Smashed, Mashed, Boiled, and Baked–and Fried, Too!: A Celebration of Potatoes in 75 Irresistible Recipes

America’s favorite vegetable goes way beyond french fries in this delicious cookbook. Full of vibrant photographs, it showcases many and varied ways to serve these amazing tubers. There are hundreds of different varieties, but author Raghavan Iyer (a self-proclaimed potato fanatic) helpfully divides them into broad categories of waxy, floury, etc. for easy substitution if you can’t find some of the more esoteric ones. Then we get to the recipes, and are they heavenly! There are appetizers and finger foods like Cheesy Tarragon Tots, a grown-up, melty twist on a childhood favorite. There are soups and salads from around the world, like Locro de Papas from Peru or Harissa Potato Salad to give that staple side some African zing. There are main dishes and side dishes, and even a few potato desserts (potato starch is a great additive to all sorts of baked goods). The recipes are diverse, and some are quite long and involved, but not overly complicated, and the instructions are detailed and easy to follow. It is also a pleasure to read about each recipe’s provenance; the author’s writing is interesting, informative, and full of the joy of the dish, making you eager to join in the potato celebration!