Wrap

The salsa has a nice balance of sweet and spicy flvaors and is a perfect compliment to purchased frozen spring rolls or egg rolls.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

Although several varieties of basil are used in Southeast Asia, the most common-called rau que in Vietnam and bai gaprow in Thailand-is generally referred to as Thai basil in Asian markets on this side of the Pacific. The leaves are slightly darker and narrower than the more familiar Italian basil and have purple stems and flowers. Rau que has a distinctively pungent anise flavor, but Italian basil is a perfectly acceptable substitute.

These fresh and pretty wraps fuse three different Asian influences: Chinese stir-fry, Japanese ingredients, and a Vietnamese dipping sauce.

These wraps make for an informal and delightfully messy summer supper. Complete the meal with a rice salad from the deli (adding diced bell peppers and a splash of rice vinegar, if desired) and ice cream sprinkled with minced crystallized ginger.

Sweet, salty, and spicy, nuoc cham is the indispensable sauce of Vietnam's cuisine. It's a favorite dipping sauce for spring rolls and for fresh rice-paper rolls such as these.

In this recipe, tortillas are a supermarket stand-in for mandarin pancakes. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 35 min

To make the nori rolls in this recipe we used a bamboo sushi mat, available at Asian markets and some specialty shops. It's possible to make the rolls using a double thickness of aluminum foil instead of a sushi mat, but using a mat makes the process much easier.

Buy some potato salad and raw vegetable sticks to round out the menu; then offer fudgy chocolate cupcakes for dessert. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be made vegetarian by substituting either soy sauce or Bragg Liquid Aminos for the Nuoc Nam, a Vietnamese fish sauce made from anchovies which is used as a salty seasoning. The flavor will not be quite the same, but it will be equally satisfying.

We swapped hard-to-find parathas for flour tortillas in this riff on paneer kathi rolls. With a tangy yogurt sauce and filling veg, it’s the ideal to-go lunch.

Sugar-rubbed steaks and a bright, brash gochujang sauce bring bold flavor to these party-ready lettuce wraps.

A party-friendly spread that comes together in no time with marinated cuts of steak and meaty mushrooms.

This breakfast burrito recipe from Eric See requires shredded hash browns and New Mexico chiles. And that’s perfectly fine by us.