Vegan

The salad can remain at room temperature up to two hours before serving.

This couscous with coriander seeds and apricots is a nice alternative to rice. Try it with roasted chicken or vegetables.

This lovely side can be made a day ahead.

The simplest of preparations and a sprinkling of fleur de sel — a delicate sea salt — are the only enhancements these naturally crisp sweet peas need. Fleur de sel is sold at cookware stores, specialty foods stores, and some supermarkets.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Yellow Tomato Gazpacho with Cilantro Oil and Avocado.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

Be sure to use powdered fruit pectin in this recipe — don't substitute liquid pectin or a low-sugar variety. Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 45 min (includes chilling)

The gazpacho needs to be started a day ahead, so be sure to plan accordingly.

This tangy, spicy chutney is a twist on southern pickled watermelon rind. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 25 1/2 hr (includes chilling)

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 3 1/2 hr (includes freezing)

You can grill the zucchini alongside the grilled charmoula lamb chops , then loosely cover it to keep it warm while the lamb is standing. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 30 min

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

A twist on hummus, this sunset-colored dip also makes a delicious sandwich spread. Allow time for soaking the beans overnight.

I first tasted scallion cakes at Henry Chung's Hunan Restaurant on Kearny Street in San Francisco. I think I was about eleven years old as I sat on a stool at the counter and watched these curious rounds of dough being fried until golden brown and fragrant with scallion flavor. As I devoured the delicious, crisp cakes, Mama looked on, pleased that I loved them, for she had grown up eating them as a favorite street snack in China. This was the first Hunan restaurant I'd ever eaten in and, until then, our diet had been strictly Cantonese food. Be careful when frying these cakes, as the oil will splatter, especially when you press a cake in its center. Any uncooked dough can be placed in a plastic container, refrigerated, and cooked the following day. If you do make them ahead, redust the dough lightly with flour to absorb any moisture from refrigeration, and allow the dough to sit at room temperature briefly so that it is not ice-cold when fried.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This low-fat recipe won a contest that included mostly high-fat desserts.

If canned unsweetened coconut milk is not readily available in your area, you may substitute 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1 tablespoon sweetened flaked coconut. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.