Chickpea

Saffron lends authenticity to this fragrant dish, which draws its inspiration from the paellas of Spain. Serve a green salad alongside, and uncork a bottle of Pinot Grigio.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

(Chick-Pea Dip with Parsley and Pine Nuts)

Dijon mustard and lemon peel give the dressing lots of zip. This salad can also be spooned into pita halves.

One of the pleasures of a dish like this is sopping up the wonderful sauce with crusty bread; make sure to have plenty on hand.

I leave the roots on the leeks until after cooking, so they don't fall apart. Just wash and trim beforehand.

Butternut squash and a variety of beans give this vegetarian dish its hearty texture.

Only native Californians like two wine-making friends of mine in Salinas can regularly throw together a vegetable chili such as this utilizing their almost year-round abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs. For those of us with seasonal gardens, various substitutions often have to be made (canned tomatoes, dried herbs, and the like), but such is the availability almost everywhere today of certain fresh produce even in the coldest months that no imaginative cook should have much trouble concocting a very tasty vegetable and bean chili according to this basic recipe. One advantage, by the way, of using a 28-ounce can of tomatoes with their juices instead of the fresh is that most likely you won't have to add any water to keep the chili slightly soupy.

Sliced or diced fresh avocado makes a colorful garnish for this hearty southwestern soup. If you want to cut up the avocado ahead of time but don't want it to discolor, simply place the avocado pieces in a colander and rinse them with cold water. They will stay bright green for about two hours.

This recipe is used to prepare Roasted Peppers Stuffed with Chick-Pea and Eggplant Purée and Mushrooms. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.