Cucumber

This granita is not particularly sweet and is best served as a first or intermezzo course. Try it on top of raw oysters or thick tomato slices.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Roasted Salmon with Cucumber Sour Cream .

This recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of cooked beet. Wrap a fresh beet tightly in foil and put it in the oven with the almond cake if you're making this whole menu (if you're not, simply roast the beet in a 325°F oven for 1 hour). You could use canned beets instead, but fresh beets have far more vibrant color and flavor.

Be sure to have the fishmonger remove all skin from the fillets.

This one can also be a spritzer. Pour into a collins or highball glass and top with a little club soda.

This salad is wonderfully refreshing even without purslane, but if you can find the green at your produce market, it's worth using for the nice crunch it adds. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but may require additional sitting time.<P> This recipe originally accompanied epi:recipeLink="101927"Grilled Chicken Wings with Two Thai Sauces</epi:recipeLink>.<P>You'll need to marinate this salad for at least 2 hours so that the flavors have a chance to develop.

Adobo means spice rub or marinade, and this particular recipe was introduced by African slaves and brought to Bahía in Brazil in the 17th century. I think that it gives tuna a new and exciting dimension. There is spiciness in the dish, as would be expected from an adobo. To provide the American palate a little relief from the heat, the tuna is served on a bed of lightly pickled cucumbers.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional sitting time.

A creamy blend of ripe avocados, cucumbers, yogurt, lime juice—and a bit of jalapeño—make this soup bright, spicy, and satisfying. Have we mentioned it only takes ten minutes?

Serve with crusty bread to sop up the juices.

If you can't find Thai anise basil and Thai lemon basil, you can substitute Italian basil and lemon balm (the latter is available at farmers markets and specialty produce stores).

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 45 min