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…
Paprika
Paprika Pronounce it: pa-preek-ah A spice that’s central to Hungarian cuisine, paprika is made by drying a particular type of sweet pepper, then grinding them to a fine, rich red powder. Its flavour varies from…
Pepper
Pepper Pronounce it: pep-iz Also known as capsicums, bell peppers, sweet peppers or by their colours, for example red and yellow peppers. These are a non-hot member of a large family that varies enormously in size,…
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…
Aduki bean
Aduki bean Pronounce it: a-dook-ee beens The aduki bean is a tiny, reddish-brown bean with a cream coloured seam and sweet, nutty flavour. It is particularly popular in Asian cooking, most often used for sweet…
New potatoes
New potatoes Pronounce it: n-ew po-tate-oes New potatoes have thin, wispy skins and a crisp, waxy texture. They are young potatoes and unlike their fully grown counterparts, they keep their shape once cooked and cut….
Blanch
Blanch Pronounce it: bla-anch The process of plunging ingredients – usually vegetables and fruit – into boiling water briefly, then draining and refreshing them in cold water in order to stop the cooking process. Blanching…
Risotto rice
Risotto rice To create an authentic creamy Italian risotto, the use of specialist rice is imperative. It comes in various forms and is usually very pale in colour, stubby and smooth in texture. Grains range…
Watercress
Watercress Pronounce it: wort-er-cress With deep green leaves, and crisp, paler stems, watercress is related to mustard and is one of the strongest-tasting salad leaves available. It has a pungent, slightly bitter, peppery flavour and…
Blackcurrants
Blackcurrants Pronounce it: black-cuh-rant The most intensely coloured and flavoured of all currants, blackcurrants are highly aromatic and have a delicious tart flavour. Recent research findings suggest that eating blackcurrants can help prevent the onset…