961 spring recipes

Chilled orzo pasta salad with fresh corn, smoked chicken, red pepper, and basil in a sweet-spicy rice vinegar and lime dressing. Topped with toasted pine nuts.

This is my son's recipe for sea scallops, He is executive chef at the East End Cafe in Washington.

A Tibetan style sauce for momos (Tibetan dumplings).

Balsamic-honey marinated chicken skewers threaded with fragrant bay leaves, grilled until charred, and topped with a bright fresh tomato and basil salsa. Summer grilling at its finest.

Kaeng Ped Cai, a Thai red curry chicken stir-fry with coconut milk, dried chilies, shrimp paste, and fresh coriander. A fast, aromatic one-wok dinner served over rice.

White gazpacho is the Spanish ajo blanco-style cold soup with almonds, cucumber, green pepper, and bread. No tomatoes, just creamy almond-cucumber refreshment for hot summer days.

Black-eyed pea and crab salad with bacon, roasted peppers, and fresh herbs in a bright vinaigrette. A Stephan Pyles-style Southwestern recipe served on gorditas or crisp tortillas.

Five-pepper chicken fajitas with red, yellow, and green bell peppers plus jalapeño and black pepper. Lime-cumin marinated chicken in whole wheat tortillas.

Japanese braised eggplant stuffed with tempeh, mushrooms, and bell pepper in a sherry-soy-molasses sauce. A hearty vegetarian main served over brown rice.

Chicken and chili stew with browned drumsticks, white beans, cherry tomatoes, and chili powder, finished with fresh cilantro. A make-ahead one-pot stew loaded with garnish options.

Crispy phyllo dough, cheesy and juicy spinach and cheese filling with sweet yet juicy tomato slices on top, this quiche not only looks appealing, but also tastes delicious.

Thai chicken salad with dried California figs, cantaloupe, cucumber, and fresh mint in a lime-honey-ginger dressing. A low-fat main dish salad with sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors.

Chinese cold noodles tossed with shredded steamed chicken, slivered egg crepes, and scallions in a soy-chili oil dressing with Chinkiang vinegar and ginger. A refreshing, spicy summer noodle dish.

Sichuan shredded pork in yu shon (fish-fragrant) sauce with wood ear mushrooms, water chestnuts, and hot bean paste. A spicy-sweet-sour stir-fry that hits every flavor note.

This recipe uses ready-made taco shells, but soft tortillas are good too.

Hearty summer pasta and lentil salad with green lentils, pasta shells, crunchy veggies, cherry tomatoes, and a garlicky Dijon vinaigrette. Topped with pine nuts for a protein-packed potluck favorite.