Rice noodles are a nice change of pace from regular pasta and are widely available in the Asian foods section of supermarkets. This simple dish of cold rice noodles is flavored with bottled or homemade sesame-ginger salad dressing and embellished with colorful vegetables.
For this recipe, make sure to use thin Asian rice noodles (also known as rice vermicelli or rice sticks), rather than the wider, flat rice noodles used for making Pad Thai.
Arrabbiata is an Italian term for “mad” or “enraged.” Was the name of this classic Italian dish — pasta arrabbiata (or pasta all’ arrabbiata) — inspired by its bold red sauce and spicier-that-usual seasoning? Often misspelled as arrabiatta, arabiatta, arabbiata, and other variations of these letters, let’s just cook this vegan-as-is pasta dish, not try to write it.
Signature flavorings of this tomatoey pasta dish include pepperoncini (pickled Italian hot peppers, available in jars from most any supermarket) and red pepper flakes. Use the amounts given here as a guideline—for a spicier effect, taste the sauce, then slowly step up the quantity of these two key ingredients.
Dried figs are a wholly unique treat with a chewy, soft, yet crunchy texture, rich and earthy sweetness, and versatile format that is finally getting the attention they deserve. This guide to dried figs offers tips on buying, storing, and using this unique fruit, with links to recipes.
Many people, especially those growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, first encountered figs in the form of Fig Newtons. Filled with a thick paste made of dried figs, the fruit itself wasn’t appreciated as a whole food for another decade. While awareness of fresh figs still lagged, this introduction in the snack aisle gave dried figs an easy entryway into American households.
Beans no longer bear the well-worn mantle as a “poor man’s food,” though they’re still one of the most economical of foods. And it’s hard to think of a protein-rich plant food group that’s as versatile as beans. This rundown of common bean varieties (and a few that are less common) will inspire you to them a more frequent part of your repertoire.
If you’re among the uninitiated, the following guide will introduce you to some of the most-used bean varieties. If you’re a bean aficionado, take a look for new ideas on how to use them.