Lime

The Mango and Red Onion Salsa is nice alongside this low-fat entreé.

Chili powder and chopped jalapeño add a touch of heat to this smooth appetizer. Try sprinkling it with chopped red onion for some crunch and color.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Canned black beans with Caribbean seasoning save lots of time and effort. Whisk ground allspice into some bottled oil-and-vinegar dressing, and toss with mixed greens. Garnish the soup with yogurt and chopped red onions, and serve it with some sweet potato chips. To end, spoon sliced bananas and dark rum over coffee ice cream.

In its traditional form, this classic Lao soup is made with noodles rolled out and cut to order for each bowl. It is still excellent made with dried rice noodles. You can substitute fish, chicken, or pork for the beef, but rice noodles are an essential ingredient. The Lao like a considerable amount of lime juice in their food—here a range is given so that you can flavor the soup to your taste.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup, is traditionally made with long-cooked beef stock. Our quick version calls for deli sliced beef and canned beef broth instead.<

Begin with a ripe mango or ripen in a paper bag. First peel the skin off the mango. Slice it lengthwise on either side of the pit. This may be 4 slices. The pit may be oval. Use a serrated knife and proceed with the recipe.

Green curry paste (a blend of green chilies, garlic, onion, and spices) adds explosive flavor to these one-biters. You'll need a miniature muffin tin to prepare the wonton cups.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Tomates Rellenos Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 45 min Long before guacamole, tortilla chips, and Margaritas became a popular light dinner, guacamole was often served in tomatoes, and we were charmed by this presentation.

"When our travel plans changed and my husband and I found ourselves in Tampa overnight, we got a hotel room and then went searching for a restaurant," writes Lee Menconi-Steiger of San Pablo, California. "Our concierge recommended SideBern's for dinner — and it was outstanding. We tried dozens of delicious items from their dim sum menu, but the dish I remember best is the Pacific Rim Caesar salad." Top this salad with seared tuna or scallops to make it into a main course for four.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 15 min

Traditional flavors (honey and orange) and contemporary ones (cumin and chilies) come together in the glaze, which also gives the gravy some heat and zip. See how to carve a turkey.

The jalapeño-flavored butter is also good with chicken or fish, or even corn on the cob.