The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

To crack the spices, place in a resealable plastic bag and tap with a rolling pin.

Don't have 60 minutes to roast a root vegetable? Try cooking yams in a microwave for about five minutes on each side and you'll have yams that are soft and ready to mash—fast.

Chop your favorite nuts and dried fruit to fill this tart. If desired, use toasted coconut or chopped crystallized ginger instead of toffee bits for the garnish.

Pear nectar gives the sauce a sweet, luscious finish.

Grated lemon peel brightens up this light and satisfying pasta, which makes delicious use of root vegetables.

Crunchy sourdough croutons nicely complement the texture of this healthful pureed soup that is made from about a pound of vitaminpacked (and budget-friendly) celery stalks and leaves. The flavor is both savory and incredibly fresh and bright. For an even lighter texture, the whipping cream can be omitted, if you prefer.

This is an incredibly simple recipe with an impressive payoff: Golden roasted chicken is dressed up with beautiful bunches of sweet grapes.

Rustic and delicious, this healthy meatless stew is a hearty main course.

To get a 12-ounce flank steak, cut a 1 1/2-pound flank steak lengthwise.

A silky-smooth panna cotta with the tang of buttermilk, this dessert is wonderfully easy to pull off. Any leftover sauce would be great spooned over ice cream.

A complete, one-pot meal.

Peppercorn mélange is a mix of whole black, white, pink, and green peppercorns; it's often sold in a grinder in the spice section of the supermarket. The peppery blend and sweet glaze in this recipe make the most of an inexpensive cut of meat.