Chile

A heap of basil, tossed through just to wilt, adds a punchy, cooling element to this dish of chile- and garlic-marinated shrimp. Spoon it over a fluffy pile of white rice for a fuss-free summertime dinner.

This combination of roasted poblano chiles, cubed boiled potatoes, onions, and crema, cooked into a savory concoction makes a divine vegetarian taco filling.

You can use whatever cut of steak you’re in the mood for—or even a chicken cutlet or thin-cut pork chop here.

Not just for slaw, cabbage is a snappy base that can handle lots of refreshing acidity—in this case from torn grapefruit and hot-and-sour chiles—without withering.

The vinegary brine will soften and sweeten the chiles, and in return, the chiles will infuse the vinegar, creating a balanced, spicy, and acidic ingredient for your next vinaigrette.

Composed of four elements—vegetables, a grain, a protein, and a sauce—grain bowls like this one are simple, nutrient-dense, and very pretty to serve.

No tandoor oven? No problem. This recipe for chicken and vegetables marinated in yogurt and spices is cooked on a single sheet pan in a regular home oven.

A feel-good classic with a new lease on life, this sinus-clearing broth starts with ginger softened in savory caramel. Soy sauce, garlic, and chiles bring even more flavor and a little bit of heat.

If you can find it, try making this green sauce with hoja santa, a robust aromatic Mexican herb—if not, any hardy green will work (we call for kale).

What’s better than a griddled burger with the crispiest exterior? One that comes sandwiched between a vibrant tomatillo salsa and topped with a runny fried egg.

For the diner who can never decide, this classic dish marries salsa roja and salsa verde over a bed of chicken enchiladas. A crown of queso fresco, crème fraîche, and crisp raw onions bridge the gap.

Pickle brine lends a distinctive tang to the rice, giving the whole dish a nice, lively jolt. This recipe can work with any kind of pickling liquid, even the ordinary stuff from a jar of pickles or cornichons (we tested it with a few kinds). If brown rice isn’t your thing, use another grain: Try barley, farro, or freekeh.

This riff on the Greek classic swaps out potatoes for parsnips, which gives the dip a touch of sweetness that pairs well with the feta and chiles.

Bath duck in a spiced (nutmeg, allspice) and spicy (habanero) marinade, stick it in the oven, ignore it for five hours, then serve it with fixings for build-it-yourself tacos.

Meet your new favorite, cold-weather one-pan salmon dinner. It’s warm and creamy with coconut milk and just spicy enough with green curry paste, ginger, and garlic.

Crisp pickled vegetables go brilliantly with cocktails (or with sandwiches, a hunk of cheese, a juicy steak...the possibilities are endless). Fresh ginger and dried chiles give them a bracing boost and orange juice plays up their natural sweetness.

Removing the seeds from one of the chiles lessens the punch. If you like more heat, leave them in. If less, scrape out seeds from both chiles.