Vegetarian

Zucchini replaces the traditional starchy potato, making this a great way to get your kids to love their veggies. Plus, the dipping sauce is ketchup on steroids.

This grain-based veggie burger is an excellent change from traditional bean or tofu varieties. Cooked kasha’s firmness balances the soft sautéed vegetables for a robust texture.

No summer barbecue would be complete without a big bowl of creamy, tangy coleslaw. Use the Texas Barbecue Sauce above for a touch of Southwestern flavor.

Arrabbiata (Italian for “angry”) sauce is a heated-up version of your classic marinara, made from garlic, tomatoes, red chiles, and olive oil. What makes this a “faux” arrabbiata is the ever-so-slightly unorthodox addition of basil, lemon, and balsamic vinegar, which add sweetness to the sauce. Cookbook author and Epicurious member Serena Bass notes, “Mince the lemon with a sharp knife rather than grate, as it is nice to get little pieces of zest to bite on. And don’t be tempted to cook this for longer than 10 minutes, as it will lose its fresh TKO punch. I like this sauce with penne or spaghettini.”

When the heat is on, there’s no better way to cool down than with a bowl of chilled noodles. To make this truly vegetarian and vegan friendly, seek out a ponzu sauce without dashi, an ingredient made with dried fish. Two brands worth considering are Marukan and Wan Ja Shan. For die-hard meat eaters, add some thin slices of cold beef.

Watermelon and heirloom tomatoes work together to create a juicy and flavorful arrangement that is sweet and tangy. Use different-colored watermelon with tomatoes for a stunning presentation. Heaping the salad over a crunchy base of fresh arugula keeps the various flavors in check.

After tasting this Mediterranean and Middle Eastern delight, even avowed zucchini haters will sing the vegetable’s praises. If you don’t have—or you dislike—dill, use other herbs such as basil, chives, and mint, and try French or Bulgarian feta for a milder and less salty alternative to the Greek cheese. Serve these zucchini patties with traditional meze dishes such as tzatziki, labaneh, tabbouleh, fattoush, olives, dolma, hummus, and kibbeh, for an array of appetizers.

Attention, parents: If you’re looking for a veggie-packed, kid-pleasing recipe—one that children as young as two can help you prepare—this is it. Set up a workstation with the ingredients, parchment paper for easy cleanup, and a pastry brush, and let the kids “paint” the lettuce leaves with peanut sauce.

This recipe is a great way to use the extra zucchini from the garden or farmers’ market and is chockfull of healthy ingredients. For an even more nutritious version, substitute the same amount of applesauce for the butter, and brown sugar instead of white.

Epicurious member Uhlemann may have thought of one of the best pastry workarounds since the frozen pie shell. This recipe uses phyllo dough, and, once you get the hang of working with it, it’s easy, fast, and leakproof. Great for a brunch, this quiche can be made ahead and reheats perfectly.

The sister-in-law of Epicurious member Connie Sainato of Smyrna, Delaware, introduced her to these eggs at a holiday brunch. They most closely resemble a baked frittata, but what makes the recipe a winner is that you can completely prep it the night before. “Since I am not a morning person, I always make at night and bake in morning,” Sainato says. She suggests using only nutty Gruyère in this, as it melts beautifully, but in a pinch you can use whatever Swiss you have on hand.

The combination of stone fruits, berries, and melon, dressed in a simple but zingy ginger syrup, makes for a seasonal dish that’s elegant enough for a party and easy enough for a creative topping to your morning bowl of quinoa or oatmeal.

This carrot cake from Becky Guyton, a home cook in Ohio, is one of our most beloved recipes, perhaps because it achieves the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, spongy and creamy, dense and light. Originally appearing in a 1994 Bon Appétit column, it’s almost as moist as bread pudding. To cut back on the sweetness, just reduce the amount of sugar in the icing to three cups.

In this classic take on strawberry shortcake, tender buttermilk biscuits are piled high with fresh berries and lush, vanilla-scented whipped cream. We like the biscuits fresh out of the oven, but they can be baked a few hours in advance; return them to the oven for five minutes, and they’ll be as good as new.

Here’s a gluten-free ice cream from Epicurious member Lorelei Lee of Philadelphia, complete with the taste of carrot cake. A cooling treat, this dish is perfect for a sunny day. Cream cheese, sugar, and milk provide the backbone for the simple dish, while cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and shredded carrot give it that carrot cake feel. Like most homemade ice creams, this dessert should be eaten within a few days.

This recipe comes from the mother of a September 11 victim; it was a favorite of her son, a chef for Cantor Fitzgerald, and will no doubt be a favorite of yours. When originally submitting it to Bon Appétit, Patrice Bedrosian encouraged readers “to enjoy this delicious and comforting Irish bread, to smile, and to remember the love between a mother and son.”

These crisp yet chewy cheese puffs are traditional staples in Brazil. Epicurious member InewportTX, from Pflugerville, Texas, recommends cooking the balls in mini-muffincups, as the dough will be fairly runny. Find tapioca flour (also known as manioc starch and tapioca starch) at specialty markets like Whole Foods.

Good looking and versatile, this colorful salad features a winning trio of beans—edamame, black-eyed peas, and black beans—bathed in a citrus- and spice-infused dressing that’s all kinds of satisfying. Vary the taste effect by adding crumbled feta or tossing in some garbanzo beans.