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…
Glossary
Asafoetida
Asafoetida Pronounce it: Ass-a-feh-te-dah/Ass-a-feh-tee-dah This is a gum from a variety of giant fennel, which naturally has a horrid and offensive smell, rather like rotting garlic, as in foetid. Yet it is considered the most…
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…
Mint
Mint Pronounce it: mi-nt There are several types of mint, each with its own subtle difference in flavour and appearance. The most popular type is spearmint, with its pointed, serrated leaves and a familiar refreshing…
Pecan
Pecan Pronounce it: pee-kan Related to the walnut, pecans are native to America, and grow enclosed in a glossy, browny-red oval shell. The kernel inside shares the walnut’s trademark grooved surface but has a slightly…
Bamboo shoots
Bamboo shoots Pronounce it: bam-boo shoo-tz As expected, these are the very young shoots of many types of bamboo. They must be thoroughly cooked before use because most will contain elements poisonous to human beings….
Tempeh
Tempeh Pronounce it: tem-pay Originally devised in Indonesia, tempeh is made from cooked soya beans that are then fermented in sliceable, oblong patties in which you can see whole beans. It is a very important…
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…
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer Pronounce it: guh-vurts-trah-mee-ner A seductive charmer Gewürz is the wine student’s favourite – it’s the first grape variety you learn to recognise because of its exotic aroma. Depending on the style it is a…
Marrow
Marrow A marrow is a cucurbit, which means it’s from the same family as the melon, cucumber, squash and courgette. The marrow is actually a courgette that has been left on the plant to grow a little longer; likewise, if…