Starter

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Serve this terrific dish with crusty bread and soup spoons so that your guests can enjoy every last drop.

(Onion, Anchovy, and Olive Tarts)

In this classic vegetable preparation, the cooking liquid is used to make the velvety sauce. The dish is normally served at room temperature, but it's equally good warm.

This recipe was created to accompany Onion and Bell Pepper Strata with Fresh Tomato Salsa . Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Gah Yan Tsui writes, via gourmet.com: "I recently enjoyed a delicious lunch at Aquavit in New York City. Marcus Samuelsson makes an incredible mussel and carrot soup. Would it be possible to acquire the recipe?" This soup tastes much better when made with fresh carrot juice. If you don't have a juicer, you can get some at your nearest natural foods store. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 45 min

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 45 min

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

Serve as a relish with the meal, or offer as cocktail nibbles. Make these one or two days before the party.

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 1 hr

Causa Limena Editor's Note: This recipe and introductory text are excerpted from The Exotic Kitchens of Peru, by Copeland Marks. We've also added some tips of our own below. For a complete guide to Peruvian cuisine, click here. This appetizer, a popular national dish, is from Lima, the capital city of Peru, which has metropolitan and modern ideas. The dictionary does not reveal how the word "causa” came to be applied to a concoction, albeit a delicious one, that features cold mashed potatoes. A causa is considered a light lunch or snack, a most appealing dish that is often served at weddings or other celebrations.