Pantry Recipe Challenge: Amazing Throw-Together Meals

Tasty beans and greens add flavor and nutrition to this simple pasta recipe.

Recipe: Penne with Escarole, White Beans, and Toasted Breadcrumbs

Mini burgers made from white beans and fresh veggies make the perfect vegetarian lunch.

Recipe: Moroccan White-Bean Sliders

Pop this fast and fragrant vegetarian dish into the oven and forget it till the timer rings. Serve as a main course on a bed of wilted spinach to add color and maximize iron absorption or serve as a side with Turkish Chicken Thighs.

Recipe: Baked Curried Brown Rice and Lentil Pilaf

Garlic, fresh ginger, mustard, and a medley of spices spark the hallowed Indian combination — cauliflower, potatoes, and rice. Serve it at room temperature, either alone or with a simple side of sliced tomatoes.

Recipe: Basmati-Rice Salad with Cauliflower and Potatoes

This variation on a classic risotto recipe features wild mushrooms and red wine.

Recipe: Wild Mushroom-and-Red Wine Risotto

Avgolemono is a classic sauce of chicken broth, egg yolks, and lemon juice; the addition of a bit more chicken broth, rice, and shredded chicken turns it into a satisfying soup.

Recipe: Avgolemono Chicken Soup with Rice

Rustle up a fantastic weeknight dinner without a trip to the supermarket. Egg yolks add a gourmet gloss to this perky pasta dish.

Recipe: Easy Pantry Pasta

Fennel and orange zest complement one another as well as the pantry staples canned tuna, chickpeas, and tomatoes. If you don't happen to have fedelini on hand, spaghettini or vermicelli would be fine.

Recipe: Fedelini with Tuna and Chickpeas

Hearty rigatoni topped with lean ground beef and a sauce studded with piquant green olives makes quick, filling dinner during the cold winter months.

Recipe: Rigatoni with Beef and Green Olives

This cinnamon- and cumin-spiked couscous with chicken takes its inspiration from Morocco. It's made mostly with pantry staples — all you have to pick up is some chicken thighs, a bunch of cilantro, and an orange. The orange slices become tender after cooking — you can eat them skin and all. For a variation, substitute diced, boneless leg of lamb for the chicken. Serve with steamed green beans or a spinach salad.

Recipe: Orange-Tomato Couscous with Chicken

Fresh tomatillos and poblano chiles kick up this comforting Mexican meal.

Recipe: Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas Verde

Nobody will miss the meat in this colorful, zesty vegetarian taco salad. The rice and bean mixture can be made ahead and the salad quickly assembled at mealtime.

Recipe: Vegetarian Taco Salad

When barley is added to the mix, comfort food gets a dose of heart-healthy whole grain, as well as a toasty, nutty flavor. Serve this one-pot meal with a simple green salad and, voila, dinner is done.

Recipe: Toasted Barley and Chicken Pilaf