Recipes with salt

Carter family coleslaw shreds fresh green cabbage, crisp apples, celery, and carrots, then dresses them with mayo and celery seed. The salt-water soak is the secret. Old-school Southern fish-fry slaw with a little Appalachian wisdom.

Fruited rice pudding made with skim milk and brown sugar, topped with fresh nectarines and plums. A creamy, low-fat stovetop dessert you can serve warm or chilled.

Creole-style freshwater crayfish bisque with coconut milk, fennel, and egg yolk thickener. Crayfish sauteed, pureed, and simmered into a silky, rich soup.

Grilled Cornish game hens marinated in lemon juice, olive oil, and coarsely crushed black pepper with a rosemary sprig tossed on the coals for smoke. Simple, elegant grilling.

Roast turkey with chestnut stuffing rubbed in a butter-flour paste for golden, crispy skin. A Pennsylvania heritage recipe roasted low and slow until tender.

Deep-fried corn and sausage fritters with beaten egg whites for an extra-light, puffy texture. Fresh corn kernels and crumbled sausage in a paprika-spiced batter.

Monkfish kebobs marinated in white wine, lemon, garlic, and herbs then broiled with onions, peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and corn on the cob. Firm, meaty fish that holds up on skewers.

Meringues aux noix: light, low-calorie nut meringue cookies with chopped hazelnuts, honey, and amaretto. Crisp, airy French-style cookies that crackle and dissolve.

Red snapper fillets steamed over mushrooms in a citrus broth of orange juice and clam juice with shallots. A light, elegant fish dinner with bright citrus flavor and tender mushrooms in under an hour.

Warm Swiss Cheese, Mushroom, and Roasted Pepper Loaf recipe

Cat-shaped chocolate chip cookies with pecan ears, pretzel whiskers, and candy eyes. A fun baking project kids will love decorating and eating.

Chilled Mediterranean grilled vegetable soup with charred bell peppers, zucchini, red onion, vine-ripened tomatoes, basil, and red wine vinegar. A smoky, no-cook summer soup served cold.

Triple layer chocolate cake with cocoa, unsweetened chocolate, and coffee in the batter, topped with a fluffy Italian meringue chocolate frosting. Lower in fat than classic recipes thanks to yogurt and egg whites.

Gujar Ka Pullao (Indian carrot rice pilaf): fragrant basmati cooked with caramelized onions, grated carrots, and whole spices like cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and cumin. A vibrant, naturally vegan side from Northern India.

Tournedos of lotte (monkfish) with lobster, sauteed monkfish medallions plated with lobster meat in a silky Cognac-cream sauce enriched with homemade lobster butter. An elegant French restaurant classic for special occasions.

Italian rabbit loin brined, seared, then simmered with braised fennel, balsamic, and white wine. Finished with a bright herb salsa verde for restaurant-level plating at home.