Crossword Genius

Meals regularly served with hot potatoes (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mash

'potatoes' is the definition.
(mashed potato)

'meals regularly served with hot' is the wordplay.
'regularly served' indicates alternate letters.
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'hot' becomes 'h' (abbreviation, eg on taps).
The alternating letters of 'meals' are 'mas'.
'mas'+'h'='MASH'

(Other definitions for mash that I've seen before include "Crush into a soft, pulpy state" , "Accompaniment of bangers" , "Black comedy film set in Korean War" , "It goes well with sausages" , "Pulped potatoes" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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