won’t replace Arborio rice anytime soon—but you’ll be surprised at how good it can be.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

(Spinaci con Pinoli e Passerine) Spinach with pine nuts and raisins is a classic Sephardic dish that appears on tables in Greece, Spain, Turkey, and Italy, where it is a staple on Venetian and Genoese menus. It is a perfect accompaniment to delicate fish or poultry dishes and is often served at room temperature.

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Buttery scallops pair with a verdant spinach purée for a restaurant-worthy dish.

Using store-bought pizza dough and pre-made chana masala to make these flavorful stuffed pockets, dinner comes together in a snap.

This rich lentil soup is loaded with flavor and texture: coconut milk for creaminess and curry paste for punch, plus tons of spinach and a bit of tiny pasta.

Chock-full of spinach, herbs, and feta, this nourishing skillet will shine at any meal.

Curry paste, coconut milk, and fresh spinach yield a vibrant sauce for tender fish.

Somewhere between a soup and stew, this spicy chicken bouyon is a family favorite.

That can of pumpkin purée in your cabinet is for more than just pie.