Samphire
Samphire Pronounce it: sam-fire Though there are two types of samphire – marsh and rock – only marsh samphire is widely available. Marsh samphire has vibrant green stalks, similar to baby asparagus, with a distinctively…
Glossary
Kumquat
Kumquat Pronounce it: kum-kwot It looks like a small, oval orange, but the kumquat, which originates in Asia, is a member of another species, fortunella. The flesh of a kumquat is quite dry and has…
Smoked salt
Smoked salt Smoked salt is created when rock salt or sea salt are smoked over a wood fire. The salt is either hot or cold smoked but both methods impart a rich smoky flavour and…
Bicarbonate of soda
Bicarbonate of soda Bicarbonate of soda, or baking soda, is an alkali which is used to raise soda breads and full-flavoured cakes such as gingerbread, fruit cake, chocolate cake and carrot cake. It needs an…
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir Pronounce it: peeno-nwar Pinot is the Don Juan of grape varieties: a really seductive charmer. It’s hard to grow, but in the right circumstances produces elegant wines of exceptional quality. Pinot will never…
Kamut
Kamut Pronounce it: Kah-moot Kamut (Khorasan wheat) is an ancient variety of hard wheat, with a kernel that is twice the size of common wheat and a taste that is richer, creamier and nuttier. It is…
Mojito
Mojito Pronounce it: maw-hee-taw From nowhere to everywhere, the mojito is currently ruling the roost in pubs, bars and clubs. Perhaps this is because it is long, clear, bubbly and clean tasting and because the…
Jerusalem artichoke
Jerusalem artichoke Pronounce it: jer-oo-sa-lem ar-tee-choke This vegetable is not truly an artichoke but a variety of sunflower with a lumpy, brown-skinned tuber that often resembles a ginger root. Contrary to what the name implies,…
Purple sprouting broccoli
Purple sprouting broccoli Pronounce it: pur-pel spr-ow-ting brok-o-lee This untidy-looking, colourful cousin of broccoli can be used in much the same way. Leafier and deeper in colour than calabrese, it adds vibrancy and crunch to…
Bain-marie
Bain-marie Pronounce it: bah-marie Consists of placing a container (pan, bowl, soufflé dish, etc) of food in a large, shallow pan of warm water, which surrounds the food with gentle heat. The food may be…