Weeknight Meals

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Japanese connoisseurs of the noodle hold soba, made primarily of buckwheat flour, in particularly high regard. Here the nutty taste of the soba noodles is set off by a restorative broth in which miso is a savory option. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Serve this 10-minute entrée with black bean and rice salad from the deli. Also put out a bowl of purchased fried plantain chips or root vegetable chips. Mango sorbet drizzled with rum is a fitting finale.

Farmers' markets offer the widest selection of fresh baby potatoes, but if you can't find golf-ball-size versions of any of the varieties in this recipe, simply purchase large potatoes and cut them into 1 1/2-inch pieces.

Tahini, a creamy sesame seed paste, adds a new twist to the dressing for the salad.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Baked Chicken Breasts with Mushrooms and Artichokes in Sherry Sauce

(INSALATA DI POMODORI) Climate and history have combined to make this region an important center for tomato cultivation. Plum tomatoes star in this straightforward side dish, which is a colorful accompaniment to the veal.

The sweet oranges and the smoky bacon in this salad balance the gentle bitterness of the radicchio; the pecans give the whole thing a nutty crunch.

Dhall Curry In this recipe, the legacy of Cape Town, South Africa's Indian immigrants is apparent.

Whole-wheat pasta is a flavorful alternative to pasta made from white flour. The tan color is particularly attractive when set off by cheese-in this case ricotta salata or feta.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.