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…
Rice
Rice Pronounce it: r-eye-s Rice is a grain, the seed of a type of grass, which is the most widely grown and the most important source of dietary carbohydrate on Earth. Generally grown in flooded…
Kale
Kale Pronounce it: kay-el A member of the cabbage family, kale comes in two forms: kale, which has smooth leaves, and curly kale, which has crinkly leaves. Curly kale is the most common of the…
X.O cognac
X.O cognac Pronounce it: exx-oh con-yak Created in 1870 for the personal use of Maurice Hennessy and his family and friends, X.O is a type of distilled wine and is widely considered the ultimate in…
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…
Celeriac
Celeriac Pronounce it: sell-air-e-ak The unsung hero of the vegetable world, knobbly, odd-shaped celeriac has a subtle, celery-like flavour, with nutty overtones. Try it as mash, in big-flavoured, slow-cook dishes, or in its classic form,…
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…
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…
Panettone
Panettone Pronounce it: pan-it-oh-nay Tall, golden, enriched brioche-like bread that can be plain or with dried fruits and candied citrus peel, panettone has become a Christmas staple throughout much of the world. Panettone and variations…
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…