Pork

Ketchup might seem odd in this dish, but some say it's Chinese in origin (from ke-tsiap, a pickled condiment). Serve the ribs as an appetizer or as part of a dinner.

Cutting the pork is easiest using a cleaver or large chef's knife: Slice thick crosswise pieces, stack them, and then cut matchstick-size pieces.

Steam the dumplings in batches and eat them when they're at their best — hot out of the steamer.

Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from Helen Willinsky's Jerk from Jamaica: Barbecue Caribbean Style. To read Epicurious's review of the cookbook, go to Summer Cooking Guides. Crisp on the outside, tender and moist inside, this easy-to-prepare pork loin is perfect for parties. Serve it with Baked Sweet Potatoes and Jamaican Cole Slaw. Or bury the sweet potatoes in the coals and roast them along with the meat!

The sweetness of the Sherry used in this creamy pepper sauce (usually made with Cognac) makes it the perfect partner for pork chops.

The pork belly needs to cure overnight, so start this one day ahead. If you can't find pork belly, use bacon instead. Mix 12 ounces diced browned bacon, 2 tablespoons drippings, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/2 cup chicken broth, and 1/4 cup dry white wine in large skillet. Bring to simmer; keep warm. Cook pasta; proceed with recipe.

Serve with white rice to soak up the sweet and spicy sauce.

Pork all over Denmark is hauntingly tender. Ruggiero was particularly taken with the pork belly she tasted at the restaurant Gammel Mønt—crisp, but succulent and rich. To re-create these qualities, Ruggiero devised a version that requires minimal effort but promises stunning results: Pork shoulder is braised first, until it's super tender, and then flash-seared for a golden crust. The aroma alone will convince you that this unorthodox technique is entirely worthwhile.

This is a fantastic preparation for bone-in pork shoulder, which is loaded with flavor but needs braising to tenderize. A blend of ingredients commonly used in Eurasia's culinarily diverse Caucasus region (comprising Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and parts of Russia) brings together elements of heat, garlic, and spices like coriander and fenugreek.

Bread-crumb-coated pork medallions are golden on the outside, moist and juicy on the inside. The caper-yogurt sauce provides a burst of briny flavor.

Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from Simple Chinese Cooking by Kylie Kwong. Because pork is rather rich, I like to add a touch of hoisin sauce—the pork can stand up to it. The malt vinegar balances out the flavors, cutting through the richness and sweetness.

Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from The Shun Lee Cookbook by Michael Tong. This Sichuan dish features a regional sauce, sometimes called "fish-fragrant flavor," that combines hot chili paste, garlic, ginger, scallions, vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce—but no fish!

Perhaps no type of meat is better suited to slow cooking than pork shoulder. Although not generally considered the most tender, this cut becomes meltingly sublime when simmered for hours at low heat. The steam created also helps keep the meat ultramoist. To cut down on prep time, ask your butcher to cube the shoulder for you.

Sheila Jacobs and Lynn Kramer of Abreu, Cabrera, Dominican Republic, write: "We're both from the U.S., but we have lived in the Dominican Republic for about 25 years. We're friends, business partners, and neighbors, so we entertain together often. Cooking the local dishes has made us feel a part of the country."

Tired of chili con carne? This warming pozole-inspired stew is a welcome departure. Its spiciness depends on the heat of the jalapeños you use.

Peppadews, small peppers from South Africa, add a briny-sweet note. Look for them in jars or in the deli section of some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores. You can order them from igourmet.com or amazon.com.

The pork and figs need to marinate overnight, so be sure to begin one day ahead.

Food editor Gina Marie Miraglia Eriquez got the idea of using egg fettuccine in place of lasagne noodles in this deliciously over-the-top lasagne from Mary Ann Castaldi, the mother of her college roommate, who would send her daughter back to school with a giant pan of lasagne after weekends at home.

Formaggio Crucolo Fuso con Speck e Patate What makes this dish so exceptional is Crucolo, a semisoft cow's-milk cheese, sweet and creamy like a fresh Asiago, that's made by a single producer in Trentino's Valsugana Valley. The region's speck, which comes from the hind leg of the pig, combines Italian salting and drying techniques with the smoke-curing common in Austria, where speck is more like bacon.