Seafood

Present the shrimp atop the green beans.

Here, tomatillos become a brilliant green sauce for baked fish.

These crisp golden crêpes, filled with shrimp, pork, and vegetables, are both delicious and fun to eat. Simply wrap each crêpe in a lettuce leaf, tuck in fresh herbs like mint and basil, and dip it in the sweet-and-sour sauce.

We usually encounter only one version of Brazil's signature dish in this country — the one from Bahia, rich and almost currylike with coconut milk and dendê oil. This lighter one, from Espírito Santo, reflects that state's long coastline: Its bright broth results from the fish, tomatoes, lime juice, and vegetables, which meld beautifully. And it couldn't be easier. You simply layer the marinated seafood with the other ingredients in a cold pan and turn up the heat, simmering for just 20 minutes.

Brik The old joke is that brik turns into a brick if the pastry (in Tunisia, malsuqa) is not thin enough. We found spring-roll wrappers had just what the dish required — they are delicate but sturdy enough for the eggy stuffing.

At the thought of Morocco, the mind tends to wander to the teeming heart of Marrakech; but the windswept coastal city of Essaouira, with its whitewashed buildings and heaping displays of glimmering fish (which you can have grilled on the spot), offers another sort of paradise. We can't supply Essaouira's particular perfume of sea and smoke, but the simplicity and clean flavors of this lemon-infused dish will take you there in spirit.

Scallops halved horizontally cook fast and make a meaty, substantial meal — especially when accompanied by this rich white-wine sauce studded with peas and chopped chives.

Flavorful smoked mackerel (a nice change from tuna) stars in an effortless combination of crisp, refreshing ingredients that require no cooking.

This recipe was created by chef Mark Franz of Farallon restaurant in San Francisco. It's part of a special menu he created for Epicurious's Wine.Dine.Donate program.

The spice in this dish from Jennifer Maeng, executive chef at Korean Temple Cuisine in New York City, adds more than taste. A compound found in red-hot pepper may also rev up your metabolism. Wok star!

Repeated salting and rinsing give this shrimp a firm texture that's said to be crystal-like. Serve with steamed rice.

In Shanghai restaurants, this popular appetizer is typically served cold, which brings out its rich flavors. Traditionally, the fish is smoked. Though modern cooks now skip this step, the Shanghainese still call it "Smoked Fish."

Steam the dumplings in batches and eat them when they're at their best — hot out of the steamer.

This is delicious served either warm or at room temperature.

Lots of fresh herbs and plenty of lime juice make this summery noodle salad super refreshing.

Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from Extreme Barbecue: Smokin' Rigs and Real Good Recipes, by Dan Huntley and Lisa Grace Lednicer. To read Epicurious's review of the cookbook, go to Summer Cooking Guides. Smoking whole fish on the grill is deliciously rewarding, and if you haven't tried it before, you'll be surprised at how easy it is — and quick, compared to pork or chicken. There's no brining or curing here — essentially, the fish is "baked" in a tantalizing chamber of wood smoke. Hickory will flavor the fish strongly; you may prefer a milder wood such as oak. Feel free to substitute bass, flounder, catfish, bream, crappie, or whatever good-tasting fish you have available.

This simple preparation puts the focus on the fabulous seafood.

A chilled soup with a taste of the tropics; start making it one day ahead.