“Different versions of this salad are popular from Turkey to North Africa. Red beets are used throughout the Mediterranean, but you could make this pungent salad with any type. If you mix the yogurt into the beets, your salad will be pink. I prefer to spoon it over the top.”
Advance preparation:

The beets can be prepared and marinated 4 or 5 days ahead.

Variation: You may substitute chopped or slivered fresh mint for the dill.

This glistening, lemony summer borscht is infused with garlic and utterly refreshing, even thirst-quenching. If you enrich the soup with yogurt, the color will be dark pink. If you don’t, it will be a clear, dark red.
Advance preparation: This soup can be made a day ahead and will be good for 2 or 3 days.

“I like this simple, high-protein combination with an uncooked tomato sauce, but it also can be made with a more traditional cooked sauce. Substitute cooked tomato sauce for the first six ingredients below, then stir in the chickpeas before tossing with the pasta.”

“These tacos are a beautiful way to serve black beans, which contain at least eight different flavonoids — phytonutrients with anti-oxidant properties. One caution, though: canned beans may contain high levels of sodium, which usually can be reduced by rinsing the beans in water. These black beans can’t be rinsed, of course, and in fact will be reduced. Avoid the temptation to add salt to this recipe.”
Advance preparation: The refried black beans will keep for three days in the refrigerator. You will have to moisten and thin them with water when reheating.

“If you like hummus, you like chickpeas. They’re a versatile legume, welcome in salads and soups, stews and pastas. This pretty summer salad is quickly assembled. You can also make it in winter without the tomatoes.”
Advance preparation: The salad can be assembled several hours before you wish to serve it. Keep in the refrigerator. Leftovers are good the next day.

You can finish this hearty summer soup with slivered fresh basil or with pistou, the Provençal version of pesto. (It’s pesto without the pine nuts.) A Parmesan rind, simmered in the soup and then removed, provides great depth of flavor without additional fat. On a hot summer day in Italy, the soup might be served at room temperature or just barely warm.
Advance preparation: The soup can be made through step 2 a day or two ahead. It improves overnight. If you’re making the soup ahead, cook the pasta separately and add to the soup, along with the green beans on the day you are serving it.

Pan-Cooked Kale With Garlic and Olive Oil

2 large bunches kale (about 1 1/4 pounds total)

Salt, preferably kosher salt

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

Freshly ground pepper

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem the kale and wash the leaves in two rinses of water. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add a generous amount of salt and the kale. Blanch for four minutes, until the kale is tender. Transfer immediately to the ice water, then drain and squeeze the water from the leaves. Chop coarsely or cut in strips.

2. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds. Stir in the kale. Stir for a couple of minutes, until the kale is nicely seasoned with garlic and oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and serve.

Yield: Serves four

Advance preparation: The blanched greens will keep in the refrigerator for about three days.

“This soup is inspired by the Portuguese national dish caldo verde (green soup), but this version contains no chorizo sausage. I’ve added a Parmesan rind to the bouquet garni to enrich the broth.”
Advance preparation: You can make the soup through step 1 a day ahead. Bring back to a simmer, and proceed with the recipe.

“This is a healthier, pared-down version of a rich, hearty dish from the Lombardy region of Italy that normally is made with buckwheat pasta (pizzoccheri), cabbage, potatoes, and abundant butter and cheese. You can substitute Japanese soba for the pizzocheri; if you can find neither, use whole wheat fettuccine.”
Advance preparation: You can make the dish through step 2 several hours ahead. Remove from the heat, then reheat when you cook the pasta.