Spinach

At Valentino, this is prepared with fresh pasta. Wonton wrappers make a convenient substitute.

Ensalada de Ejote, Espinaca, y Betabel The green beans and the poblano chiles in the salad dressing may be the only ingredients that are indigenous to Mexico, but the colorful combination of vegetables, with their contrasting textures, results in a fitting accompaniment to any Mexican dinner.

This gratin makes a simple accompaniment to roast chicken, pork or even baked eggs.

A puree of spinach and basil lends color and flavor to this Thai-style main dish.

Pass hot pepper sauce and warm buttered tortillas to complete this easy dish.

If you can't find one type of the greens for this recipe, you can either increase the other two kinds proportionally or substitute kale and/or chard.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Creamy fresh cheese meets spinach in this Indian classic.

Offer either brown or white rice and Asian beer, like Tsingtao. The chicken is especially tender because of the egg white and cornstarch coating.

Spinach and Feta Phyllo Triangles

What to drink: Hagafen 2002 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley (kosher) or Brancott Vineyards 2002 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand.

"My wife loves spinach salad, so one night I developed this recipe just for her," writes Jeff Edmunds of Yankton, South Dakota. "The crunchy apple slices and creamy avocado lend terrific texture and flavor." Add grilled chicken to this salad to make a main course.

This salad is as versatile as it is delicious. We loved it with squid and with shrimp. Add a loaf of crusty bread, and you've got a complete meal. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

At the restaurant, this spectacular starter also has a tomato confit vinaigrette. Here, we've substituted chopped seeded peeled tomatoes to simplify the recipe.