Weeknight Meals

Though there are plenty of chiles in this paste, they don't overpower it. The aromatic bite of coriander, the earthiness of cumin, and the licorice trace of caraway seeds create a pleasingly complex flavor. This paste is also delicious with pork.

This dish showcases salmon and the bright, fresh flavor of early-summer sugar snap peas in a dish that's perfect for a lunch with friends or a light dinner eaten outdoors. Broiling the delicate paillards seals in the juices and makes preparation a breeze.

Removing the bones from salmon steaks is surprisingly easy, and you'll get filletlike quality at a lower price. Here, we've grilled the steaks to intensify their flavor, and paired them with the sharp bite of horseradish.

Bacon and a little cream give this chowder lashings of decadence — but, because there are no thickeners, it's surprisingly light.

It's no surprise that American cooks have adopted Asian peanut sauce as their own. The tantalizing balance of creaminess and heat has universal appeal.

Delicate, sophisticated flavors come together almost effortlessly with the help of miso, a Japanese staple.

There are plenty of steak-and-onion salads, but none with a dressing like this one. Worcestershire sauce has just enough acid to balance the vinaigrette's oil.

This dish is a summery variation on the Northern Italian pairing of tomato-braised ossobuco and saffron-flavored risotto. Here the delicious classic combination is lightened up with orzo and wilted grape tomatoes.

Mixing aromatic herbs like mint and basil with asparagus and peas creates a beautiful green dish. Salty feta sparks it up.

Two summer favorites join forces in this gratin-style main dish, whose complex flavors belie its ease of preparation.

Pollo Monte Cristo Chicken is lean and satiating; vitamin A in spinach protects eyes.

In this supereasy, Japanese-inspired dish, salmon is glazed with salty-sweet hoisin sauce and served with a fresh, tangy relish of plums and ginger.

This Latin-inspired combination of flavors works well with smoky grilled pork, and the crispy cumin crust is complemented by both the heat and sweetness in the salsa. These thick-cut chops taste just as good cold — if there are any left.

This Caribbean-style pork dish is by cookbook author Daisy Martinez. Look for panko in the Asian foods section of the supermarket or at Asian markets.

The mayo can also be made with dill.

These Italian kebabs make a very stylish one-dish supper.

For a quick defrost, microwave the veggies in bowls for one to two minutes on high.

A balsamic vinaigrette flavors the chicken and dresses the salad.