Chez Melange gazpacho is a chilled tomato and tri-color pepper soup brightened with cucumber, dill, cilantro and a touch of beef stock for savory depth. No-cook summer starter.
Veggie burgers made from mashed chickpeas, chopped pecans, spinach, carrots, and bell peppers bound with whole wheat bread crumbs. Pan-fried in butter for a crispy, golden crust.
Vegetarian Mexican pie with a spiced bean and corn filling sandwiched between layers of stovetop cornbread, baked until golden. A hearty, budget-friendly meatless main dish.
Rice tomato casserole layered with cheddar cheese and chopped olives, baked golden and bubbly. A one-pot rice dish simmered in tomato sauce with onion, garlic, and green pepper.
Baked sole or cod filets topped with sauteed zucchini, onion, bell pepper, and tomatoes in a sherry-basil sauce with Parmesan. A light, complete one-pan fish dinner.
Pasta and bean soup with chickpeas, kidney beans, elbow macaroni, and tomato paste in herbed vegetable stock. A filling 30-minute vegetarian soup with Italian flair.
From-scratch black bean soup with cumin, six cloves of garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce built in two stages. A hearty vegan bean soup simmered until thick and deeply flavored.
Louisiana-style shrimp and chicken gumbo with smoked sausage, the holy trinity, and a dry-roasted oven roux. No-mess deep brown roux that drives serious Cajun flavor.
Dutch oven beef stew with sausage and cheddar: stewing beef seared then layered with potatoes, carrots, celery, peppers, and sausage, all smothered in melted cheddar. One pot, cabin-style hearty.
Spanish clay pot chicken with ham, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes braised in wine. A rustic Mediterranean one-pot meal cooked from a cold oven start for tender, falling-off-the-bone results.
Duck gumbo simmers deboned duck in a dark butter roux with okra, tomatoes, and the Cajun holy trinity for a rich bayou stew. Ladle over rice for a Louisiana cold-weather classic.
Thai-style stuffed green peppers filled with chopped fresh mushrooms, scallions, garlic and ginger bound with a cornstarch slurry. Baked or steamed and finished with slivered dried chilies. A light vegetable side or vegan main.
Grilled swordfish kebabs in a zesty lime-cilantro and pineapple marinade, skewered with cherry tomatoes, peppers and red onion. Meaty swordfish holds up on the grill for an easy summer dinner.
Stuffed baked trout over caraway potatoes: whole trout stuffed with bacon, peppers, tomato, and onion, then baked with cream over a sliced potato bed.
A full recipe of this sauce is enough for about 1 1/2 pounds of cooked fish, seafood or firm cubed tofu.
Baked Mexican eggs with mushrooms, green pepper, tomatoes, and crumbled bacon in individual dishes. A simple, hands-off brunch that bakes in 20 minutes.