Shellfish

Some cooks may prefer to substitute more readily available angel's-hair pasta for the rice noodles called for in this recipe.

This recipe was inspired by one from Odessa Piper, chef-owner of L'Etoile restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The crab salad is mounded over the ends of endive spears so that they work as edible scoops for the salad. This is served as a starter at Le Chat Grippé in Paris, France.

Tangy beer makes a good match with sweet, briny mussels. Here the brew is seasoned with a spice mixture akin to that used in a Louisiana-style crab boil. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

A spectacular one-dish meal that gets its rich flavor from homemade crab stock. The stock is simple to make and does not require a lot of time. Potato helps thicken the soup; butternut squash adds color.

Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills is as famous for its cooked Japanese fish dishes as it is for its stellar sushi. This scallop dish is a perfect example.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Serve this flavorful saffron-scented dish as either an appetizer or a main course.

Complement this fragrant dish with Asian noodles or steamed rice.

Crisp baguette slices are a natural with this, or serve the Rosemary Toasts, substituting tarragon for the rosemary. Either way, a salad of Boston lettuce and Belgian endive with lemon vinaigrette makes a lovely accompaniment, and a fruit tart is a good grand finale.

(Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with Shrimp) Paad Thai, with its signature fettuccine-width rice noodles, is available in myriad variations throughout Thailand. In its country of origin the dish is often made with dried shrimp; for a milder flavor fresh shrimp is specified here.