Herbs & Spices

To begin, a little taste of the sea, easily prepared ahead of time. Beautiful, sophisticated, and delicious, mussels are perfect party appetizers. Each bite offers a complex layering of flavors, and the shells make lovely natural dishes.

The bay leaves give a faint flavor akin to allspice, and the cinnamon stick contributes its own subtle note.

A little fresh rosemary adds a lot of flavor to this simple but festive roast.

These Southwestern pancakes are vibrant to the eye and the palate. For a spicier version, leave in some — or even all — of the jalapeño seeds.

Inspired by aloo paratha, Indian potato bread, these pancakes are loaded with flavorful herbs and spices.

Most salsas are too chunky and juicy to use as a dip. This one is finely puréed, with olive oil added to thicken it.

Chef Michael Mina created this dish for Epicurious's Wine.Dine.Donate program. He loves this multicomponent dish because it is the essence of summer.

Chef Michael Mina created this gin-based riff on the classic Mojito as part Epicurious's Wine.Dine.Donate program. Candied ginger and ginger beer lend a refreshingly spicy kick perfect for summer sipping. Chef Mina suggests serving spiced nuts alongside.

Better than chocolate: The berries are bursting with fresh flavor (and fiber); the wine adds a dash of healthful sophistication.

Classic Mexican comfort food, minus most of the fat.

Protein-packed lean shrimp really satisfies.

Eating one of these individual pies is quite different from your basic fork-and-plate experience. A bite through the crisp pastry, sparkling with sugar, reveals a thick filling of sweet-and-tart fruit.

This is an unusual use for pistou, a Provençal variant of pesto made of basil, garlic, olive oil, and salt. It's normally stirred into simple vegetable soups to give them some oomph, but it brings the same lively savoriness to green beans, contrasting nicely with their buttery quality. Don't worry about being knocked over by raw onions on top of all the other strong flavors-soaking them in cold water for 15 minutes removes some of their pungency while preserving their crunch.

Steamed quinoa has an unbelievably light and fluffy texture. If you can get fresh-picked corn, you can add it to the salad raw—even without cooking, the kernels will be sweet and tender.

Lightly blanched squid makes a simple and elegant salad with the tang of fish sauce and fresh lime juice.

Quinotto de Hongos y Camarones
This dish—quinoa prepared risotto-style—is so good, you'll forget it's good for you. Quinoa, whose name means "mother grain," is indigenous to Peru and dates from the time of the Inca civilization. Compared with other grains, quinoa is very high in protein and relatively low in carbohydrates. If you're pressed for time, we found a great substitute for fresh clam broth.

This is the ideal way to prepare young chickens, since there are two safeguards against their drying out (always a risk with small birds). The herbed butter slipped beneath the skin melts, basting and flavoring the meat as it cooks; the gentle, indirect heat lightly chars the skin without toughening the meat. As a result, every bite is juicy and perfectly seasoned.

Find a good-quality jerk paste, and it's like Caribbean magic—you can make a complete island meal in a flash.

It's delicate in flavor and texture. Marjoram fuses with zucchini and egg in this simple, meltingly tender flat omelet—one that Olney found "completely attractive" and insisted is best at room temperature, prepared 20 to 30 minutes before serving.

Tender chunks of lamb served kebab-style are paired with a traditional Mediterranean-inspired salad in this simple grilled dish.