30 Minutes or Less

This variation on steak frites spices up the steak and gives a garlic boost to frozen fries. You can use any packaged spice-rub mix for beef, but we use a combination of equal parts cumin and coriander, half that amount of salt and pepper, and one eighth that amount of clove. If your rub doesn't contain salt, you'll need to add some, to taste. This take on a classic meal is easy, but you will be searing the steak and frying the potatoes at the same time.

Even die-hard chocolate lovers won't miss the hot fudge in these sensational sundaes.

This take on curried deviled eggs has a more authentic Indian flavor, thanks to the inclusion of mango chutney and garam masala (an aromatic spice blend used in South Asian cooking).

Avgolemono, the tangy Greek sauce of egg yolks and lemon, combines with pasta and veggies for a twist on carbonara.

George Hendrix of Carbondale, Colorado, writes: "My family is usually in a hurry, so dinner has to be on the table fast. The stir-fry doesn't require much preparation and the oyster sauce gives it rich flavor, which means I don't have any trouble getting my teenage boys to eat the vegetables."

This vegetarian starter has an incredibly silky texture, but less than a tablespoon of butter per serving.

Wonderfully crunchy, toasted panko transforms an ordinary vegetable into a truly special side dish.

This streamlined version of a complex Catalan sauce makes for a gratifying weeknight supper — and a welcome alternative to pasta with marinara. The recipe is easy, and the sauce is made while the pasta cooks.

Tossed in a fabulous country-style dressing, these bitter greens are a wonderful counterpoint to a hearty main course.

No, this isn't more British nursery food: Garlicky, sweet, and creamy, it's a wonderful side dish for roasts and meaty white fish.

A good-quality extra-virgin olive oil makes all the difference here. Elena uses Barbera Frantoia XV, from Sicily, which, when tossed with the warm beans, bursts with a gentle grassy flavor.

Caramelized shallots and a dark vinegar glaze turn chops into an extremely flavorful sweet-and-sour dish.

Straccetti di Manzo Generations of Roman cooks have relied on this trattoria favorite — made with classic ingredients — for dinner in a hurry.

It's impossible to overstate just how well the ingredients come together in this beautiful salad. The textural contrast of juicy ripe oranges and crisp endives is enhanced by a surprisingly complex vinaigrette containing sweet, spicy, and smoky flavors.

The distinct flavors of fresh cilantro and curry powder, along with the unexpected addition of peanut butter, turn a simple tomato-based soup into something special. You can make it vegetarian by using vegetable broth.