Starchy side dish is a term used to describe a type of food that is usually made from potatoes, yams, or other root vegetables. The crossword solutions for this term are YAM (3 letters), POI (3 letters), SPUD (4 letters), and YAMS (4 letters). Yams are a type of root vegetable that is native to Africa and Asia, and is often boiled, mashed, or roasted. POI is a traditional Hawaiian dish made from taro root, which is mashed and fermented. SPUD is a slang term for potatoes, which are a popular starchy side dish that can be boiled, mashed, fried, or roasted. YAMS is another term for yams, which are a root vegetable similar to potatoes.