Dry-fried bhindi sabji with okra cooked in ghee until golden brown, then seasoned with coriander, cumin, garam masala, and turmeric. A simple Indian okra side dish.
Moroccan eggplant salad with fried eggplant, garlic, cumin, and red pepper dressed in olive oil and lemon juice. A warm-spiced appetizer served at room temperature.
Palak tofu-paneer combines crispy soy-marinated tofu with simmered spinach and fresh tomatoes, finished with a fragrant chaunce of toasted Indian spices and ghee.
Dominican red beans and rice (habichuelas con arroz), small red beans simmered with cumin, garlic, a touch of sugar, and vinegar, spooned over fluffy rice. A naturally vegan plate, great with avocado and plantains.
Flaky phyllo dough wraps around spiced ground beef with mushrooms and a triple-cheese filling of feta, cream cheese, and cottage cheese. Bakes golden, serves 12, and disappears fast.
Cuban-style black beans simmered slow with cumin, oregano, green pepper, garlic, sherry, and apple cider vinegar. The classic Cuban frijoles negros that earn their place beside any Caribbean meal.
Low-fat asparagus guacamole made with pureed cooked asparagus and yogurt instead of avocado. Same guacamole seasonings - cumin, cayenne, garlic, tomato - a fraction of the fat.
Keema mattar is an Indian ground lamb curry with green peas, cooked in ghee with cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and whole cloves. Serve with naan or rice.
Slow-simmered brisket chili with dried kidney beans, three kinds of chile peppers, masa harina, and brewed coffee. Bold, beefy, and deeply spiced.
Vegetable pilau with turmeric brown rice layered over spiced green beans, peas, and carrots, baked and topped with toasted almonds. A fragrant vegan Indian rice dish.
Barbecued tempeh baked in a homemade molasses-mustard sauce with cumin, coriander, and cayenne. A hearty vegetarian main served over rice or stuffed in pita.
Greek spinach and lentil soup brightened with lemon, cumin, and coriander. A vegan, gluten-free one-pot meal that's earthy, tangy, and ready for a drizzle of olive oil at the table.
Crispy skinned red snapper crusted with eight spices including Szechuan peppercorn, star anise, cinnamon, and cumin. Pan-seared then oven-roasted for shatteringly crisp skin.
Veal chops in spicy sauce: braised with cumin, saffron, coriander, and cayenne, then finished with a cool cucumber-yogurt spoon sauce. Warm spice meets bright tang in one Dutch oven.
Hearty meatless chili with lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, and tomatoes seasoned with cumin and chili powder. A high-fiber, protein-packed vegetarian one-pot meal.
West: Royal Lamb Chops Braised with Nuts and Saffron recipe