Wrap grated cucumber in kitchen towel and squeeze dry. Whisk yogurt, mint, cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper in medium bowl to blend. Add cucumbers and toss to coat. Season raita to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.) Sprinkle raita with pinch of cayenne pepper and serve.Makes 8 servings...

Combine dates, walnuts, 3 tablespoons honey, orange peel, and cardamom in processor. Blend until paste forms.Preheat oven to 375F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment. If using 17 1/2x12 1/2-inch phyllo sheets, place stack of 8 phyllo sheets on work surface. Halve stack crosswise, forming 16 sheets, each 12 1/2x8 3/4 inches; arrange in 1 stack. Or if using 13 1/2x8 1/2-inch phyllo sheets, stack 16 sheets on work surface...

In medium bowl, whisk together all ingredients. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste and add more lime juice if desired...

Combine first 5 ingredients in small bowl. Mix in cream. Let stand until sugar dissolves and filling thickens, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350F. Using small sharp knife and starting at side of apple at center point, cut around each apple to make slit in skin to prevent bursting. Using small end of melon baller, scoop out core and all seeds to within 1/2 inch of bottom...

Spray grill rack with nonstick spray; prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill vegetables until slightly charred in spots, turning occasionally, about 8 minutes. Serve vegetables and mint raita alongside Grilled Tandoori Lamb...

Simmer sugar, water, bay leaves, and zests in a 1-quart heavy saucepan 5 minutes, then remove from heat and let steep 20 minutes. While syrup steeps, halve apricots lengthwise and remove pits. Run a paring knife crosswise around each cherry, touching pit, then twist cherry halves to separate. Remove pits with tip of knife. Toss apricots and cherries with lemon juice in a large shallow bowl...

Preheat broiler. Line rack of broiler pan with foil and lightly oil foil with some olive oil. Pat fish dry and check for bones by running your hand over fish from thinnest to thickest end. Remove any bones with pliers. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper, then broil 4 inches from heat 7 minutes. Cover fish loosely with foil and continue broiling until just cooked through, 7 to 9 minutes more...

Drain yogurt in a large fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, finely shred carrots using food processor. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then add mustard seeds and cook, covered, until they make popping sounds, about 15 seconds. Add curry leaves and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 3 seconds...

Mince garlic, then mash to a paste with a pinch of salt using a heavy knife. Add 3/4 teaspoon garlic paste (or to taste) to a bowl with remaining ingredients and whisk until smooth. Let dressing stand about 1 hour to allow flavors to develop...

In a bowl, combine all raita ingredients and set aside. Heat olive and sesame oils in a medium saucepan over high heat. Sauté ginger and garlic about 45 seconds. Add shrimp and chile paste, tossing to cook evenly, about 3 minutes. Add lemon juice and stir. Serve raita with shrimp; garnish with chives.Nutritional analysis per serving 158 calories, 5.6 g fat (0.9 g saturated fat), 14.7 g carbohydrates, 13.8 g protein, 2...

Melt oil n heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add cabbage and onion and sauté until tinged with brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer cabbage mixture to medium bowl. Mix in rice, feta cheese and 3 tablespoons dill. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Lay 1 wonton wrapper on work surface. Brush entire surface of wrapper with egg white. Press 1 generous tablespoon filling in center of wrapper...

Break grapefruit and tangerines into sections. Cut grapefruit sections into thirds; cut tangerine sections in half. Transfer grapefruit, tangerines, and all juices to deep serving bowl. Using small sharp knife, cut all peel and white pith from oranges. Slice oranges into 1/4-inch-thick rounds, then cut slices into quarters. Add oranges and all juices to same bowl. Mix in 1/2 cup dried cranberries, honey, and cinnamon...

For souvlaki, mix first 5 ingredients to make a marinade and set aside. Distribute lamb, bell peppers, onion and tomatoes among 8 skewers. Place in a large shallow pan with marinade. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours, rotating skewers once. Heat a gas grill to medium, or use a charcoal grill and allow the coals to turn a light-ash color. Coat grill with cooking spray. Grill until lamb is medium rare and lightly charred, 5 to 8 minutes...

Whisk yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar, onion, sugar, and celery seeds in large bowl to blend. Add green and red cabbage, bell pepper, carrots, and 1 tablespoon dill. Toss to blend. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Keep refrigerated. Toss to blend before using.) Sprinkle salad with remaining 1 tablespoon dill and serve...

Finely grind fennel seeds in grinder. Whisk together fennel and 1 cup yogurt with garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, black pepper, turmeric, cayenne, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Coat fish with yogurt mixture and marinate in a shallow baking dish, covered and chilled, 1 hour. While fish is marinating, whisk together remaining cup yogurt, mint, zest, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt to make sauce. Prepare grill for cooking...

Whisk together all ingredients in a small heavy saucepan. Cook over moderate heat, stirring, until mixture just comes to a boil, 8 to 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderately low and simmer until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes more...

For curd: Combine first 4 ingredients in large microwave-safe bowl. Place bowl in microwave and cook on high until butter melts, whisking every minute, about 3 minutes. Remove from microwave; cool 5 minutes. Beat eggs in small bowl to blend. Whisk half of butter mixture into eggs. Return mixture to same large bowl...

If using whole-milk plain yogurt, drain in a paper-towel-lined sieve set over a bowl, covered and chilled, 8 to 12 hours. Mince garlic and mash to a paste with a pinch of salt, then transfer to a bowl. Whisk in lebneh or drained yogurt, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and enough water to make mixture resemble well-stirred sour cream. Prepare grill for cooking. If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal...

Whisk together all ingredients in a small heavy saucepan. Cook over moderate heat, stirring, until mixture just comes to a boil, 8 to 10 minutes, then reduce heat to moderately low and simmer until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes more...

Combine lamb and 4 cups water in a wide 5-quart heavy pot (add more water to just cover lamb if necessary). Bring to a boil over moderate heat, skimming froth from surface. Once liquid is clear and at a full boil, add pepper and 1 teaspoon salt, then cover and simmer 30 minutes. While meat is simmering, heat butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat. Add pine nuts and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes...

Whisk together yogurt, sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl until sugar is dissolved. Put water in a very small saucepan and tilt pan so that water is on one side, then sprinkle gelatin and cardamom evenly over water. Let stand 1 minute to soften. Heat mixture over low heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved, about 30 seconds. Whisk hot gelatin into yogurt until combined well...

Drain yogurt in a paper-towel-lined sieve set over a bowl, chilled, 3 hours. Pulse all ingredients in a blender until mint is finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl and chill, covered, at least 3 hours. Cooks' note:Raita can be chilled in an airtight container up to 1 day (but color will not be as vibrant if made more than 3 hours ahead)...

Purée all ingredients except chicken in a blender until spices are well ground. Put chicken in a large bowl, or divide between 2 large sealable plastic bags, and add yogurt mixture, stirring or turning to coat. Marinate chicken, covered and chilled (turning occasionally if using bags), at least 4 hours. Soak skewers in water 30 minutes. While skewers are soaking, bring chicken to room temperature...

Put 1/4 cup water in a small cup, then sprinkle gelatin on top and let gelatin soften while cooking rhubarb. Cook rhubarb, 1/2 cup sugar, and remaining 1/2 cup water in a heavy medium saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until very soft, about 7 minutes. Add gelatin mixture, stirring until dissolved, then cool 10 minutes. Purée in a food processor until smooth, then add yogurt and blend until combined. Freeze in ice cream maker...

Purée garlic, ginger, and 3 tablespoons water in a blender. Transfer to a large bowl and whisk in yogurt, 1/2 teaspoon salt, turmeric, and chili powder until combined. Add chicken and turn to coat well, then marinate, covered, at room temperature 30 minutes. While chicken is marinating, finely grind cardamom pods, cloves, and cinnamon in grinder...