Condiment

A flavorful accompaniment for roast pork, chicken, burgers, or grilled shrimp.

Outstanding in flavor and freshness, these marinated vegetables are unlike anything you'll find in a jar or deli case. But do make a trip to your local Italian delicatessen for sliced assorted cold cuts and crusty bread to go with the vegetables. It all adds up to an impressive no-hassle starter.

Spicy and sophisticated.

Try this with any roasted meat or as a topper for crostini. Begin making it a day ahead.

"A friend served my homemade pear chutney at her dinner party, and everyone thought it was an unusual and delicious accompaniment for chicken," says Susan Banks of Seattle, Washington.

Preserving a Meyer lemon captures its glorious perfume. We’ve adapted cookbook author Paula Wolfert’s quick method, our favorite, and made it even faster by blanching the lemons first. The rind of a preserved lemon is a common ingredient in Moroccan dishes; we also love it in all kinds of soups, stews, and salads and as a low-fat alternative to olives. Save the pulp for Bloody Marys or anything else enlivened by a little lemon juice and salt.

Colorful salsas and relishes made with fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs became popular in this decade of diets. The toppings are light and fresh and packed with flavor-just right with grilled low-fat fish.

I first tasted this Cantonese pickle in a commercial version that I bought in Seattle's International District. The pickle contained stem ginger, in thick pieces so tender that you could eat them right along with the other vegetables. If you happen to grow your own ginger, by all means use the stems in this recipe. Otherwise, include the ginger just as a flavoring. The children who have tasted this pickle love it just as much as the adults do.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Unlike sauces from Texas and Kansas City, this sauce from South Carolina's Piedmont area is thin and vinegary. Note that it is not cooked. To tone down the tartness, add more ketchup and brown sugar to taste.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Red Pepper Puree .

This recipe is an accompaniment for Eggnog French Toast with Cranberry-Apple Compote. This colorful and festive compote is also nice on waffles and pancakes — or even spooned over vanilla ice cream.

A unique combination of ingredients gives this compote a sweet and tangy pickled taste. If you don't have a mortar and pestle, place the toasted coriander seeds in a plastic bag and crush them using a rolling pin.

Piquant and full of spices, this chutney is an unexpected, pleasantly bright condiment for scrambled eggs. Active time: 45 minutes Start to finish: 1 week (includes allowing flavors to develop)

You can cook the onions up to one day ahead. Just before serving time, rewarm them in the oven while the roast rests. This recipe is an accompaniment for Black Pepper-Crusted Standing Rib Roast au Jus.

Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 4 hr

This recipe is an accompaniment for Sweet-Potato Gaufrettes with Duck Confit and Cranberry Black Pepper Chutney. Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 30 min