Glossary

Coriander seed

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…


Aubergine

Aubergine Pronounce it: oh-ber-geen Although it’s technically a fruit (a berry, to be exact), the aubergine is used as a vegetable. It’s native to South-East Asia, but is grown all over the world, and there…


Nigella (seed)

Nigella (seed)

Nigella (seed) Pronounce it: Ny-jellah One of the oldest spices known to be used, nigella seeds (n. sativa) were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb and are mentioned in the Bible’s Old Testament, although their use is…


Julienne

Julienne Pronounce it: joo-lee-en To cut vegetables into matchsticks-shaped pieces for use mainly as a garnish. To julienne, vegetables should be peeled and cut across into pieces about 5cm long. If necessary, curved sides should…


Merlot

Merlot

Merlot Pronounce it: mer-low The crowd pleaser Merlot is the red that has come racing up the popularity stakes. It’s the variety – especially if it’s made in the New World – that you can…


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,…


Fleur de sel/ Flor de sal

Fleur de sel/ Flor de sal Fleur de sel (French) or Flor de sal (Spanish and Catalan) literally translates as ‘flower of salt’. It’s a flaky, hand-harvested sea salt with large crystals, usually formed by…


Lemon

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…


Wholemeal

Wholemeal

Wholemeal Pronounce it: hole-meel Wholemeal or wholegrain flour is made using the whole of the wheat kernel. It adds flavour and nutrition to baked products, especially bread. Wholemeal or wholegrain flour is always heavier than…


Saffron

Saffron

Saffron Pronounce it: sah-fron The stigma of a type of crocus, saffron threads have a pungent and distinctive aroma and flavour – slightly bitter, a little musty, and with a suggestion of something floral. It’s…