This is one of those Mediterranean-style dishes that are perfect hot, at room temperature, or cold--a wonderful versatility for entertaining. If at all possible, use freshly picked vine-ripened tomatoes and very fresh verdant basil.

This is variation of a Korean dish is almost lighting-quick. The brief blanching of the bean sprouts renders them tender-crisp and at the same time allows them to combine with the dressing better than they would raw, as you’ll see. This salad is best served warm.

Cucumber is a cooling vegetable, which combined with iceberg lettuce makes a perfect match for the spicy shallot vinaigrette in this speedy summer salad.

Pomegranate Molasses gives this cucumber salad a pungent and spicy flavor that is sure to please.

I once worked for an Egyptian gentleman who professed a hatred of garlic, but loved this dish. I learned a number of Egyptian dishes to please his palate, nearly all of them loaded with garlic. He loved them all. Mashing up the garlic with a mortar helps make it creamy.

Fennel is an appetite-enhancer, a digestive aid and a palate-cleanser, but most importantly, it's delicious. This salad is good at the beginning of a meal, at the end, or by itself, as a snack. To avoid discoloration, make the dressing first, then cut the fennel.

With its bright tastes and crunchy textures, this is a crowd-pleaser. Just beware: it has to be eaten right away, so whatever you do, don’t add the dressing until just before you’re ready to serve.

As quick and easy as this salad is, it has a sophisticated combination of flavors and textures. Just don’t skimp on the mint! This salad is best served immediately, at room temperature, but it can also be refrigerated and served the following day.

This is an ideal dip for pita bread, but it’s even better served with raw vegetables, such as celery sticks (or fingers, if you’re entertaining an informal crowd). Be sure to use a good, fresh paprika.

I was imagining possible ways to use seitan, when this combination came to me. Even my 84-year-old mother liked it. If you have any fresh shiitake mushrooms, they would go well too; slice them and add to the sauce.

This ridiculously quick and easy, yet elegant and delightful dessert is made without cream, although the result is very rich and creamy. Impossible, you say? Try it.