Recipes with salt

Classic Jewish matzoh balls with a hint of ginger, simmered until fluffy and floating in golden chicken broth. Pareve, kosher for Passover, makes 16 balls.

Vegetarian stuffed grape leaves (dolma) filled with brown rice, dill, cinnamon, allspice, and a hint of peppermint. Meatless dolma simmered in lemon broth, served hot or cold as a make-ahead appetizer.

Chocolate hazelnut mousse blends bittersweet chocolate, cocoa, and Frangelico into a silky pudding-based mousse, topped with toasted hazelnuts. A lighter make-ahead dessert for dinner parties.

Green tomato mincemeat made from scratch with suet, apples, raisins, citron, and warm spices. A traditional preserve for holiday pies, sealed with a splash of brandy.

Chicken and mushrooms in a tarragon cream sauce with just seven ingredients, served over rice. A quick French-inspired skillet dinner ready in 45 minutes.

Old-fashioned gingerbread cake with New Orleans-style molasses, ginger, and cinnamon. A moist, dark, warmly spiced snack cake served hot with whipped cream or applesauce.

Chinese sizzling sweet and sour seafood with shrimp, scallops, and vegetables in a tangy sauce poured over deep-fried rice cakes for a dramatic tableside sizzle.

Yeast-risen chocolate chip coffee cake baked in a tube pan with a crunchy coffee-walnut-chocolate streusel topping. A rich, bakery-style breakfast cake with real coffee flavor in the crumble.

Apple pie with sharp cheddar cheese baked into a cornmeal crust and finished with a woven lattice top. Eight cups of fresh apple, cinnamon, and a savory-sweet crust that sets this apart.

Soft drop cookies made with mashed cooked carrots and finished with a warm orange glaze. The vintage Depression-era cookie that still makes sense today.

North African lamb and vegetable stew over fluffy couscous, built on a garlic-ginger paste with cumin and tomato. One pot, layered vegetables, tender-braised lamb.

Prosciutto and pea cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, shallots, and Romano cheese tossed with penne. A rich Italian pasta sauce that comes together fast.

Southern cornbread dressing done right: make-ahead cornbread and homemade turkey giblet broth prepped the night before for Thanksgiving day assembly with rice, mushrooms, pecans, and fresh herbs.

South Indian-style aloo baingan: potatoes and eggplant simmered with a fresh ginger-coconut-chili paste, mustard seeds, asafetida, and toasted spices in ghee. A vegetarian curry full of layered aromatics.

Persian kebabs marinate cubed lamb in lemon juice, garlic, and bay leaf, then thread the meat with tomato, green pepper, and eggplant for grilling. Bright, herby skewers built for the barbecue.

Breakfast sausage cheddar casserole layers cubed bread, browned sausage, and sharp cheese under a custard of eggs, milk, and dry mustard. Make-ahead overnight brunch strata for holiday mornings.