Food Dictionary
A food dictionary lists helpful information on different types of food and food related topics.
Absinthe - a type of liquor made by distilling wormwood; has an anise flavor and is highly potent.
Acidify - adding an acid based ingredient to foods during cooking, usually vinegar or citrus juice.
Ahi - a type of yellow fin tuna usually found in Hawaii.
Aioli - mayonnaise made with garlic cloves.
Appetizer - smaller courses used prior to the actual meal, sometimes referred to as hors d’ oeuvres.
Bacon - meat product coming from the sides and other fatty areas of the pig.
Bagel - dough cut into circles with a hole in the middle, boiled and then baked.
Baguette - French bread made into a long, thin shape.
Baking powder - leavener used in the baking of bread and other pastries.
Baking soda - leavener used in combination with an acid based substance.
Beef Stroganoff - a type of beef dish with mushrooms and onions cooked slowly.
Beignets - New Orleans based pastry dish covered with powdered sugar.
Biscotti - Italian cookie that’s baked twice to make it crunchy on the outside.
Caesar Salad - romaine lettuce topped with garlic and anchovy based sauce or dressing.
Calamari - squid cut into rings for cooking, typically deep fried.
Calzone - dough stuffed with tomato sauce and other toppings before being baked.
Capellini - thin and flat spaghetti, also known as angel hair.
Caramel - white sugar that’s slowly cooked over heat until it changes color.
Caviar - salted fish eggs; typically from sturgeon breeds.
Chestnut flour - type of flour made from dried chestnuts used in east European cooking.
Cincinnati chili - regional specialty using cinnamon and other spicy or sweet ingredients, usually thin.
Dagwood sandwich - tall sandwich made by alternating fillings with slices of bread.
Dandelion greens - edible leaves from the dandelion plant; bitter in taste.
Dirty rice - Louisiana based dish of rice cooked with chopped meats and spices.
Edible flowers - flowers used as decoration that are safe for consumption.
Eggnog - holiday drink made of rum, eggs, sugar and spices such as nutmeg.
Fava beans - light brown beans that must be cooked before eating.
Fondue - mixture of cheeses melted and served in a pot for dipping.
Garnish - edible decoration used on a plate such as a strawberry or parsley sprig.
Gazpacho - soup made of tomatoes and other vegetables; served cold.
Hamburger - ground beef formed into a patty and cooked on a grill, in a pan or in the oven.
Ketchup - tomato based condiment.
Key lime - small pale green limes with a tart flavor; typically used in pies.
Kobe beef - the most expensive beef available, hails from specialty farms in Japan.
Lasagna - Italian dish created by layering cheese, tomato sauce and pasta and then baked in the oven.
Macaroon - a type of cookie with a soft inside and crunch outside, typically coffee or spice flavored.
Mahi Mahi - type of fatty dolphin fish popular in Hawaii.
Maple syrup - a type of syrup made by boiling the map from a maple tree.
Napoleon pastry - French pastry made by layering baked puff pastry with a cream based item such as whipped cream or ice cream and dusted with powdered sugar.
Noisette - type of hazelnut; usually used in French cooking.
Noodle - pasta made of flour and water, then rolled and cut into shapes.
Olive oil - oil made by pressing ripened olives to extract their natural oils.
Omelet - eggs and a liquid beaten together and cooked in a flat pan; usually folded in half before serving.
Pancakes - batter cooked in a flat pan to create thin cakes.
Paella - a Spanish dish featuring saffron, rice, tomatoes and some type of meat.
Quesadilla - Mexican dish made of cheese and other items placed inside a tortilla and grilled.
Ravioli - cheese or meat stuffed pasta served with tomato sauce.
Sake - Japanese alcohol made by fermenting rice.
Taco - tortilla fried to make it crunchy and stuffed with meat and other fillings.
Vegemite - Australian specialty made of yeast extract.
For more information check out, Hungry Monster Glossary, Linda‘s Culinary Dictionary, The Devil‘s Food Dictionary and the BBC Food Glossary.
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