Basil

Yellow or white peaches work equally well.

(Gratins d'Aubergine, Mozzarella et Pistou) This makes a terrific meatless main course. It would serve eight as a side dish; simply layer the ingredients in a 13x9x2-inch baking dish, then bake and broil it as directed.

Fresh kernels of raw corn are so sweet and tender that they don't need to be cooked. Their natural sugars and crisp juiciness pair wonderfully with the salty Parmesan and peppery arugula.

Gulisa's Ajika This lively condiment goes nicely with grilled meats and fish as well as with pork stew.

Serve with: Crudités dipped into creamy Italian dressing. Dessert: Sliced apricots drizzled with anisette liqueur.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

(Grain and Tomato Salad) One summer my husband, Massimo, and I vacationed with our son, Max, near Lucca, about an hour from Florence. There we discovered a local specialty, farro, an ancient grain (emmer, often called spelt, in English) similar to barley, traditionally used in bean soup there. We bought lots of it, and Massimo then made a salad based on panzanella but substituting the boiled farro, for soaked and squeezed bread — a terrific idea that has become a warm-weather favorite.

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

This fast stir-fry dish pairs minced pork and fragrant basil with hot Thai chiles and a crispy fried egg.

With minimal prep time and a faster cook, this basil fried rice recipe with crispy onions, ginger, and fresh chiles should be in your weekly summer rotation.

This savory and spicy dinner takes less than 30 minutes to make.

Anchovies add umami richness and broccolini brings freshness to this 30-minute weeknight meal.

Thanks to a tricked-out mayo spread (garlic, capers, oregano, and chili flakes—whew!), this pressed sandwich is as flavor-packed as it is easy to make.

Tenderizing yogurt makes the perfect marinade for grilled bone-in chicken thighs, which get even more flavor from chile-infused honey.

A quicker take on risotto featuring bright peas and your favorite pesto.

Packaged broccoli slaw is the shortcut to making quick work of this light and crunchy salad, a perfect counterpoint to rich, bold dishes.

Jarred artichokes are a versatile panty ingredient ideal for pastas, salads, and even toasts, as seen here piled high over a creamy ricotta spread.

This robust main-course-worthy pasta salad balances buttery olives, bitter radicchio, and crunchy almonds with a bright, herbaceous dressing.

Crispy on the outside, herby on the inside, these simple flatbreads are inspired by Armenian jingalov hats, which are just as delicious as they are fun to say.