Weeknight Meals

Thai red chilies are used at Keo's, but a sliced jalapeño chili will work just as well.

Since this exotic dish has a very flavorful sauce, serve it with couscous or rice.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Spruce up some purchased pasta salad with drained marinated artichoke hearts and marinated mushrooms for a hearty side dish. For dessert, spoon raspberries and sliced peaches over vanilla frozen yogurt.

Try the sauce with grilled fish or chicken, too. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

An innovative presentation from Flagstaff House Restaurant in Boulder, Colorado. Chef Mark Monette always offers a few meatless main dishes alongside his game and fish specialties. He serves rice with this one to catch the juices from the ratatouille.

If you thought you couldn't cook Thai food at home, this colorful and slightly spicy curry-a bit of a cross between a soup and a stew-will change your mind. It's a cinch to whip up after work and intriguing enough to impress your friends. Begin dinner with frozen egg rolls or take-out ones from a Chinese restaurant, and finish things off with ice cream or sorbet topped with chopped tropical fruit. GewÜrztraminer or Thai beer complements the menu nicely.

This recipe was created to accompany Sauteed Sea Bass.

Serve this quick stir-fry with rice.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Tarator, a creamy nut and garlic blend, is one of Turkey's finest sauces. It traditionally enhances cooked vegetables, fish or shellfish, and it is also a lovely dip for pita bread. Although the true tarator uses hazelnuts, local cooks often make it with whatever nut grows in their area.

Tangy Irish cheddar or Cashel, an Irish blue cheese, is ideal for this typical main-course pub salad; you can substitute English cheddar or French Roquefort. Thick slices of buttered soda bread and some raisin tarts could round out the menu.

The crisp Rosemary Toasts taste great dunked into this flavorful soup. To serve on the side, toss arugula with sliced red onions and basalmic vinaigrette, then top the salad with shavings of Parmesan cheese. For dessert, keep it simple with ripe pears and amaretti (almond cookies).

Using a low-fat cheese such as feta makes for a rich but lean topping. The newer feta cheeses with sun-dried tomatoes and basil are especially good.

Begin with melon slices and prosciutto; alongside the soup, serve baguette slices with a garlic and herb cheese spread, then offer macaroons and apricots afterward.