Recipes with black pepper

Puttanesca sauce with briny olives, capers, and red pepper flakes simmered in crushed Roma tomatoes and tossed with spaghetti for a bold, punchy weeknight pasta.

Caramelized pork carnitas with brown sugar, molasses, tequila, and garlic simmered until glazed and sticky. A one-skillet Mexican appetizer served with picks.

Garlicky grilled portobello mushrooms basted with melted butter, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice. A meaty, smoky vegetarian side dish cooked on a covered grill in 16 minutes.

New England creamy clam chowder built the right way: bacon-rendered base, tender potatoes, two cans of minced clams, and a finish of half-and-half plus heavy cream. No tomatoes, no shortcuts.

Root beer baked beans with bacon, barbecue sauce, dry mustard, and hot sauce simmered together on the stovetop. A sweet, smoky, slightly spicy side dish ready in 40 minutes.

Scotch eggs with fresh herbs: hard-boiled eggs wrapped in herby sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried to a crackly golden shell. A British pub classic for picnics.

Pinto bean and squash stew with bacon, jalapeno, and butternut squash, topped with red onion, cilantro, and sour cream. A rustic Southwestern stew built for cool weather.

Bangin' Bart is a home cook's take on Baigan Bartha, the Indian eggplant and tomato stew slow-cooked until thick enough to use as a dip. A simple, vegan, one-pan dish with deep flavor.

Broccoli sauce with pasta twists made with mushrooms, garlic, and a light creamy sauce using skim evaporated milk instead of cream. A low-fat vegetarian pasta dinner with real body.

Southern-style green beans simmered low with smoked turkey wing, onion, garlic, and red potatoes. Pork-free soul food classic with deep smoky flavor.

Veal cutlets pan-fried with capers and deglazed with white wine and bay leaf, finished with a creamy evaporated milk sauce. A quick German-style schnitzel variation ready in 20 minutes.

Ricotta crostini tops day-old French bread slices with a basil and garlic ricotta filling mixed with turkey bacon, then broils with Parmesan until bubbly. A lighter take on cheesy crostini.

Seared tuna on leaf lettuce: quickly seared tuna over dressed greens with a warm pineapple-ginger-jalapeño salsa, finished with sizzled scallions in smoking olive oil. A restaurant-caliber composed salad for summer entertaining.

Bacon-wrapped crabmeat balls with sherry, lemon juice, dry mustard, and fresh bread crumbs broiled until crispy. An elegant appetizer that makes about 2 dozen bite-sized hors d'oeuvres.

Sauteed shrimp with ancho chiles and 25 cloves of garlic in olive oil, finished with lime juice and fish stock. A bold, smoky 20-minute shrimp dinner served over rice.

Vegetarian spaghetti with mushroom bolognese, shallots, carrot, tomatoes and oregano. Hearty meatless pasta sauce that tastes like the real thing in under 40 minutes.