Sweet Potato

Tender slices of sweet roasted yam are topped with a tangy Dijon dressing—and a scattering of addictive fried yam skins.

This nutty, satisfying puree— enriched with chicken fat for tradition's sake or pareve margarine—makes a nice bed for the roast duck.

This is not the cloying, candylike sweet potato side dish that is so often topped with marshmallows. Here, the vegetable's distinctive, mellow sweetness (as well as that of the acorn squash) is augmented by hints of brown sugar and nutmeg, so that the ingredients speak for themselves. Slicing the vegetables rather than puréeing them also imparts a lovely presence—the squash looks like happy smiles, the sweet potatoes like shining coins.

While visiting Lima, Peru, food editor and stylist Paul Grimes, who developed this recipe, ate a dish called "hot ceviche."Inspired by the playful concept, he tried something similar in the test kitchen.

This lovely combination of vegetables makes a great accompaniment to roast or grilled meat or chicken.

Beets don't often make an appearance on the Thanksgiving table—but they should. They add an earthy sweetness to this mix of roasted vegetables that also includes butternut squash, russets, and yams.

The garnet yam, named for its dark reddish-brown skin, is the variety you're most likely to find in the produce section of the supermarket. It's actually a sweet potato, and it's so flavorful that it requires only a little cream and butter, and some tart lime juice.

Pair with the Clementine-Salted Turkey with Redeye Gravy .

This dish showcases both red- and tan-skinned sweet potatoes.

If sweet yams are a must for your thanksgiving spread, this dish is the one for you. There are no marshmallows in this modern version—just plump brandied raisins and a maple and brown sugar glaze.

For a falling-off-the-bone roast (about $4 a pound), crack open a tenderizing can of beer.

Frying sage leaves is easy and provides a real wow factor. The sage and chestnuts make an ideal foil for these pillowy gnocchi.

Like kale chips but smaller, separated Brussels sprout leaves get crisp when tossed in oil and roasted in the oven.

If you can smoke bake a casserole, then you can also smoke roast. Smoke-roasted root vegetables take on smoke flavor at a higher temperature, generally around 350°F. If you like roasted vegetables in the oven, you'll love these. As an alternative method, you can also partially slow smoke vegetables, then transfer them indoors to your oven to finish roasting and crisping at a higher temperature. Substitute other root vegetables, such as parsnips, beets, turnips, and rutabagas, if you like. This recipe works well in a gas grill, too.

Here's a more contemporary take on potato salad: Two kinds of potatoes give it eye appeal and a richer flavor. Tossing the potatoes with arugula and bacon adds a peppery crunch and plenty of smoky goodness (and you know how we feel about the smoke!)—and practically makes this salad a meal. Because sweet potatoes are so dense, and they take a few minutes longer to cook than regular potatoes, we cook them separately. This salad doubles easily for a party, and goes great with barbecued brisket or grilled sausages.