Raisin

Lowcountry cooking is full of ideas that seem foreign to outsiders. This sweet and spicy chutney is the perfect foil for salty country ham. Ground together, the two form a paste for memorable appetizers.

Barm brack is a dark and fruity yeast-raised cake (barm means "yeast"; brack means "speckled"). Tea brack is the much more common baking powder version.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Spooning this conserve over yogurt makes a light, sweet summer dessert.

The agrodolce (tart-and-sweet) flavors of vinegar and raisins used in marinating the fish are typical of Jewish-Italian cooking.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Sardinia, Italy Diamond-shaped papassinas are especially good with a cup of coffee. The flavor of these cookies gets even better after a few days.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

In this version of the classic holiday dessert, a croissant bread pudding is steamed in the oven instead of on the stove top. Ignite the finished product in front of the guests for maximum effect.

Almonds, pistachios, raisins, ginger and a touch of tea team up in a luscious sauce.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This signature dessert from New Orleans is a classic Creole dish.

(Spinaci con Pinoli e Passerine) Spinach with pine nuts and raisins is a classic Sephardic dish that appears on tables in Greece, Spain, Turkey, and Italy, where it is a staple on Venetian and Genoese menus. It is a perfect accompaniment to delicate fish or poultry dishes and is often served at room temperature.

Spiced, tender meatballs get cooked atop a bed of rice pilaf speckled with pistachios and plump golden raisins in this quick, one-pot dinner.

A Sicilian-inspired kale salad with creamy almond dressing, raisins, and pine nuts. Excellent for meal prep and packing as a desk lunch.

Seared chicken thighs render enough fat to form the base of a vinegary pan sauce, with pockets of sweetness from golden raisins.

A classic vinaigrette takes notes from sweet-and-sour Italian agrodolce, featuring tangy raisins and lightly pickled shallots.

Raisins are the unlikely star in this 25-minute pantry-friendly pasta featuring feta, olives, and (optional!) anchovies.