Black Bean

It's the spicy, garlicky tomatillo salsa that really sells these addictive tostadas. Frying store-bought corn tortillas heightens the vibrancy of their corn flavor and creates a crisp foundation for the refried black beans, shredded romaine, lush avocado, and creamy queso fresco.

We started out with half the amount of corn chips but increased the quantity because we love their addictive crunch in this Southwest-influenced salad.

Carne de Puerco con Chile Guajillo To bring out pork's flavor, try the classic Mexican technique used in this recipe: First simmer the meat, then fry it in its own rich fat. Don't be alarmed by the amount of chiles in the sauce, as mild guajillos simply lend flavor and body.

Enfrijoladas This simple vegetarian meal is traditionally served as breakfast or as a light supper. It is great alone or with eggs.

Few summer lunches are as nutritious and filling as this chilled Southwestern meal from the new Pasta Salad cookbook by Barbara Lauterbach (Chronicle Books). The recipe features whole-wheat rotini — that is, healthy carbs — for a fix of fiber, ripe summer vegetables, and heart-helping avocado. These are carbs you won't want to cut.

Tortillas aren't the only depository for beans, corn and tomatoes. Let romaine lettuce do the job. Feta cheese supplies a dose of calcium and major flavor. And the honey-lime dressing adds just the right touch of tangy sweetness. Buen provecho!

It's a wrap! Feeding the family? Let everyone be a wrap artist by rolling his own with our recipe, which is filling and not very fattening.

Saturday dinner. From Red Mountain Spa in St. George, Utah. Give lean pork tenderloin a rubdown with executive chef Jim Gallivan's potent adobo chile mix. The spicy bean salsa topper adds fiber but not a lick of fat.

Los Angeles: land of sun, fun, and burritos. Southern California's Mexican-influenced cuisine has the potential to be an all-out fat fest (cheese, sour cream) or a healthy mix of carbs (tortillas, beans) and protein (chicken, beans). A chicken burrito with the full-fat works can tip the scales at nearly 600 calories and 31 fat grams. To slim it down, we stuffed it with all-white-meat chicken, less cheese and nonfat sour cream. We also rolled it in a whole-wheat tortilla for extra fiber.

Healthy bonus: Fiber and potassium from mushrooms; fiber and iron from beans; folate from avocado; potassium from corn

Sarah T. Thibault of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, "I had the best black bean soup at Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona. In fact, I had it for lunch every day during our stay. Could you please get the recipe? The soup's incredible!" This is a brothy black bean soup with whole beans, unlike many thicker, heavier versions that are puréed. Serve it over rice if you're in the mood for a heartier main course.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Black beans teamed with the red, yellow and green bell peppers provide an interesting contrast in color and texture.

Serve this with white rice for a dinnertime side dish or alongside ham and eggs for a satisfying breakfast.

Here, sautéed polenta triangles add another dimension to a southwestern-style stew.

Add the green beans to the salad just before serving so they do not discolor.

Begin preparing this a day before serving.

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 45 min