Foodie 101:  7 Culinary Terms You Must Know

By Niveditha Kalyanaraman

October 30th, 2023

Image Credit: Unsplash

There are many things that make you a true foodie. This also includes being updated with all the latest culinary terms. Oftentimes, we hear certain terms but are unaware of their real meaning. Here are 7 culinary terms you must know.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

A La Carte

We've heard this culinary term several times while dining out at restaurants. A French phrase that sounds like a fancy term, but it simply means to order dishes individually from the menu.

Image Credit: Unsplash

Roux

Roux is a term used often when making soups or sauces. It is basically a mixture of flour and fat (usually butter) that are cooked together to make a thick concoction.

Image Credit: Unsplash

Julienne

Julienne is a term you'll often hear when chopping is involved in cooking. It's a way of chopping food into long and thin slices, somewhat like matchsticks.

Image Credit: Unsplash

Basting

To baste food is to brush a liquid over it while it's cooking. Butter and sauces are the most common ingredients that are used to baste food. Basting is done to prevent the food from drying out while cooking.

Image Credit: Unsplash

Al Dente

Al dente is a term that translates as 'to the tooth'. It means to cook something but leave it with a bit of firmness when you take a bite. It is commonly used when cooking pasta or rice.

Image Credit: Unsplash

Braising

It's a method of cooking that uses a combination of both dry and wet heat. The food is first seared at a high temperature, followed by slow cooking in liquid in a closed pot.

Image Credit: Unsplash

Blanching

Blanching is when you put fruits or vegetables in boiling water for a few minutes. This is done to partially cook them. They are then immediately transferred to ice-cold water to stop the cooking process.

Image Credit: Unsplash