Scallion

Negimaki Many New Yorkers owe their first sushi experience to the boom in the city's Japanese population during the 1980s, which in turn led to a proliferation of Japanese restaurants. These beautiful rolls aren't raw—they're seared to create a flavorful brown crust and a medium-rare center.

(OMELETTE AUX ASPERGES)

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Buy some carrot and celery sticks to dip into blue cheese dressing for a cool starter. Deli potato salad is good with the chicken, and classic southern ambrosia—sliced oranges with coconut—is a refreshing end.

Offer this spirited dip with green beans, baby corn, radishes and French bread.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This dip, called fava in Greece, is typically found on taverna menus. As the yellow peas become tender and creamy and the cooking liquid thickens, stir the mixture frequently to prevent scorching on the bottom. This is nice with a chilled Pinot Blanc.

Inspired by the flavor-packed ginger scallion oil served with slices of chicken and duck at New York Noodle Town in Manhattan, we devised the following recipe.

Fried green plantains. When making tostones look for unripe plantains that are a deep shade of green: The recipe will not work with ripe plantains. Ideally, the plantains should be fried the day they are purchased, but they can be kept, wrapped well in a plastic bag and chilled, for 2 to 3 days.

Although lamb is not commonly found in Chinese dishes, Hong Kong restaurants reach out to explore every nuance of Asian cuisine. Lamb is popular with the nomads of Mongolia and Manchuria; they would most likely cook the meat in a firepot. Here it's used in a more delicate stir-fry.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 1 hr