A Living Glossary
I add to this page as I go — whenever I realise a term might mean something different elsewhere, or could use a bit of explanation. It’s not meant to be formal or complete, just a friendly guide to the words and kitchen habits that appear often in my recipes.
Ingredients
| Terms I Use | Also Known As | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baby marrows | Zucchini / Courgettes | Young, tender marrows – mild in flavour and quick to cook. |
| Bell pepper | Capsicum | Sweet, colourful peppers – the green ones are less ripe, with a sharper taste. |
| Black garlic | Fresh garlic that has been slowly aged under controlled heat and humidity until the cloves turn black and soft. The process isn’t fermentation in the traditional sense, but a slow browning reaction that develops sweet, savoury flavours. It has notes of balsamic vinegar, molasses, tamarind, and roasted garlic, with almost none of the sharp bite of fresh garlic. Best with: Beef, chicken, pork, mushrooms, sauces, dressings, and compound butters. Availability: Asian supermarkets, some gourmet food stores, and an increasing number of larger supermarkets. | |
| Butternut | Butternut squash | Sweet, orange-fleshed pumpkin – not keto, but sometimes used in small amounts for flavour. |
| Cos lettuce | Romaine lettuce | Crisp, upright leaves with a mild flavour. Excellent for salads or as a wrap base. |
| Daikon | Japanese radish | A large white root vegetable with a mild, slightly sweet flavour that is much gentler than the small red radishes commonly found in supermarkets. It can be eaten raw, pickled, cooked, or added to soups and stews. Availability: Asian supermarkets, some larger supermarkets, and selected greengrocers. |
| Eggplant | Aubergine / Brinjals | Wonderful roasted or grilled until soft and golden. |
| Fresh cream | Heavy / Double cream | Thick and spoonable when cold. Whips beautifully. |
| Gem squash | Small round squash | Often baked or steamed whole, with a mild, nutty flavour. |
| Kimchi | A traditional Korean side dish made by fermenting vegetables—most commonly Napa cabbage—with chilli, garlic, ginger, and other seasonings. Its flavour is tangy, savoury, spicy, and deeply complex. Kimchi can be served cold as a condiment or cooked into soups, stews, fried rice, and stir-fries. Best with: Pork, chicken, eggs, rice, noodles, and grilled meats. Availability: Asian supermarkets and some supermarkets with an international food section. | |
| Napa cabbage | Chinese cabbage / Wombok | A leafy cabbage with crisp white stems and tender, pale green leaves. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavour and a delicate texture, making it ideal for salads, stir-fries, soups, hot pots, and fermented dishes such as kimchi. Availability: Commonly found in Asian supermarkets and increasingly available in larger supermarkets. |
| Pouring cream | Light cream | Thinner than fresh cream; ideal for pouring but doesn’t whip. |
| Psyllium Husk Powder | Used for structure in keto breads. Look for finely ground powder; a little goes a long way. | |
| Rocket | Arugula | Peppery salad leaf, lovely with lemon and olive oil. |
| Shallots | Shallots are a member of the onion family with a milder, sweeter flavour than regular onions. They have a delicate aroma and cook down beautifully, making them ideal for sauces, dressings, vinaigrettes, and dishes where a subtle onion flavour is preferred. They can be used raw or cooked and are often substituted for onions in French and Asian cooking. | |
| Sichuan pepper | Despite its name, Sichuan pepper is not a true peppercorn. It comes from the dried husks of the prickly ash tree and is famous for its unique citrus aroma and gentle tingling, numbing sensation on the tongue. It is a key ingredient in many Chinese dishes, especially those from Sichuan cuisine. Best with: Beef, chicken, pork, duck, tofu, and stir-fries. Availability:Asian supermarkets, spice merchants, and some specialty food stores | |
| Spring onions | Green onions / Scallions | Used raw or lightly cooked for a fresh onion flavour. |
| White miso | Shiro miso | A mild Japanese fermented soybean paste made from soybeans, rice, salt, and a fermentation culture. White miso is lighter in colour and sweeter than darker varieties, with a rich savoury (umami) flavour. It dissolves easily into sauces, soups, dressings, marinades, and butter, adding depth without tasting strongly of soy. Availability: Asian supermarkets and many larger supermarkets. |
| Xanthan Gum | A keto-friendly thickener and binder used in tiny amounts. A small spoon of ground flaxseed can work in some recipes if you don’t have it. |
Cooking Terms & Technique
| Term | Description |
| Blanche | To briefly boil vegetables, then plunge them into cold water to stop cooking. This helps greens stay bright and crisp before sautéing or freezing. I often blanch cauliflower or broccoli before roasting — it gives a better texture and colour. |
| Braise | To cook food slowly in a small amount of liquid, usually after browning it first. The dish is covered — sometimes with a lid, sometimes with a cartouche — and cooked gently until tender. Braising works beautifully for tougher cuts of meat, chicken pieces, or hearty vegetables like cabbage or fennel, letting flavours deepen while everything softens in its own juices. |
| Cartouche | A cartouche is a piece of baking paper cut to fit the surface of a pan. It’s placed directly on top of the food or liquid while cooking — usually when poaching, braising, or reducing. It helps control evaporation, keeps ingredients moist, and prevents a skin forming on sauces. To make one, cut a circle of baking paper slightly smaller than your pan and lay it gently over the surface. |
| Chiffonade | A French term meaning “little ribbons.” Commonly used for herbs such as basil, where the leaves are rolled up and sliced thinly. |
| Dash | A dash is a quick shake or small sprinkle, roughly ¼ teaspoon. |
| Deglaze | After searing meat or vegetables, you’ll often see a dark, sticky layer at the bottom of the pan — that’s packed with flavour. Deglazing means adding a splash of liquid (broth, water, or wine) to dissolve those caramelised bits, creating the base of a rich sauce or gravy. |
| Fold | A gentle way of mixing light and heavy ingredients without losing air. Use a large spoon or spatula to lift from the bottom and turn the mixture over itself — like tucking a blanket. You’ll often fold whipped cream or beaten egg whites into a batter to keep it light and fluffy. |
| Fond | The dark, flavourful bits that stick to the bottom of a pan after browning meat or vegetables. These caramelised juices are full of savoury depth — the foundation of many great sauces and gravies. Deglazing with a splash of liquid lifts the fond and turns it into something delicious. (My mother still thinks I’m burning the food, but the fond is the flavour foundation for my dish). |
| Pinch | A pinch is what you can pick up between your thumb and forefinger — about ⅛ teaspoon. |
| Poach | To cook gently in a liquid kept just below a simmer — the surface should be mostly still, with only an occasional small bubble. Poaching is ideal for delicate foods such as fish, chicken breasts, eggs, or fruit, helping them stay moist and tender. |
| Reduce | To reduce is to simmer a liquid (like stock, cream, or tomato sauce) until some of the water evaporates, thickening it and concentrating the flavour. It’s how you take a light broth to a glossy sauce — just a quiet simmer and patience. |
| Render | To render means slowly melting fat out of meat — for example, the crispy bits of bacon you fry before using in a salad, or the golden layer of fat that cooks out of lamb chops. The goal is to separate the clear fat (which can be used for cooking) from the crispy solids. |
| Sauté | To fry quickly in a small amount of fat over medium to high heat. The goal is colour and flavour without overcooking — think golden mushrooms or tender spinach. |
| Simmer | To cook gently just below boiling point — small bubbles rise lazily to the surface, rather than bursting vigorously. It’s ideal for soups, stews, sauces, or any dish that benefits from slow, even cooking. |
| Toss | To toss simply means mixing ingredients gently, often by lifting and turning them with a spoon or tongs until evenly coated. You’ll see it in phrases like “toss the cauliflower with olive oil” or “toss the salad with dressing.” |
| Whisk | To beat ingredients together using a whisk or fork until smooth and slightly airy. You might whisk eggs and cream for a custard, or combine dressing ingredients until they emulsify. A balloon whisk adds air; a fork works just fine for small jobs. |