Potato

New potatoes are freshly dug and have tender skins; wash them gently so that they don't tear. If they're hard to find, any small potato or fingerling variety will work.

Add the vegetables partway through braising to ensure they will have enough time to be infused with meaty flavor without overcooking. Serve with a loaf of your favorite crusty bread for sopping up the juices.

Russets are ideal for this latke recipe. Their high starch content means you won't need flour to bind the pancakes.

Lentils and fresh and dried mushrooms give this vegetarian casserole its meaty character. You can prepare most of it in advance and bake it just before your guests arrive.

Olive oil–enriched mashed potatoes enclose a layer of zesty braised kale in this savory cake, which then gets topped with crispy breadcrumbs.

Celery root and potatoes are a mash made in heaven. Transfer cubed potatoes and celery root to a bowl of water as soon as you cut them to keep them from turning brown.

Channel New England with this rich and warming one-pot clam chowder. If fresh clams are unavailable (or you're running short on time), substitute two 10-ounce cans of baby clams and 6 cups of bottled clam juice. This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

This sweet potato recipe is glazed with bourbon and maple syrup.

Generously seasoned birds sit overnight, then get a high-heat roasting on a baking sheet, spaced apart so air can circulate around them, crisping the skins.

The slow-frying method is revolutionary. Try this French fries recipe and you'll never "fast" fry your potatoes again.

This adaptation of the tortilla española from New York's Boqueria starts with potatoes that are slowly cooked in lots of olive oil. There will be plenty of oil left over, but don't worry: Use it to make a garlicky mayo to serve alongside.

Adapted from The River Cafe Classic Italian Cookbook by Rose Gray, Ruth Rogers, and Michael Joseph. Copyright Rose Gray 2009.

This fragrant coconut milk-based curry from chef Asha Gomez of Atlanta's Cardamom Hill delivers big flavor to this beef stew with very little work. "It's a complete meal, a one-dish wonder," Gomez says.