A way to cook a variety of meats (5)
I believe the answer is:
steam
'a way to cook' is the definition.
(I know that steam is a more specific form of cook)
'a variety of meats' is the wordplay.
'a variety of' is an anagram indicator.
'meats' anagrammed gives 'STEAM'.
(Other definitions for steam that I've seen before include "Sort of water" , "Water at boiling temperature diffused in the atmosphere" , "Mates (anag)" , "Watery vapour" , "get very angry" .)