Lettuce
Lettuce Pronounce it: lett-iss Lettuce are available in a vast number of varieties, and are either crisp or floppy, growing from a central stalk to form a spherical or lozenge-like head. Most of them have…
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Lime
Lime Pronounce it: ly-m The same shape, but smaller than lemons, with a bright green, fairly smooth skin, limes are a highly aromatic fruit. Limes are an important ingredient in Mexican, Indian, Latin American and…
Leek
Leek Pronounce it: lee-k Like garlic and onion, leeks are a member of the allium family, but have their own distinct flavour – quite harsh when raw (only very young leeks are eaten this way)…
Lentils
Lentils Pronounce it: len-til The lentil plant (Lens Culinaris) originates from Asia and North Africa and is one of our oldest sources of food. A cousin to the pea and a rich provider of protein…
Linseed (also flaxseed)
Linseed (also flaxseed) Pronounce it: lin-seed Linseed is the small, reddish-brown or golden-yellow seed of the common flax plant, linum usitatissimum, exactly the same plant as is used to grow the fibre from which true…
Loganberry
Loganberry Pronounce it: low-ghin berree This summer berry is a cross between the red raspberry and the blackberry and was developed, by accident some say, in 1861 in Santa Cruz, California. The berry is a…
Lemon
Lemon Pronounce it: le-mon Oval in shape, with a pronouced bulge on one end, lemons are one of the most versatile fruits around, and contain a high level of Vitamin C. Although the juicy yellow…
Lime leaf
Lime leaf Pronounce it: ly-m leef Lime leaves are obtained from the kaffir lime, which is not a true lime at all but rather a subspecies of the citrus family. Used widely in south-east Asian…
Lamb’s lettuce
Lamb’s lettuce Pronounce it: lams lett-ess Sometimes known as Corn Salad, lamb’s lettuce has long spoon-shaped dark leaves and a distinctive, tangy flavour. It is used raw in salads as well as steamed and served…
Lemon grass
Lemon grass Pronounce it: le-mon gra-ss Although lemon grass is central to Asian cuisine, especially Thai, it works well in Western dishes, too. This mixing of flavours is sometimes called ‘fusion’. Also called citronella or…