Yogurt

Weighing down the salmon fillet with heavy cans as it cures will press excess liquid out of the flesh to ensure a firm texture.

If puffing the quinoa feels like too much, swap in some chopped toasted nuts to get a similar crunchy texture.

Any sharp, salty cheese will work in this dip; try Pecorino or feta.

Maitake mushrooms are a tasty addition to this meatless meal. Cooking them until they are crisp around the edges will give them a delicate crunch.

“I love peppery radishes with cooling yogurt—so good on grilled chicken or fish.” –Dawn Perry, senior food editor

“Cabbage is my new favorite vegetable chip—especially sprinkled with toasted caraway and dipped in yogurt.” —Alison Roman, senior associate food editor

Affordable leg of lamb is a great way to break out of the usual beef-chicken-pork rut, especially when used in a quick-cooking but complex-tasting dish like this.

The sugar in the spice rub can burn if cooked too long, so watch these closely.

Savoy cabbage is a bright green, hearty member of the brassica family. Lightly braised with chickpeas and mustard, it becomes a vegetable worthy of a main course.

Mujadarra is a popular Middle Eastern side dish comprised of lentils and rice. Here, it's perfumed with cumin and finished with yogurt. Serve along side roasted chicken or with a fried egg as a meal on its own.

Rather than fussily cutting the grapefruit into neat segments, chef Ignacio Mattos cuts them crosswise into disks; he likes the slightly bitter flavor of the membrane itself.

If you like Greek yogurt, you’ll love labneh, especially in this dish.

If you think mackerel is too fishy, this is the recipe that will change your mind. And if nothing else, you'll love the crispy potatoes.

You can find Thumbelina carrots at farmers’ markets. Roast them up and serve them with cumin yogurt.

This fleeting jewel of a winter-time fruit will transport you to a warmer, sweeter place.

Pomegranate adds an appropriately seasonal touch and almonds add a crunch to this Museli.

Aptly named beluga lentils look like little beads of caviar. They cook quickly, and they hold their shape. Use them in this recipe, or substitute.

This recipe can easily be doubled to serve eight, instead.

We tried all kinds of gingersnaps to make this easy crust. Our favorite? Anna’s Ginger Thins.

If you like, serve this chocolate-cinnamon recipe with whipped cream or an extra dollop of yogurt—or, of course, a cup of coffee.

“Yogurt lightens this riff on hummus. It’s fantastic with pita chips or crudités.” —Chris Morocco, associate food editor