Nut-Free

If serving at a party, set out the big pot of soup and the garnishes family-style and let guests doctor their own bowls.

Freshness counts. Buy prime tomatoes when they’re in season. And, if possible, grind whole green cardamom pods rather than using powdered.

This colorful salad packs a bit of heat by adding the jalapeño; it balances out the cooler flavors, but feel free to omit it.

When you're working with chiles, you should be wearing rubber gloves. Sound funny? Well, it won't after you accidentally touch your eyes.

A cool green zingy soup; pack it in a thermos on ice and take it picnicking or to the beach.

A great basic pickle brine that complements any pepper you like.

Once you get hooked on fresh chiles, you'll want to pack them into everything you cook—including your antipasto.

This thin red sauce gets its name since you can frequently brush or "mop" it onto a variety of foods for an extra kick of spice.

Chop these Calabrian-style chiles into pasta sauce or sprinkle onto pizza.

Budino is what Italians ask for when they want pudding. Sub in any stone fruit for the plums.

One in ten Padróns or shishitos is actually spicy. Pepper roulette!

Progression of a tomato sandwich: On buttered bread with salt; on bread with mayo and cheddar; seasoned and grilled with cheddar and mayo. They’re all pretty perfect, but we’ll take the advanced version, thanks.

Splash liberally on fried eggs, toss with grilled veg, or spread on a sub.

Mussels steam in the same saucepan as chili-and-fennel-spiced tomato sauce in this effortless supper.

This homemade take on harissa is bold enough to use on pork chops or chicken thighs, too. You can also toss it with broccoli or carrots before roasting.

Can you buy pocketless pita instead? Sure. But nothing beats the drama of freshly made bread. Use these for our Lamb Gyros.

Combining the sugary filling with dried spice (in this case, juniper) infuses the buns with flavor and perfumes them from the inside. 

Chiles and pineapple? Believe it or not, this sweet/spicy mix is insanely refreshing in drink form.

This graham cracker crumble takes peaches and cream to another dimension.

Slice these and mix with cured meats for a fresher take on antipasto salad.

Lining the toasted, buttered bun with lettuce might seem controversial, but it provides both crunch and a waterproof barrier that keeps the bread from sogging out.

This aromatic Vietnamese-inspired dish calls for pounding the chicken breasts to a uniform thinness, which eliminates any dryness.

These shishito peppers, along with spicy mayo, nori sheets, and sesame seeds, help make up the Shishito Dog. But you can use this recipe to make delicious blistered peppers that you can use alongside just about anything.

This celery slaw, along with blue cheese dressing, crumbled blue cheese, and hot sauce, helps make up the Buffalo Dog.