Vocabulary: food

Borrowed through Japanese from Chinese doufu; now the standard everyday English word.

• a soft white food made from curdled soya-bean milk pressed into blocks

  She stir-fried the tofu with vegetables.

A literal translation (calque) of Chinese doufu. It means exactly the same thing as tofu but sounds older and more descriptive; still common on menus and in British English.

• tofu; a soft food made from curdled soya-bean milk

  The menu listed a spicy bean curd dish.

Also spelled omelet (AmE). From French. Common fillings: cheese, ham, mushrooms, herbs, peppers. Chinese: 歐姆蛋.

• a dish of beaten eggs cooked in a pan until set, typically folded around a filling

  He made a mushroom and cheese omelette for breakfast.

Also called "preserved egg" or "thousand-year egg" (despite the name, preservation actually takes only weeks to months). Made by curing duck, chicken, or quail eggs in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, and quicklime, which turns the yolk dark green/gray and the white into a dark, gelatinous jelly.

• a Chinese preserved egg with a dark, jelly-like white and greenish-gray yolk (Chinese 皮蛋)

  The congee was topped with sliced century egg.

• a dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly in liquid in a closed dish or pan

  She made a hearty beef stew for dinner.

"Stew in one's own juices" = be left to suffer the consequences of one's own actions.

1. to cook (food) slowly in liquid in a closed dish or pan

   Stew the lamb for two hours.

2. to worry or be agitated about something

   Don't stew about it; let it go.

From Spanish: "little donkey". Particularly associated with Mexican-American cuisine. "Wet burrito" is smothered in sauce.

• a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla wrapped around a savory filling, typically beans, meat, or cheese

  He ordered a chicken burrito for lunch.

From Nahuatl ahuacamolli ("avocado sauce"). Often called "guac" for short.

• a Mexican dish of mashed avocado mixed with chopped onion, tomatoes, chili peppers, and seasonings

  They served guacamole with tortilla chips.

• a Mexican dish consisting of a folded or rolled tortilla filled with various mixtures

  Chicken tacos.

• a small ball or parcel of dough, often wrapped around a filling, then boiled, steamed, or fried

  We folded pork-and-cabbage dumplings all afternoon.

From Cantonese 雲吞.

• a small Chinese dumpling of seasoned minced filling, usually served in soup

  A steaming bowl of wonton soup.

• a starchy tropical root vegetable with purple-flecked flesh, eaten cooked or as a sweet flavor

  Taro bubble tea has a pale purple color.

Also "baozi". From Mandarin 包.

• a soft steamed Chinese bun, often filled with meat or sweet paste

  We ordered pork bao at the dim sum place.

Roasted chestnuts are a traditional Christmas/winter treat in Europe and America. Don't confuse with "horse chestnut" (conker): different species, inedible.

1. a large edible nut from a tree

   They roasted chestnuts over the fire.

2. an old joke or story that has become tired

   That's an old chestnut.

"Open sesame!": magic phrase from Ali Baba (Arabian Nights). "Sesame Street": children's TV. Common allergen.

• a plant whose seeds are used in cooking

  She sprinkled sesame seeds on the bread.

From Chinese renshen. The fleshy, forked root is used in traditional Chinese medicine and as a tonic herb; believed to boost energy and immunity.

• the aromatic forked root of certain plants, used in herbal medicine and teas

  She drank ginseng tea every morning for energy.

From Japanese 枝豆 (eda = branch, mame = bean). Served as a snack or appetizer, typically boiled and salted in the pod.

• immature soybeans, typically served boiled or steamed in their pods

  We ordered edamame as a starter.

From Japanese 寿司. The key element is the vinegared rice, not the raw fish - sushi can include cooked seafood, vegetables, or egg.

• 1a Japanese dish of small portions of vinegared rice topped with or wrapped around raw fish, seafood, or vegetables

  We ordered a platter of sushi for the table.

From Japanese 刺身. Unlike sushi, sashimi is served without rice - just thinly sliced raw fish or seafood.

• 2a Japanese dish of thinly sliced raw fish or seafood, served without rice

  The salmon sashimi melted in her mouth.

Like beef (cow) and pork (pig), venison is the French-derived name for deer meat - a class distinction dating back to the Norman Conquest.

• the meat from a deer

  They served venison stew at the lodge.

Meat of a mature sheep; lamb comes from a young sheep, similar to how veal (young) differs from beef (mature).

• the meat of a mature sheep, with a stronger flavor than lamb

  The stew was made with mutton and root vegetables.

• meat from cattle

  They grilled beef for the barbecue.

Pronunciation varies: /skoʊn/ (American/Southern English) or /skɑːn/ (Scottish/Northern English). Traditional with British "cream tea" - tea + scones + jam + clotted cream.

• a small unsweetened or lightly sweetened cake, often eaten with butter, jam, or cream

  She had scones with clotted cream for tea.

Italian for "slipper" (its flat, elongated shape). A relatively modern bread, invented in 1982 in response to the popularity of the French baguette. Known for a crisp crust and open, airy crumb, popular for sandwiches.

• a flat, elongated Italian white bread with a crisp crust and open texture, often used for sandwiches

  The deli toasted the sandwich on a thick slice of ciabatta.

From Hindi/Urdu/Persian. A leavened flatbread baked in a tandoor (clay oven). Also spelled nan.

• 1a soft, leavened Indian flatbread, typically tear-shaped and cooked in a very hot clay oven

  We tore off pieces of warm naan to scoop up the curry.

From Greek. Also spelled pitta (BrE). The pocket inside forms during baking when steam puffs up the dough.

• 2a round, flat Middle Eastern bread that can be split open to form a pocket for filling

  He stuffed the pita with falafel, lettuce, and tahini.

French. Enriched with butter and eggs, giving it a rich, slightly sweet flavor and soft, tender crumb - more like a pastry than everyday bread. Common as burger buns and French toast.

• a soft, rich French bread made with a high proportion of eggs and butter

  The burger came on a buttery brioche bun.

1. a thick mixture of flour and liquid (and often other ingredients) that is shaped and baked to make bread, cookies, etc.

   Let the dough rise for an hour before baking.

2. (informal) money

   He's been raking in the dough since his startup took off.

Also spelled "donut" (informal American).

• 1a small ring or ball of sweet fried dough, often glazed or sprinkled with sugar

  He stopped by the bakery for a chocolate doughnut on his way to work.

Made with a natural fermented starter instead of commercial yeast. The tangy flavor comes from lactic acid bacteria. San Francisco is famous for its sourdough bread.

• 2bread made from dough that has been leavened with a fermented starter culture, giving it a distinctive tangy flavor

  The restaurant serves its sandwiches on freshly baked sourdough.

From German Brezel. Traditional snack, especially Bavarian. Soft pretzels are common in US shopping malls and at sports events.

• a baked bread snack made from a piece of dough twisted into a distinctive knot shape, often sprinkled with salt; comes in soft (warm) or hard (crunchy) varieties

  At the ballpark, he bought a soft pretzel with mustard.

• a ring-shaped bread roll

  He ordered a sesame bagel.

Two senses: bread, and ceremonial drink ("raise a toast"). The drink sense comes from the old practice of dropping spiced toast in wine.

1. sliced bread browned by heat

   He had toast for breakfast.

2. a drink to honor someone

   They raised a toast to the bride.

• a flaky crescent-shaped French pastry

  She had a croissant and coffee for breakfast.

From French baguette (little stick). The traditional French baguette was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2022.

• a long thin loaf of French bread

  He bought a fresh baguette from the bakery.

American name for the fresh leaves; British call them "coriander leaves". The seeds are called "coriander" in both. Note: a genetic variation makes about 10-20% of people perceive cilantro as tasting like soap.

• 1the fresh leaves of the coriander plant, used as a herb in Mexican and Asian cooking

  She topped the tacos with cilantro and lime.

British name for the fresh leaves (the same plant as American 'cilantro'). In both American and British English, 'coriander' also names the plant's dried seeds, used whole or ground as a spice.

1. 2(British) the fresh leaves of the coriander plant, used as a herb

   She scattered fresh coriander over the curry.

2. the dried seeds of the plant, used whole or ground as a spice

   Toast the coriander seeds before grinding them.

Usually plural: bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli sprouts. Brussels sprouts are a different vegetable (small cabbages).

1. a young shoot of a plant, especially one eaten as a vegetable

   Add some bean sprouts to the stir-fry.

2. (Brussels sprouts) small green vegetables that look like tiny cabbages

   Roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic are delicious.

Plural: loaves. Originated from Old English hlaf.

• a quantity of bread baked in one piece, usually oblong-shaped

  She bought a fresh loaf of bread.

French: pâte feuilletée. Many layers of butter and dough. Used in croissants, vol-au-vents, palmiers.

• a light flaky pastry made in many thin layers

  The pie had a golden puff pastry crust.

Chemically sucrose. The world's leading source is sugarcane (~80%), followed by sugar beet (~20%).

1. a sweet crystalline substance obtained from sugarcane or sugar beet, used to sweeten food and drink

   Do you take sugar in your coffee?

2. (informal) a term of endearment

   How are you doing, sugar?

• 1an edible seed of a legume plant

  The soup contains black beans.

Also called fava bean (especially in American English). A large flat green bean, popular in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking.

• 2a large flat edible bean with a thick green pod

  Broad beans are delicious with a little olive oil and lemon.

The source of common bean sprouts in Asian cooking. Also ground into flour for glass noodles (cellophane noodles).

• 3a small round green bean, widely used in Asian cuisine, often sprouted

  Mung bean sprouts are a staple in stir-fries.

US "jelly" = clear fruit spread (without solids); UK "jelly" = US "Jell-O" (gelatin dessert). US fruit spread with chunks = "jam".

• (US) a clear fruit spread; (UK) a gelatin dessert

  He spread jelly on his toast.

Brand name (capitalized) often used generically. Kraft Heinz product. Various flavors and colors. Associated with cafeteria food and 1950s American cuisine.

• a brand of gelatin dessert

  The kids loved the green Jell-O.

A classic American brunch dish. Variations include eggs Florentine (spinach instead of ham) and eggs Royale (smoked salmon).

• a brunch dish of poached eggs and ham or bacon on toasted English muffins, topped with hollandaise sauce

  She always orders eggs Benedict when we go out for brunch.

From Cantonese 點心 (dim2 sam1, "touch the heart"). Traditionally served with tea (yum cha) from rolling carts in large restaurants.

• a Chinese meal of small savory dishes such as dumplings, spring rolls, and steamed buns, typically served with tea

  We went for dim sum on Sunday morning.

From Arabic. A staple of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, often served in pita bread with tahini sauce.

• a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, herbs, and spices

  She ordered a falafel wrap with hummus and pickles.

Also spelled kabob (AmE). From Arabic/Turkish. Varieties include shish kebab (skewered), doner kebab (rotating spit), and seekh kebab (ground meat).

• a dish of pieces of meat, fish, or vegetables roasted or grilled on a skewer or spit

  We grilled chicken kebabs with peppers and onions.

From Japanese お任せ ("I'll leave it up to you"). The diner trusts the chef to select the best available ingredients, typically at the sushi counter.

• a style of Japanese dining in which the chef selects and serves a sequence of dishes based on the freshest ingredients available

  We sat at the counter and ordered the omakase.

From Japanese 丼. Often shortened to -don in compound names: gyudon (beef bowl), katsudon (pork cutlet bowl), oyakodon (chicken-and-egg bowl), tendon (tempura bowl).

• a Japanese rice bowl dish with meat, fish, vegetables, or other toppings served over a bowl of steamed rice

  She ordered a donburi topped with teriyaki chicken and pickled ginger.

From Japanese 蛸焼き: tako (octopus) + yaki (grilled). Originated in Osaka in the 1930s. Cooked in a special molded pan.

• a Japanese street food consisting of small round balls of batter filled with diced octopus, cooked in a specially shaped griddle

  We bought takoyaki from a street vendor in Osaka.

Also called a fixed-price meal or prix fixe. In Japanese restaurants, this is called teishoku (定食), typically rice, soup, a main dish, and pickles.

• a meal served in a restaurant at a fixed price, usually consisting of a predetermined combination of courses or dishes

  The lunch set meal comes with rice, miso soup, and grilled fish.

Shaved flakes of dried, fermented, and smoked skipjack tuna. A foundation of Japanese cooking, used to make dashi stock.

• thin shavings of dried and smoked bonito fish, used as a seasoning and stock base in Japanese cuisine

  She sprinkled bonito flakes on top of the tofu.

From Spanish. Refers to several species of fish related to tuna, especially skipjack tuna (katsuo).

• a medium-sized fish of the mackerel family, related to and resembling tuna

  They caught a large bonito while fishing offshore.

From Japanese 鰹節. One of the hardest foods in the world when fully dried; traditionally shaved with a special plane (katsuobushi kezuriki).

• blocks or flakes of dried, fermented, and smoked skipjack tuna used as a fundamental ingredient in Japanese cooking

  Katsuobushi is essential for making authentic dashi.

From Japanese 海苔. The standard word for thin dried seaweed sheets used to wrap sushi and onigiri.

• thin sheets of dried edible seaweed, used especially in Japanese cuisine to wrap sushi

  She wrapped the rice in a sheet of nori.

The broader English/Welsh term for edible seaweed. Welsh laverbread (bara lawr) is a traditional dish made from laver.

• an edible seaweed with thin flat fronds, used as food in Wales and East Asia

  Laver is harvested along the Welsh coast and made into laverbread.

• a mass of fluffy spun sugar, usually pink, wrapped around a stick (British)

  Eating candyfloss at the fair.

British English term. Used in tea/coffee, also fed to horses as treats. 'A Spoonful of Sugar' - Mary Poppins song.

• a cube of sugar

  She added two sugar lumps to her tea.

The standard American English term. British English prefers 'sugar lump'.

• a small cube of compressed sugar, used to sweeten drinks

  He dropped a sugar cube into his coffee.

"Happy as a clam" (idiom) = very happy. "Clam up" (informal) = to become silent.

• a marine bivalve mollusk with a shell of two equal halves

  They dug for clams on the beach.

Shell shape inspired the Shell Oil logo. "Scalloped edge" is a decorative wavy border. "Coquilles Saint-Jacques" is a French scallop dish.

• an edible shellfish with a fan-shaped shell

  They had grilled scallops for dinner.

• a dish with a light browned crust of breadcrumbs or melted cheese

  Potato gratin.

What Americans call "crackers" the British call "biscuits" (savory ones); what Americans call "cookies" the British call "biscuits" too: confusing! "Christmas cracker" (British) is a paper tube with a small toy inside.

• a thin dry baked food, often eaten with cheese

  He nibbled on a cracker.

Distinct types: sultanas (from green grapes, golden color), currants (small dark raisins). "Raisin in the Sun": 1959 Lorraine Hansberry play.

• a dried grape

  She added raisins to the oatmeal.

"L" is silent: homophone of "yoke" (harness for oxen). Color depends on hen's diet; deeper orange = more carotenoids.

• the yellow part of an egg

  Separate the yolk from the white.

• an oval or round object laid by a female bird, reptile, fish, or invertebrate, usually containing a developing embryo

  A boiled egg.

More formally called albumen. Turns opaque white when cooked (hence the name); whipped for meringues, macarons, and souffles.

• the clear liquid part of an egg surrounding the yolk, mostly protein

  Whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form.

The shell often naturally splits open when ripe, a trait used in marketing ("the smiling nut"). Also loosely used for the nut's pale yellow-green color.

1. the edible green seed of a small tree native to the Middle East and Central Asia, eaten roasted and salted or used in desserts

   She ordered pistachio ice cream.

2. the tree that produces this seed

   Pistachio trees thrive in hot, dry climates.

"B" silent. "Lamb of God": Christian title for Jesus. "Like a lamb to slaughter" = naive victim. "Lamb": also tender mutton meat.

• a young sheep

  The lamb was bleating for its mother.

• fat from a pig, melted down and used in cooking

  The pastry is made with lard.

• a fatty cut of pork from the belly of the pig, often braised or roasted

  The chef braised the pork belly until it was tender.

• cured meat from the sides and belly of a pig, having distinct strips of fat and typically served in thin slices

  Crispy bacon.

British. American equivalent: ground meat / ground beef.

• meat (especially beef) that has been chopped or ground into small pieces

  She bought a pound of mince for the shepherd's pie.

British English tends to say 'prawn' where American English says 'shrimp' (often for the larger ones).

• a small edible shellfish similar to a shrimp, with a long body and legs

  We ordered a plate of grilled prawns.

British English tends to say prawn for the larger ones; 'shrimp' is more common in American English.

1. a small, long-tailed shellfish that lives in water

   The shrimp scuttled along the seabed.

2. this shellfish prepared and eaten as food

   We ordered a shrimp cocktail.

Bluefin tuna can sell for record prices in Japan ($3.1 million for one fish at the Tokyo fish market in 2019). Overfishing is a major sustainability concern.

• a large saltwater fish, often eaten as food

  She made a tuna sandwich for lunch.

• a small single-serving paper or plastic packet containing sugar, typically provided at cafes and restaurants

  He tore open a sugar packet and stirred it into his coffee.

• a mass of fluffy spun sugar, usually pink, wrapped around a stick (US)

  Kids eating cotton candy.

Two main types: curly-leaf (decorative) and flat-leaf (Italian, more flavorful). "Parsley" is the P in the song "Scarborough Fair" (parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme).

• a herb with bright green leaves, used in cooking

  Sprinkle chopped parsley over the soup.

British pronunciation is /ˈbæzəl/. Sweet basil is central to Italian cooking (pesto, Caprese salad); Thai basil, with a more anise-like flavor, is used in Southeast Asian dishes.

• an aromatic herb with green leaves, used especially in Italian and Southeast Asian cooking

  He tore fresh basil leaves over the tomato salad.

'In a pickle' = in a difficult or awkward situation. In the US, 'a pickle' usually means a pickled cucumber.

• a cucumber or other food preserved in vinegar or brine

  He put extra pickles on the burger.

• to preserve food in vinegar or brine

  They pickle cucumbers every summer.

Homophone with "flower," and originally the same word: flour meant the "flower" (finest part) of the ground meal. Not related to "flourish."

• a powder obtained by grinding grain, typically wheat, and used to make bread, cakes, and pastry

  She sifted the flour before mixing the dough.

One of the world's three main cereal crops (with rice and corn). "Whole wheat" = with the bran and germ retained. "Separate the wheat from the chaff": distinguish valuable from worthless.

• a cereal grain used to make flour

  Wheat is the main ingredient of most breads.

Homophone of "way". The liquid left after milk curdles; "whey protein" is a popular fitness supplement.

• the watery liquid that remains after milk has been curdled and strained, as in cheesemaking

  Little Miss Muffet ate her curds and whey.

Often plural "curds" (curds and whey). The solid part formed when milk sours or is coagulated, used to make cheese.

• the soft, white solid substance formed when milk coagulates, used to make cheese

  The cheesemaker pressed the curds into a mold.

"Gravy train" = an easy way to make money. "Gravy boat" = a long, narrow vessel for serving gravy.

• a sauce made from the juices of meat, often thickened with flour

  She poured gravy over the mashed potatoes.

• a sea animal with a long soft body, eight arms, and two longer tentacles

  A squid can shoot ink to confuse predators.

• the meat of this animal eaten as food

  They ordered fried squid as an appetizer.

• a premium variety of beef from Tajima cattle raised in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, known for its intense marbling and tenderness

  A small steak of real Kobe beef can cost hundreds of dollars.

• a small, oily, silvery fish from the herring family, typically eaten salted, cured, or canned; commonly used as a strong-tasting pizza topping or in Caesar salad dressing

  He hates anchovies on his pizza.

American origin. A "granola" person (slang) = someone with crunchy, hippie, health-conscious lifestyle.

• a breakfast cereal of rolled oats, nuts, and honey or syrup, baked until crisp; often eaten with milk or yogurt

  She sprinkled granola on top of her yogurt.

Hungarian / Serbo-Croatian word for "pepper". A staple in Hungarian cuisine (e.g., goulash).

• a red powdered spice made from dried sweet bell peppers, used to flavor and color food

  Sprinkle paprika over the deviled eggs for color.

1. (uncountable) a dough of flour, water, and fat, used as a base for baked goods such as pies and tarts

   Roll out the pastry into a thin sheet.

2. (countable) a sweet baked good made from such dough, often with a filling

   They picked up Danish pastries at the bakery for breakfast.

Two pronunciations: /ˈfɪlɪt/ (anglicized, more common in general use) and /fɪˈleɪ/ (French-influenced, especially for the boneless meat/fish sense, often spelled 'filet'). British English strongly prefers /ˈfɪlɪt/.

• a piece of meat or fish that has had the bones removed

  She ordered the salmon fillet for dinner.

Two pronunciations: /ˈfɪlɪt/ (anglicized, more common in general use) and /fɪˈleɪ/ (French-influenced, especially for the boneless meat/fish sense, often spelled 'filet'). British English strongly prefers /ˈfɪlɪt/.

• to remove the bones from a piece of fish or meat

  The chef filleted the trout with practiced ease.

From Italian, meaning "squid". Often refers specifically to deep-fried squid rings.

• squid prepared as food, typically sliced into rings and fried

  We ordered calamari as an appetizer.

Traditionally served with mother-of-pearl spoons because metal can affect the taste.

• the salted roe (eggs) of sturgeon or other large fish, eaten as a delicacy

  They served beluga caviar at the gala.

Homophone of "muscle". Common in moules-frites (Belgian dish).

• an edible shellfish with a dark elongated shell, found in fresh or salt water

  They ordered a bowl of mussels in white wine sauce.

Also: "a clove of garlic" = one segment of a garlic bulb (different etymology). Past tense of "cleave" (to split) is also "clove".

• a dried flower bud of a tropical tree, used as a spice with a strong sweet smell

  She studded the ham with cloves before baking.

The cashew nut grows beneath the "cashew apple", a fleshy fruit. The shell is toxic and requires careful processing.

• the curved, kidney-shaped edible nut of a tropical tree, often eaten roasted

  She added cashews to the stir-fry.

Most often "hamburger patty". Also "peppermint patty" = a candy.

• a small flat round cake of minced or chopped food, especially meat

  He flipped the burger patties on the grill.

Same word in French for both the dish and what's cooked in it.

1. a large dish with a lid, used for cooking food slowly in an oven

   She put the chicken into a heavy casserole.

2. a kind of stew cooked slowly in such a dish

   She made a hearty beef casserole.

From German: sauer ("sour") + Kraut ("cabbage"). Korean kimchi is a similar fermented cabbage dish.

• chopped cabbage that has been fermented in brine, a traditional German dish

  He ordered bratwurst with sauerkraut.

Root of cheesy.

• a food made from the pressed curds of milk

  She sprinkled grated cheese over the pasta.

Belgian waffles (thicker, deeper grids) are popular at brunch.

• a small crisp batter cake, baked in a waffle iron with a characteristic grid pattern

  They had waffles with maple syrup for breakfast.

From French. "Foie gras" is the famous (and controversial) goose-liver pâté.

• a paste, typically of seasoned ground meat or fish

  They served liver pâté with toast as an appetizer.

• a sauce, typically of oil, vinegar, and spices, in which food is soaked before cooking

  He mixed soy sauce and ginger into the marinade.

"Butter someone up" = flatter them to gain favor. "Bread and butter" = main source of income.

• a yellowish fatty substance made by churning cream, used as a spread and in cooking

  She spread butter on her toast.

• to spread butter on something

  He buttered the bread.

"Clam chowder" is a famous New England specialty. "Manhattan clam chowder" uses tomato instead of cream.

• a rich soup typically containing fish, clams, or corn with potatoes, onions, and milk

  She had clam chowder at the seafood restaurant.

Also spelled "yoghurt" (British) or "yoghourt". From Turkish.

• a semi-solid food made from milk fermented by added bacteria

  She had Greek yogurt for breakfast.

Walnut wood is prized for furniture; walnut oil for cooking and finishing.

• the brown wrinkled edible nut of a tree of the genus Juglans

  She added chopped walnuts to the salad.

From French vinaigre ("sour wine"). Many varieties: balsamic, apple cider, rice, malt, white.

• a sour liquid made from oxidized alcohol, used as a condiment or for pickling

  She added balsamic vinegar to the salad dressing.

From Spanish vainilla ("little pod"). Vanilla pods are the second most expensive spice after saffron. Slang: "vanilla" = plain/conventional, especially in sexual preferences.

1. (uncountable) a flavoring made from the seedpods of a tropical orchid

   She added vanilla extract to the batter.

2. (adjective) plain or ordinary

   He has a vanilla taste in music.

Plural same as singular. Common types: rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout. Related to salmon.

• a freshwater fish related to salmon, often caught for food and sport

  He caught a large trout in the stream.

Maple syrup is famous from Canada and the northeastern US.

• a thick sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar in water, often with flavorings

  She poured maple syrup on her pancakes.

Famous saying: "The world is your oyster" (from Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor). London's "Oyster card" is the contactless public-transit card.

• a marine mollusk with a rough irregular shell, some of which produce pearls and many of which are eaten as a delicacy

  They served raw oysters on ice.

American term for the breakfast porridge. Brand-name: Quaker Oats. Also refers to a beige-gray color.

• (American) ground or rolled oats; a hot breakfast cereal made from them

  He eats oatmeal with brown sugar every morning.

British term for what Americans call oatmeal. Famous from "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" (too hot, too cold, just right). British slang: "doing porridge" = serving a prison sentence.

• (British) a hot dish of oats boiled with water or milk

  He had porridge with honey for breakfast.

Canada produces about 70% of the world's supply, mostly in Quebec. Grade A is paler and milder; Grade B is darker and stronger.

• a sweet syrup made from the sap of maple trees

  He poured maple syrup on his pancakes.

"Curry favor" (idiom) = try to gain someone's approval through flattery: unrelated etymology to the food (from Old French "correier" = to prepare). The food sense is from Tamil "kari" (sauce).

• a dish of meat, vegetables, etc., cooked in a spicy sauce, originating from Indian cuisine

  They ordered chicken curry for dinner.

Also spelled "chilli" (British) and "chile" (American Southwest). "Chili" (Tex-Mex stew with beans and meat) is also a famous American dish. Spicy heat measured in Scoville units.

• a small hot-tasting pod of a variety of capsicum

  Add a chopped chili for extra heat.

British spelling; American: chili or chile.

• a small hot-tasting pod of a variety of capsicum, used in cooking

  She added two red chillies to the curry.

The herb (Latin mentha) and the money senses (Latin moneta, the temple of Juno Moneta where Roman coins were struck) are unrelated homographs.

1. an aromatic herb used in cooking and flavoring

   She garnished the lamb with fresh mint.

2. a small candy flavored with mint

   He offered her a mint after dinner.

3. a place where a country's coins are manufactured

   The coins were struck at the Royal Mint.

4. (informal) a large amount of money

   Those front-row tickets must have cost a mint.

From French fondre (to melt). Classic Swiss fondue uses Gruyère and Emmental cheese. Chocolate fondue is also popular. Communal dining tradition.

• a dish of melted cheese or chocolate into which food is dipped

  They had cheese fondue for dinner.

American: silent "h" (/ɝːb/). British: pronounced "h" (/hɝːb/). "Scarborough Fair": folk song listing "parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme".

• a plant whose leaves are used for flavoring or medicine

  She grows herbs in her garden.

From Portuguese marmelada (originally from quince). "Orange marmalade": beloved British breakfast spread (Paddington Bear's favorite).

• a preserve made from citrus fruit, especially oranges

  She spread marmalade on her toast.

American term. British equivalent: "icing". Common types: buttercream, cream cheese, ganache, fondant.

• (American) sweet cream spread on cakes

  She added frosting to the cupcakes.

"Feast of the Seven Fishes": Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition. "Feast or famine": extreme abundance or extreme lack.

• a large meal, typically a celebratory one

  They prepared a wedding feast.

"In a nutshell" = briefly. "Tough nut to crack" = difficult problem. "Nuts and bolts" = essentials. Slang: "nuts" = crazy.

1. a fruit with a hard shell and a kernel

   He ate a handful of nuts.

2. a metal piece that screws onto a bolt

   Tighten the nut with a wrench.

Many distinct senses: fruit preserve, traffic jam, music jam (improvised session), to be in a jam (predicament).

1. a thick spread made from cooked fruit

   She makes strawberry jam every summer.

2. a difficult situation

   We're in a real jam.

"Hot cross bun": Easter tradition. "Hair bun": ballerina style. "Bun" (slang) = buttock ("buns"). "Top knot" / "man bun": hairstyle trends.

• a small round bread; a hairstyle

  She bit into the cinnamon bun.

Named after the 4th Earl of Sandwich (1762) who allegedly invented it to eat with one hand while gambling. "Sandwich generation": adults caring for both kids and aging parents.

• two slices of bread with filling between

  She made a peanut butter sandwich.

• a cut of beef from the lower chest

  The restaurant smokes brisket for twelve hours.

Also spelled sugarcane.

• a tall tropical grass whose stalks are used to make sugar

  The farm grows sugar cane near the river.

1. domesticated birds kept for meat or eggs

   The farm raises poultry and goats.

2. meat from chickens, ducks, or similar birds

   The restaurant serves fish and poultry.

British spelling; American English usually writes chili powder.

• powdered dried chili peppers used as a spice

  Add chilli powder if you want more heat.

Named after the Mediterranean island Sardinia. "Packed like sardines": crowded together. Iconic canned food.

• a small oily fish often canned

  He opened a tin of sardines.

British English for a Chinese-style spring roll in some contexts.

• a fried roll of thin pastry filled with vegetables or meat

  We ordered pancake rolls with the noodles.

• a beet grown commercially for sugar production

  The farm grows sugar beet and barley.

Spanish dish from Valencia; English pronunciation often differs from Spanish.

• a Spanish rice dish cooked with saffron and meat or seafood

  We shared a seafood paella at the restaurant.

• a thin piece of meat, often breaded and fried

  She ordered a pork cutlet with rice.

• a thick creamy sauce made with oil, egg yolk, and acid

  She spread mayonnaise on the sandwich.

'Too many cooks spoil the broth' (proverb). Often used like 'stock'.

• a savory liquid made by simmering meat, fish, or vegetables, used as a soup base

  She sipped a bowl of warm chicken broth.

A fungus that ferments sugar into carbon dioxide and alcohol; used in baking and brewing.

• a microscopic fungus used to make bread rise and to ferment alcohol

  Add the yeast to warm water to activate it.

A butter substitute made from vegetable oils. The 'g' is soft ('marj-').

• a spread made from vegetable oils, used in place of butter

  She spread margarine on the toast instead of butter.

The 'l' is usually silent ('AH-mund').

• the edible oval nut of the almond tree, eaten raw or used in cooking

  She sprinkled toasted almonds over the salad.

The 'l' is silent.

• a large edible fish with pink flesh, known for swimming upriver to lay its eggs

  We grilled fresh salmon for dinner.

Pronounced 'pih-KAHN' or 'PEE-kan' (much debated). Native to North America; famous in pecan pie.

• a smooth brown nut with an edible kernel, from a tree of the hickory family

  She baked a pecan pie for Thanksgiving.

Unsweetened, unlike 'condensed milk'.

• unsweetened milk thickened by evaporating some of its water content, sold in cans

  The recipe calls for a can of evaporated milk.

American English: confectioners’ sugar.

• finely powdered sugar used to make icing or frosting

  Mix the butter with the icing sugar.

• pasta made in solid strings, between macaroni and vermicelli in thickness

  Spaghetti bolognese.

• a variety of pasta formed in narrow tubes

  A bowl of macaroni.

1. a sweet or savory dish made as a smooth light mass with whipped cream and beaten egg white, flavored with chocolate, fish, etc.

   A chocolate mousse.

2. a light foam styling product applied to the hair

   He applied some mousse before styling his hair.

• an aromatic spice made from the peeled, dried, and rolled bark of a Southeast Asian tree

  A stick of cinnamon.

• a style or method of cooking, especially as characteristic of a particular country, region, or establishment

  Much Venetian cuisine is based on seafood.