Justin Devillier upgrades classic Southern cheese straws with Sharifi's Iranian spices at his New Orleans restaurant La Petite Grocery . He sometimes swaps out the cardamom for equal amounts of ground coriander or fennel seed. "I've always assumed cheese straws originated in the Carolinas," says Devillier, "but that may be because my mother-in-law always brings them when she visits from South Carolina."
The juice of a whole lemon balances the robust flavor of basil in this flavor-packed vegetarian pasta meal. The white beans and Parmesan cheese add protein.
