Name: Sofrito
Yield: For 2 1/3 cups
Ingredients: 8 1/2 garlic cloves; 1/2 cup extra-virgin oil; 4 1/3 cups onions, finely chopped; 3/4 tsp dried thyme; 3/4 tsp dried rosemary; 1/2 dried bay leaf; 8 oz pureed fresh tomatoes or canned tomato puree; 1/2 tsp salt

Editor's note: Use this recipe to make Black Rice with Squid .

-Sofrito is a basic preparation of tomatoes, garlic, oil, and onions that forms the base of many traditional Spanish dishes.
-The sauce will keep for 5 days in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer.

Recipe notes

Charred Vegetable Ragù

This sauce is slightly magical. The texture cloaks pasta much like a traditional meat sauce does, and the flavors are deep and rich, but it’s actually vegan!

Smoky Tofu Shakshuka

This vegan version of the classic North African scramble uses soft silken tofu instead of eggs without any sacrifice of flavor.

Gigante Beans With Seaweed Salmoriglio

Salmoriglio is a Mediterranean sauce with herbs, garlic, and olive oil. In this version, kelp is used as the base of the sauce.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Spice-Grilled Pork Chops

A pinch of sugar in the spice rub ensures picture-perfect grill marks with layers of flavor.

Palets Bretons

Palets bretons are oversize cookies that feature butter, and because they’re from Brittany, they’re traditionally made with beurre salé, salted butter.

Okonomiyaki Tater Tots

Crispy tots topped with savory-sweet sauce, mayonnaise, furikake, scallion, and katsuobushi.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.