Gourmet

This noodle salad, studded with slices of sweet mango and crisp cucumber, is a cooling oasis in the midst of a meal packed with rich, spicy dishes. The glazed roast pork gives the salad added dimension, but could also be served on its own.

Tofu absorbs the richness of sesame oil and the tang of rice vinegar in a fresh salad that pops with crisp celery.

This rich, creamy chocolate sauce is perfect on ripe strawberries, but it's so versatile it might also be just what your favorite dessert has been missing.

Smoky chipotle marries lime juice and mild honey in this irresistible chicken dish, perfect for your next barbecue.

The mild flavor of mahimahi is a perfect match for this wonderfully balanced tamarind glaze. The famously tart fruit is sweetened with brown sugar and brought to life by soy sauce and lime juice.

These crisp-tender, mildly spiced beans are novel enough to be interesting, familiar enough to be comforting.

The flavors of a classic New York cookie make a nostalgic malted.

Any party host knows that food served on skewers is just plain fun. These chicken satés are made from thigh meat, so they don't dry out during grilling, and the palm sugar in the marinade helps get the meat nice and caramely brown.

It takes bold flavors to stand up to the smoky richness of grilled beef, and this salad delivers. A tangle of rice-stick noodles cradles Asian greens, apples, and mint, and tender slices of flank steak top things off. The finishing touch? A drizzle of sweet dressing tangy with fish sauce and fiery with red-pepper flakes.

The citrusy dressing makes this dish a standout, and there's plenty extra to be sopped up with rice or crusty bread. Cooking shrimp in their shells keeps them juicy and tender. It all makes for casual finger food that requires plenty of napkins — which is part of the fun.

Lemon thyme, available at farmers markets and specialty produce markets, lends this corn a delicate lemony-herbal flavor, but feel free to use regular fresh thyme instead. Steaming the corn is a gentle method that allows you to cook it in butter; you can pull back the husks and use them as a handle while eating.

This simple one-dish vegetarian meal is hearty without being heavy.

If your pulse quickens at the suggestion of salt and vinegar potato chips, you'll be hooked on this warm potato salad after one bite. A little Old Bay seasoning gives it a modest kick.

This light chowder with a subtle note of smokiness really lets the scallops shine.

Carne de Puerco con Chile Guajillo To bring out pork's flavor, try the classic Mexican technique used in this recipe: First simmer the meat, then fry it in its own rich fat. Don't be alarmed by the amount of chiles in the sauce, as mild guajillos simply lend flavor and body.

Sugar snap peas add a fresh crispness to this slaw; buttermilk dressing keeps it tangy and light and contrasts nicely with the other dishes on this menu. And it's so easy to make. We bet that, after a taste, you'll never rely on that mayonnaisey deli slaw again.

They're inspired by lobster rolls, but we think you'll find these sandwiches more popular with a crowd of all ages — not to mention more affordable and easier on the cook.

This riff on traditional pasta salad gets an added layer of flavor from golden pearls of toasted couscous.

Though this recipe owes a debt to that icon of childhood desserts, Jell-O with whipped cream, the interplay of floral passion fruit and herbal basil is nothing if not elegant.