Summer

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

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

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

To prep this salad ahead, hold beets and scallions in a bowl of cold water with a splash of vinegar, which both seasons them and maintains crunch.

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.

Watermelon and prosciutto may seem like an unlikely pair, but the salty-sweet mix will make this your new go-to fruit salad.

The key to this showstopping salad? Ice cold water. Seriously! It helps cucumber, radishes, and scallions deliver incredible crunch and highlight their flavors.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Use any stone fruit you like, alone or in a combination.

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

This bean salad is taken to new, luxurious levels with the addition of eggs, anchovies, and your favorite summer squash.

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.

If topping a fried fish sandwich with lobster mayo sounds decadent…well, it is.