Leafy Greens

You don't need an endless supply of ingredients to create a flavor-packed stir-fry. Here, flank steak and fresh Napa cabbage come together without fuss, thanks to a Chinese sauce that requires little work.

Crispy calcium bites by Janine Doran, chef at Cafe Flora in Seattle.

This spicy soup from Shawn McClain, chef at Green Zebra in Chicago, is rich in immunity-enhancing vitamin A.

This twist on the Caesar salad is part of a healthy and delicious spa menu developed exclusively for Epicurious by Ananda spa in India. Iceberg lettuce is topped with a crispy buttermilk, cornmeal, and chickpea flour pancake, low-fat cheese made from yogurt and spices, and an anchovy-free dressing. Note that the raw garlic is rubbed on the croutons after rather than before toasting to preserve its volatile oils. Garlic—particularly when it's uncooked—has been attributed with numerous health benefits, including fighting cancer and killing harmful bacteria. If you are following an Ayurvedic diet, the experts at Ananda recommend this for vata and kapha doshas. Be sure to start this recipe at least one day ahead.

Rice paper is available in the Asian-foods section of many supermarkets.

To dress this salad, choose your favorite red-wine or lemon vinaigrette.

Broiling the tomatoes adds rich flavor to the sandwich.

Be sure to drain the salad before adding to the sandwich.

Panzanella is an Italian bread and tomato salad served in the summer and made with leftover crusty country loaves. In this winter version, tomatoes are replaced by brussels sprouts and apples, and the fruit-filled bread known as panettone stands in for the country loaves.

To prepare the leeks, trim the bottoms and cut in half lengthwise. Then rinse under cold running water, separating the layers to remove the dirt.

This new way with latkes is a delicious main course for brunch, too.

Garlicky kale, a robust winter green, gains an unexpected twist with dried cranberries' saucy hits of tartness.

The gutsy contrast of assertive greens with juicy pears, slivers of Manchego, and toasted pumpkin seeds lets guests know right from the beginning that this meal will be full of personality.

With its notes of cumin, cinnamon, and chocolate playing off the gentle spice, this meatless chili combines the best parts of a mole sauce and a Cincinnati-style chili. Its rich body makes it a seriously satisfying dinner any night of the week.

Lightly poached eggs add luxurious body and sophistication to this weeknight soup.

Topping Napa cabbage and radishes with a distinctively tangy dressing results in a salad that's as lively as it is simple.

A basic vinaigrette would overpower delicate red-leaf lettuce; instead, we opted for a subtle dressing that gets its creaminess from puréed onions.