Roast

A little bit of clementine peel adds a citrus note to the turkey. The smoky, slightly bitter southern-style gravy is terrific drizzled over the meat or over mashed potatoes. For a pretty garnish, decorate the platter with whole clementines.

This simple dish has a rustic beauty— and it's quick and easy.

Two quintessential autumn ingredients—sage and cider—flavor this turkey-gravy combo.

Roast some white asparagus spears, and tell your guests they are the appendages of previous party guests. If this delicate vegetable isn't available in your local grocery store, substitute green or yellow string beans.

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

Based on depth rather than tanginess or sweetness, Lee's signature black barbecue sauce is a cultural interaction that includes the thin, Worcestershire sauce—like "dip" for mutton ribs found in and around Owensboro, Kentucky; red-eye gravy; an earthy mole; and brothy, robust kalbi, the braised short ribs of Korea. The melting pot, as they say, simmers on.

Sold at Mexican street stands in large, clear barrels—the better to show off their festive colors—agua frescas, or "fresh waters," can be made with all kinds of fruits and herbs, the riper the better. Here, Feniger tops a traditional cantaloupe cooler with a decorative swirl of vivid beet purée. Roasting the beet heightens its sweetness and intensifies its color.

What you find here and on page 96—aside from a striking striped presentation—is an equally beautiful expression of flavors. Because both beets and pears are at the height of their season, Lee has no desire, as he says, "to mess with them too much." He adds, "Nature trumps the ability of any chef." The ginger juice in the vinaigrette is inspired by Lee's Asian roots.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, with our bounty of berries, tree-ripened fruits, hazelnuts, and wild mushrooms, makes going to the farmers' market feel like a season-long treasure hunt. I'm especially rewarded when I stop at the mushroom forager's stand and see a basket chock-full of chanterelle mushrooms. At the peak of the season, I buy fresh chanterelles and use them as often as I can, as in this golden-hued mushroom gravy accompaniment to the holiday bird.

Cavolo nero (also called black kale, dinosaur kale, or lacinato kale) has a deep flavor that goes beautifully with the richness of pan-roasted duck breasts. The kale can be found at some supermarkets and at farmers' markets and natural foods stores, but any other kale variety can be substituted. Be sure to begin preparation one day ahead.

Root vegetables and mushrooms are enriched by the meat's pan juices.

Apples turn sweet as they roast alongside pork loin flavored with herbs and maple syrup. Brine the roast one day ahead.

Roasting greens, such as broccoli rabe, turns them deliciously crispy and earthy. The broccoli rabe's inherent bitterness nicely offsets the sweetness of the roasted-garlic pan sauce. The chicken needs to be salted one day ahead.

Figs combine beautifully with all sorts of salty flavors—prosciutto, for instance, or Gorgonzola, or, of course, bacon. They also add succulent, sumptuous texture.

Cutting cauliflower into thick, meaty slices, core and all, is a neat trick. So is roasting it, which brings out the best in this vegetable, caramelizing its edges and playing up its nuttiness. A briny olive vinaigrette adds just the right sharp-savory note.

Here, handsome and crowd-pleasing beef tenderloin is first rubbed with an Indian-inspired combination of spices—cardamom, mustard, and others work in concert with the nuanced heat of black peppercorns—and then seared to form a fragrant, inviting crust. Finishing it in a moderate oven results in a roast that is evenly rosy, juicy, and as delicious as it is beautiful. Like the bulgur with herbs and the bevy of beans and basil , it can be served at room temperature.

Infusing pork butt with pink peppercorns and garlic enhances its superb flavor. The vermouth in the pan sauce has a masterful synchronicity with the juniper-like aroma of pink peppercorns and gives you enormous complexity from just one ingredient.

Food critics often say that the measure of a great restaurant is its roast chicken. This technique is much more forgiving than regular oven-roasting chicken, although it doesn't have a crunchy crust. I believe that achieving moist white meat is even more important than the crust.

This dish has a spicy-sweet twist.

This dish is special enough for a dinner party—and it's a cinch to make.