Tomato
Tomato Pronounce it: toe-mart-oh A member of the nightshade family (along with aubergines, peppers and chillies), tomatoes are in fact a fruit, but their affinity for other savoury ingredients means that they are usually classed…
Viognier
Viognier Pronounce it: vee-oh-nyay A scented favourite Viognier is one of the great success stories of recent times. Never one of the easiest grapes to grow, production had shrunk back to a tiny amount in…
Tempranillo
Tempranillo Pronounce it: tem-pra-nee-yo Spain’s Don Juan Tempranillo is THE red grape of Spain. Central Spain uses it to make bright, juicy reds for drinking now – great low-priced party wines. Further North the same…
Red cabbage
Red cabbage Pronounce it: red cab-idge A favourite winter vegetable served hot with roasted game birds but equally good as a colourful and gratifying addition to any hot meal. It is usually long cooked with…
Miso
Miso Pronounce it: mee-soh One of the best-loved and most delicious fermented foods, miso is a Japanese flavouring made by the action of fermenting steamed soy beans with salt and the fungus aspergillus oryzae (kōji). It…
Sorrel
Sorrel Pronounce it: sor-rel Sorrel has a sharp, lemony flavour – the name derives from the French for ‘sour’. Highly regarded in France, where the leaves are used in soups and sauces, sorrel can also…
Xylitol
Xylitol Xylitol is an all-natural alternative to sugar. The substance derives from the fibres of plants and can be extracted from a variety of vegetation including berries, mushrooms, birch bark and corn husks. It’s also…
Vanilla
Vanilla Pronounce it: van-ill-ah The sun-dried seed pod of a type of climbing orchid, vanilla has an inimitable soft, sweet fragrance and flavour. The labour-intensive process involved in hand-pollinating and nurturing the flowers, together with…
Ketjap manis/Kecap manis
Ketjap manis/Kecap manis Originating in Indonesia, ketjap manis is a condiment similar to soy sauce but sweeter, with a thick, syrupy texture. Sometimes referred to as Indonesian ketchup, it’s made with palm sugar and spices…
Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh Pronounce it: tab-oo-lay Originally from Lebanon, but now popular throughout the Middle East, tabbouleh is a salad made from bulghur wheat (tender, chewy wheat kernels that have been steamed, dried and crushed), tomatoes, onion,…