Category Archives: Culinary Dictionary

Carne Asada

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The dish is commonly prepared in the northern and western parts of Mexico and in the American Southwest. Carne asada means ‘roasted beef’ but in reality it’s cooked on a grill. Before grilling, the meat is marinated in an olive oil with salt, lime juice, garlic powder and pepper. It’s best to use flank steak...
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Radish

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Radishes are edible root vegetables,  a member of the mustard family that can grow nearly all year. They are very tasty and healthy with a slight peppery flavor and a crisp, crunchy texture. Mustard oil gives radishes their sharp flavor. They are rich in  potassium, ascorbic and folic acid, a good source of vitamin B6, magnesium, riboflavin, and calcium....
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Chives

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A delicate member of the onion family, with a hint of garlic. Chives are a perennial plant, blooming with beautiful purple flowers from April/May to August. The leaves can be used all year round, snip with kitchen scissors or chop. Rich in vitamin A and C, calcium and iron. Chopped chives can go with nearly any dish whenever you want the...
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Asparagus

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Asparagus is one of the most popular vegetables with its intense savoury flavour. Asparagus can be a different colors, for example French asparagus is purple and extra sweet which turns green when cooked. British and American varieties are the most common and are green, whereas Spanish and Dutch asparagus is white. Asparagus is rich in potassium, iron and calcium and folic acid,...
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Tajine

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A tajine is a clay dish with thick walls and a large conical lid. In a tajin you can cook different dishes  such as chicken with dates, apricots, prunes, raisins, figs, olives, pickled lemons, or, as fish dishes, meat (lamb, pork or beef) and vegetables such as potatoes get very tasty with tomatoes or beans, peas, carrots, bell peppers,...
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Jerk

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Jerk is a style of cooking Jamaican food when the meat is rubbed with a dry set of spices and herbs or meat marinated in a liquid marinade with a set of very hot Jamaican spice. The basic ingredients includes 'allspise' and very sharp Caribbean red pepper (Scotch Bonnet), which can be substituted in this...
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Adobo

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Adobo is the name of a popular Filipino dish that is cooked with chicken, meat or seafood, marinated in a sauce of vinegar and garlic, and then fried and simmered in the marinade. Usually they are using coconut, rice or cane vinegar, but you can try white or cider vinegar. The dish is so easy to prepare, the meat...
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Avocado

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Avocado refers to the fruit, although they are often categorized as a vegetable. Smooth, buttery and healthy, they are protein-rich and also contain vitamins E, C, and B6, plus copper and iron. Ripe avocados can be stored in the refrigerator, unripe ones should be put in a paper bag with a banana to soften. There are many delicious ways...
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Tamales

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My friend and neighbor Marcela is from Costa Rica  and made handmade tamales for Christmas. They were so delicious! Tamales are a popular aromatic and hearty dish from Latin America, made of masa (a starchy dough, usually corn-based). Tamales can be filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, chilies and steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper. In Mexico tamales are wrapped in corn leaves,...
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