Yogurt

Keep the fried shallots, dip, chips, and raw vegetables separately; just before digging in, top the dip with shallots.

These tender biscuit-like pastries are sprinkled with Greek cheese just before baking.

My mother always made wonderful side dishes — and made them look so easy. Indeed, they were! A few fresh vegetables, great herbs, a little mustard or vinegar, and kosher salt were all it took for her to make something taste like it came right from the garden. Here's her incredibly simple recipe for coleslaw — a step removed from traditional recipes that are typically bland and smothered in mayonnaise, this slaw is sharp and crunchy and great with salads, roast meats, and sandwiches.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Chef Beverly Gannon accompanies the bread with this salsa, plus a garlic-ginger yogurt dipping sauce and a tomato-mint sauce.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Greeks have been wrapping food since antiquity, most typically using grape leaves. In early May, Greek country women go to the vineyard to collect their year's supply of leaves. The most famous dish made with them is dolmades, or stuffed grape leaves, a standard appetizer (meze). In this version, they have a simple rice filling.

This reduced-fat version hits all the flavor notes of the original Caeser.

A mixture of cottage cheese, lowfat yogurt and lemon juice replaces the sour cream in the traditional version of this dish. Ground turkey makes an especially good choice for those watching their cholesterol intake.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Dijon mustard and lemon peel give the dressing lots of zip. This salad can also be spooned into pita halves.

Serve this fragrant main dish with basmati rice pilaf and a salad of cucumber, yellow bell peppers, and red onion. Melon wedges sprinkled with light rum and garnished with mint make a refreshing finale.

Yogurt gives this dip a refreshing tang.

Look for red curry paste in the Asian section of the supermarket. Serve with: Lentil and rice pilaf and sautéed mixed vegetables. Dessert: Sliced papaya and mango.

Madras-style curry powder, which is spicier than the standard, adds a little heat here.