Fish

Save time by using vacuum-sealed pouches of tuna, which don't need to be drained.

Serve with: Mixed baby greens with shredded radishes in a citrus vinaigrette, and a sesame baguette.

On the eastern side of the Indian peninsula, fronting the Bay of Bengal, is Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu state. This recipe from that cosmopolitan city is typically made with sardines, mackerel, and crab, but we have substituted orange roughy for a more delicately flavored dish.

This is terrific with sautéed green beans, a plate of sliced tomatoes topped with grated hard-boiled egg and olive oil vinaigrette, and a toasted sourdough baguette. Pound cake with strawberry sauce makes a nice dessert.

Cooking the fish en papillote, in parchment paper or foil, keeps it moist.

Auruduci is the Sicilian way of saying agro-dolce, or "sweet-and-sour." This is definitely not the type of sweet-and-sour dish you find in Chinese restaurants. It is a wonderful, subtle recipe that shows off the number one fish in Sicily — tuna. This could be my favorite of the many Sicilian tuna recipes I've encountered over the years. You have to make it with fresh tuna, and always remember to serve it rare — never overcook it.

Start with chopped fresh tomatoes, basil and garlic spooned onto toasted baguette slices. Grill slices of potato to have with the tuna; follow with biscotti and fresh figs.

Team the fish with steamed rice and sautéed spinach, and pour a Sauvignon Blanc.

(Provençal Anchovy Vegetable Spread) Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Steamed baby potatoes and a baguette are good partners for the fish. For dessert, spoon sugared raspberries over angel food cake.

Besugo a la Parrilla Besugo translates as "red sea bream," which is the type of fish the restaurant uses for this dish; the bream is grilled, then deboned and served whole. Red bream is difficult to find in this country, so we've substituted red snapper, and we've chosen to broil fillets to keep things simple.

At Aqua, the sea bass is presented with shrimp tortellini in lobster consommé.

"I’ve never been much of a fish lover, but on a trip to New York, I ordered the hazelnut-crusted trout at Tribeca Grill," writes Corrie Reid of Stafford, Texas. "It was by far the best fish I’ve ever had, and the sauce served with it was just heavenly." To crush the toasted nuts, seal them in a plastic bag, and pound with a rolling pin.