Make Ahead

Searing the tuna well on the outside but leaving it rare on the inside gives you a lovely contrast between the two textures. That said, if you like your tuna cooked through, the salad will still be delicious.

Mustard couldn’t be any simpler to make. Soaking the seeds before puréeing gives the finished product body and mellowness.

Well, here it is, the bane of North Carolina barbecue. I don't know if it's the addition of mustard that brings frowns to the faces of North Carolina barbecue purists or the fact that this is a South Carolina sauce, but this sauce certainly illustrates the diverging tastes and traditions of barbecue in the Carolinas. Throughout the 1700s, South Carolina drew a large contingent of immigrant German families. These new settlers brought with them ideas and advancements on ways to farm, as well as an affinity for the flavor of mustard. Even today, many of the families that produce mustard barbecue sauce have a German heritage, most notably the Bessinger family.

This recipe originally accompanied Fritto Misto .

Perfect barbecue sauce? That sounds pretty arrogant. With all the brands and homemade recipes out in the world, can one really be that good? Well, put it this way: If you can get a bunch of vinegar-loving good ol' boys from North Carolina to go gaga over a sauce, then I think it has some validity. Now, Virginia Pruitt, of Bonner Springs, Kansas, is way too modest to proclaim this sauce much beyond just "good." This is a family recipe that has roots in several states, with a little experimentation over 50 years. Ms. Pruitt got the recipe from her aunt-in-law, Ruth Reed, who lives in Denver. The original version came from Ruth's mother, who was reared in Kentucky. The sauce is a great blend of sweet, tart, tang, and clingability. I have tried it on ribs, brisket, smoked pork butt, and grilled chicken with fabulous results. IF you want a one-stop barbecue sauce, this may be the one.

In the South, we have a tradition of ushering recipes from era to era and family to family. Secret sauces are passed down from generation to generation. That's certainly the case here. Our Barbecue Seasoning and Barbecue Sauce have evolved over time, and the versions that follow have benefited from the contributions of countless kin through the years. Now that we are passing our family secrets along to you, it's your job to share them with others. We enjoy changing up recipes ans seeing what happens, and we encourage you to do the same. Who knows? You may come up with a secret sauce or rub that's better than our own! Of course, the keys to full-flavored barbecue—indeed, one of the keys to any great-tasting dish—are fresh ingredients and spices. Don't be reaching in the back of the cupboard for some tired old tin of paprika. You want great ribs? Start with fresh spices. Everyone down South knows that a good grill seasoning (or "dry rub," as it's called in Memphis) begins with paprika. We use the basic paprika that is not labeled "sweet" or "hot." The flavor is subtly sweet, rich, and yet mild, so it blends beautifully with grilled meats. Sugar and onion powder provide a sweet and savory counterpoint. Keep in mind that you will be cooking over charcoal and hickory (or your preferred wood), which will add tremendous flavor to the meat. For that reason, this seasoning blend is fairly simple and straightforward. For the best flavor, marinate the spice-rubbed meats overnight in the refrigerator, so they can absorb and "breathe in" the flavors.

Brown butter gives depth of flavor to the berry filling.

Grilling the pizza dough adds a smoky flavor to the crust.

The beans need to soak overnight, so be sure to start this recipe one day ahead.

This luxurious treat is somewhere between a trifle, a tiramisù, and a summer pudding. The lime gives it a wonderful brightness.

Sangria is traditionally made with red wine. In this version, rosé gives the drink a pretty pink blush. If you prefer a stronger drink, mix in some light rum.

A popular kimchi enjoyed in the summer, this dish is a good example of the ying and the yang in Korean cuisine. The coolness of the cucumbers is balanced with the spiciness of the chile powder. Even in the fermentation process, the cucumbers stay nice and crisp. You'll need a 1/2-gallon glass jar to hold the cucumbers.

A little rye flour and a bit of cornmeal give this pizza dough extra flavor°and texture.

The curd needs to chill overnight, so prepare it one day ahead.

Although this is a chilled beverage, it is traditionally enjoyed in the winter. The "fire" of the cinnamon and ginger is supposed to warm you up, while the coolness of the beverage balances the heat. Not being much of a traditionalist, I like to make it during the summer and keep pitchers of it available as an alternative to iced tea.

Street vendors throughout Mexico's beach towns sell cold fresh fruit served in a plastic bag with bits of ice in it to keep the fruit chilled. This dessert is as take on that, as well as a refreshing end to any meal. Feel free to experiment by pouring a bit of tequila over the ice to create an instant margarita.

The dip gets better the longer it sits, so make it a day ahead.

Good for Seasoning: Flank steak; pork; chicken; salmon This is the original three-ingredient rub, and it packs in a lot of flavor and texture. If I am feeling ambitious, I make a chimichurri sauce to drizzle on top, but the rub itself has so much flavor that all you need is a light coating of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. The recipe calls for the amount you need for one night's dinner, but because the rub doesn't have any salt or pepper in it, you can increase the amount by simply multiplying. For example, if you are making 10 flank steaks, multiply by 10.