Ginger

This moist cake combines the fruits, nuts, and spices from the New World that the Spanish conquistadores discovered in 1508. Chocolate was part of this Mesoamerican tableau. Brown sugar and ginger arrived much later, but this cake pays homage to the riches of the original jungles and river valleys.

Using prewashed spinach and presliced mushrooms makes preparation of an easy entrée even easier. Serve this stir-fry over hot brown rice to add a whole grain to your meal.

Lean ground beef and lots of vegetables, seasoned with peppers, garlic, gingerroot, and green onions, make a flavorful one-dish meal the whole family will enjoy.

Both the turkey supper and the vegetarian version are good over brown rice. Add a cup of soup or a fruit salad to round out the meal.

This recipe boasts a Japanese marinade and a slightly sweet glaze. Like many other Asian stir-fries, it goes well over steamed brown rice.

Known as a festive, regal dish in India and Pakistan, biryani is packed with flavor. Don’t be scared off by the long list of ingredients. The dish really is quick and easy to prepare.

This recipe will eliminate all doubt that good-for-you tofu can be tasty, too!

Rajma, red beans slowly simmered in a rich blend of spices, is a favorite in India and other parts of Asia. Don’t be daunted by the long ingredients list—your slow cooker does the work for you. Just remember to soak the beans the night before you plan to prepare the rajma.

Fresh ginger and garlic are perfect seasonings for grilled trout.

This light, garden-fresh soup is double-quick to fix. Just bring it to a boil, remove it from the heat, and let it stand for a few minutes!

This London broil has a wonderfully subtle flavor and is particularly great for folks who love mild foods. Though, unlike the other London broil recipes in this book, it doesn’t make the best sandwich leftovers. The leftovers are, however, great for salads, rice bowls, or other Asian-inspired favorites. Though I always love the added flavor that an outdoor grill provides, as a second option, this London broil can be prepared under a broiler for 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare, or longer until the desired doneness is reached.

This strong, tart sweet drink—made with equal parts fresh lemon and lime juice—can stand up to plenty of ice, and the addition of chopped crystallized ginger gives each sip a tingly, refreshing heat.

This is a gorgeous dessert and naturally low in calories, as long as you don’t add a ton of sugar and don’t serve it with whipped cream. It just doesn’t need it. In the heat of the oven, as they steam under the topping, the peaches and blueberries meld into a magical, flavorful filling that needs little help from sugar or fat. The spices are really all the fruit requires.

You can buy all-purpose Asian sauces at the grocery store, but most of them are loaded with sugar and fat. This one—with lots of ginger and garlic and just a little bit of oil—is very flavorful.