Making the ravioli is simplified with purchased Asian dumpling wrappers, but you can opt to make your own pasta dough. You can substitute cooked shrimp for the lobster.
To round out this elegant main course dish, serve it with buttered baby new potatoes. Freshly snipped pea sprouts or pea tendrils make a lovely garnish.
Soup that you can make ahead and reheat just before serving is always a good idea for a Thanksgiving menu.
Heat Rating: Medium The Chinese spice trio of star anise, cloves and cinnamon, along with Indian black mustard seeds and fragrant cardamom pods, spike this delicious curry. Serve it with lots of white rice to soak up the sauce. It is always nice to serve a spicy curry with sliced cucumber and refreshing, tart fruit, such as half-ripe mango (choose a firm one), starfruit or apple.
This sophisticated French cooking method of baking fish in a sealed parchment paper packet makes a great impression and leaves little mess to clean up, so it's perfect for a busy weeknight. If you don't have parchment paper, you can use foil instead. Serve with steamed brown rice.
Always check packaged food labels for gluten, including ketchup (Heinz is gluten-free), sriracha, fish sauce and broth (homemade stock is best – and safest). It's best to steer clear of dry-roasted peanuts for the same reason. To toast nuts, toast in dry skillet over medium heat, shaking pan often, until fragrant and golden, about 4 minutes.
Homemade red curry paste strikes a nice balance between sweet, salty and spicy, and brings out the best in the squash and the pork. Serve with Coconut Ginger Rice for an elegant meal.
Ground sumac, a staple in Middle Eastern spice cupboards, gives simple seared lamb chops a tart, citrusy boost. On another night, try pairing the brightly flavoured fetapea mash with roasted fish or grilled chicken, or use it as a topper for crostini.
