Cavolo nero
Cavolo nero Pronounce it: ca-voll-oh nee-ro A loose-leafed cabbage from Tuscany, Italy. The leaves are a very dark green, almost black, hence its name, which translates as ‘black cabbage’. It has a pleasantly tangy, bitter…
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Cacao
Cacao Pronounce it: kak-ow Cacao, cocoa and chocolate are all produced from the seed pods of Theobroma cacao, a tree native to the tropics of Central and South America but now grown internationally, including in…
Cauliflower
Cauliflower Pronounce it: coll-ee-fl-ow-ah A brassica, like cabbage and broccoli, cauliflower is a mass of tiny, tightly packed flower heads (called curds), which grow from a thick central stem to form a single, round head,…
Coriander seed
Coriander seed Pronounce it: kor-ee-and-er seed The small, creamy brown seeds of the coriander plant give dishes a warm, aromatic and slightly citrus flavour totally different to fresh coriander leaves. They are commonly used in…
Corked
Corked Pronounce it: core-k’d Wine can be faulty for a number of reasons, for example if air has seeped into the bottle the wine can become ‘oxidised’ and taste of sherry. In the case of…
Courgette
Courgette Pronounce it: corr-zjet The courgette is a variety of cucurtbit, which means it’s from the same family as cucumber, squash and melon. It is the most popular vegetable of the squash family, being extremely…
Carrot
Carrot Pronounce it: ka-rot The carrot, with its distinctive bright orange colour, is one of the most versatile root vegetables around – a result of its sweet flavour, which means it can be used raw…
Capers
Capers Pronounce it: kay-per Capers are the small flower buds of the Capparis shrub, which grows in the Mediterranean. As they’re picked by hand they’re fairly pricey but they’re a versatile store cupboard ingredient, and…
Chardonnay
Chardonnay Pronounce it: shar-don-ay The global celebrity Chardonnay is one of the few grape varieties that has become more famous than the wines made from it. The fact that it is relatively easy to grow…
Celery
Celery Pronounce it: sell-er-ee A collection of long, thick, juicy stalks around a central, tender heart, celery ranges in colour from white to green – the darker its colour, the stonger its flavour. It has…