A slew of North African spices combine to make a fragrant, exotic mixture. Whether used as a grill rub, when pan-frying fish or as the foundation for tagine, diverse, distinctive ras el hanout is worth the investment and effort to make. More

Planning on whipping up some hummus but don't have any tahini on hand? Let peanut butter come to your rescue! More

In Texas, the ubiquitous chicken fried steak is often plated with fries and a buttermilk ranch dressed salad on the same plate, making the ranch the dip of choice for the fries. Robb Walsh, author of Texas Eats, speculates that the popularity of ranch as a dip comes from Texas's cowboy culture, where those gruff dudes used the creamy-tangy dressing to compliment everything from fries to onion rings and even chicken fried steak. And now we know that we have Texas to thank for those little tubs of ranch meant for pizza crust dippage. More

A mixture of tart mustard, spice, and heat make this mustard a perfect compliment to pastrami stacked a mile-high between a couple pieces of rye. More

[Photograph: Leela Punyaratabandhu] This is great smeared on crackers or as a sandwich spread. Feel free to adjust the seasoning to taste. The spread hardens somewhat once refrigerated. To resume its spreadable consistency, simply microwave it briefly or whisk in... More

I love the combination of apples and almonds, but any nuts will do in this recipe. Try pecans, walnuts, or hazelnuts. Similarly, you can swap the apricots for the dried fruit of your choice. Try golden raisins, chopped dried mango, or dried pears. This works nicely on a cheese plate or with hearty grain bread. More

I'll admit that olives are not a favorite of mine, but there's something about a good salty and briny tapenade that makes them so right to me. More

Thick, silky, and speckled with tiny chunks of blueberries, this jam has a pronounced maple flavor and is lightly scented with star anise, cinnamon, and vanilla. It would be perfect between layers of French toast, but also try it with buttery scones or cinnamon streusel muffins, or swirl it into oatmeal. More

Short on ingredients, it's the process that transforms chiles and tomatoes into a sauce that has an incredibly robust tomato base with an earthy heat throughout—ready to make the best enchiladas ever. More

[Photograph: Chichi Wang] Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a recipe again by following @SeriousRecipes on Twitter!... More

This is the perfect jam for a spring tea party. The delicate, elegant flavor is a natural match for croissants or tender butter scones. To give it as a gift, pair with a bouquet of fresh wild flowers or a box of your favorite tea. More

This mixture of herbs and vegetables may or may not qualify as a true sauce, but its power to bring a strong freshness to anything it touches makes it irresistible. More

This jam reverses the usual strawberry-rhubarb ratio and put rhubarb in the driver's seat. Swirl it into Greek yogurt, use it as a topping for vanilla ice cream, or spread it over banana bread. Its gorgeous, pale pink hue would make a perfect Mother's Day gift. More

Crossing a cultural divide, hoisin brings the dominant Asian flavor to this sauce that still retains the American standard of a sweet and tangy tomato base. More

Think of this recipe as a mash-up of carrot cake jam and orange marmalade. Try it on carrot or zucchini bread, whole wheat toast, or as a topping for crostini with ricotta. If you can't find Pomona's Pectin, use regular no- or low-sugar powdered pectin. More

This pickled rhubarb is both sweet and tart. I like to cut the stalks into lengths that fit in the jar neatly and slice it into bite-sized pieces just before adding to a cheese plate or tossing into a grain salad. More

Chicken stock, white wine, and cream created the body and richness of this pan sauce, whose dominent mustard flavor was a strong complement to a pork tenderloin, but not so overpowering that it hid the flavor of the meat itself. More

[Photograph: Robyn Lee] About the author: Max Falkowitz is the editor of Serious Eats: New York. You can follow him on Twitter at @maxfalkowitz. Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a... More