Recipes with shallots

Eggplant, mushrooms, asparagus, and red bell pepper simmered in a spicy Thai chili paste and rice milk sauce with fresh basil. A hearty vegan stew for rice or grilled polenta.

Italian spaghetti with sauteed shrimp, white wine, fresh basil, mint, and cherry pepper. A light, herb-bright coastal pasta that comes together in 45 minutes.

Classic egg fu yung omelets loaded with shrimp, barbecued pork, snow peas, and bean sprouts, crowned with a glossy oyster sauce gravy. Chinese-American takeout-style made from scratch.

Finger licking sticky authentic Chinese barbecue spareribs at home. Chinese spare ribs are one of the most popular Chinese restaurant take-out favorites.

Haricot Vert are tender French string beans. Use regular string beans if your supermarket doesn't carry them.

Greek phyllo-wrapped meat loaf with ground veal, cinnamon, tomato, hard-boiled eggs, and mizithra cheese in a crispy buttered filo shell. A show-stopping Hellenic classic.

Chicken Marsala with mushrooms and shallots in a creamy marsala wine sauce. The chicken is pounded thin and quickly seared before simmering in the rich pan sauce.

Pan-seared ling cod fillets deglazed with grapefruit juice, served with warm grapefruit sections and creamy avocado slices. A light, elegant 30-minute dinner.

Pan-seared strip steaks in a rich Burgundy wine and brandy reduction with shallots, Dijon mustard, and fresh herbs. A romantic French-inspired steak dinner for two, ready in 30 minutes.

Crisp grilled prawns glazed with lemongrass and ginger meet julienned green mango tossed in a tangy Thai dressing. Every bite balances bright lime, crunchy peanuts, and fresh herbs.

Split pea soup with fennel, potatoes, and green peas pureed into a creamy base then finished with fresh basil and parsley. A vegan harvest soup with anise-sweet depth.

Balsamic-rosemary chicken cutlets sliced over fresh spinach with crispy bacon, mushrooms, radishes, and a warm shallot-mustard vinaigrette. A low-calorie dinner salad that's filling enough to be the whole meal.

Nothing is more fascinating and delicious than eating at the open- air street hawker centers in Asia, particularly in Singapore. Each stall serves a specialty, typically an honest, unpretentious, home-style dish for $1 to $3 a plate. This rice noodle dish is hawker food at its best. If done right, its fragrance will tell you how good it's going to be as soon as it arrives at your table.

Classic French truite au bleu: whole trout gently poached in a white wine court bouillon with shallots, herbs, and tarragon vinegar. Serve hot with herb butter or cold as an elegant first course.

Shrimp and bay scallops tossed with crispy bacon, shallots, and sun-dried tomato cream sauce over pasta. A rich, restaurant-worthy seafood dinner at home.

This golden, bubbling one-dish wonder transforms boneless chicken breasts into a creamy comfort feast with mushrooms, peas, and sweet red peppers beneath a crunchy saltine crust. Endlessly adaptable for busy weeknight dinners.