Cooking Terms

Tart is a short, single-syllable adjective or noun referring to a sharp, sour taste or to something sharp in tone or remark. It can describe flavors, personalities, or remarks that are biting or piquant. It also appears in phrases like tart pastry, tart opinion, or tart comment, conveying a vivid, biting quality without softness or sweetness.

Temper means to moderate or soften something, especially a feeling or reaction, by balance or restraint. It can also refer to tempering metal, a controlled process that increases toughness. In everyday use it describes regulating intensity, mood, or tone, often to suit a situation. The noun temper denotes a person’s characteristic mood or temperament. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words)

Tempura is a Japanese dish of seafood or vegetables coated in a light batter and fried until crisp. The term refers to the batter technique and the resulting fried food, popular worldwide for its delicate texture and subtle flavor. In English, it’s used as a noun for the dish itself, often pluralized as tempuras or used in compound phrases like “tempura batter.”

Teriyaki is a noun referring to a Japanese cooking technique and sauce that involves glazing food with a sweet-savory soy-based glaze. It combines grilling or broiling with a glaze that typically includes soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. The term denotes both the method and the resulting glossy, flavorful coating often used on chicken, beef, or salmon.

Thyme is an herb used in cooking and medicine, with a tiny, delicate leaf and a pungent, savory aroma. As a noun, it refers to the plant and its leaves, which are used fresh or dried to flavor dishes. The word also appears in literature and tradition, historically valued for its fragrance and preservative qualities.

Tilapia is a freshwater fish widely farmed for food, commonly consumed as fillets or whole. The term denotes any of several species in the Cichlidae family, especially Oreochromis. In everyday use it refers to a mild-tavored, versatile fish suitable for a variety of cuisines and cooking methods.

Tofu is a soft, bland-curdled block made from coagulated soy milk, pressed into a firm or silken cake. It’s a staple in many cuisines, valued for its neutral flavor and ability to absorb seasonings. As a noun, it refers to the product itself and various preparations, sold in silken, soft, firm, and extra-firm varieties.

Tomatillo is a small, greenish husked fruit, often used in Mexican cuisine. The name also refers to the plant that bears the fruit. It has a bright, tart flavor and a papery husk that peels back to reveal the glossy fruit. In culinary contexts it’s typically spoken with Spanish-influenced stress and pronunciation.

Tortellini is a small, ring-shaped Italian pasta filled with ingredients like meat, cheese, or vegetables. The word denotes the pasta shape as well as the dish prepared with it. noun, typically plural in usage, used in culinary contexts to refer to these stuffed pasta morsels and dishes.

Trout is a freshwater fish, typically small to medium in size, known for its speckled body and swift, leaping movement. As a noun, it also refers to similar fish used in sport fishing. The word conveys a specific aquatic creature and is often used in naturalist or culinary contexts, as well as in idioms related to small, quick movements.

Tuna is a common noun referring to a large, ocean-dwelling fish of the tuna family, typically canned for food or sold fresh. The word also appears in phrases like “tuna sandwich.” It’s a two-syllable noun with primary stress on the first syllable, often pronounced with a clipped, quick second syllable in casual speech.

Turmeric is a rhizomatous herb, Curcuma longa, whose dried root is ground into a bright yellow-orange spice used in cooking and traditional medicine. The term also refers to the spice itself and its distinctive warm, earthy aroma. In English, it typically appears as a noun in culinary and botanical contexts and is often described by its color and flavor notes.

Udon is a thick Japanese wheat noodle, typically served in broth or chilled with a dipping sauce. It’s pronounced with a short initial syllable and a longer, rounded second syllable, and the overall sound is smooth and regular. Use a clear, even tempo to avoid muffling the final syllables and to reflect the noodle’s soft texture in speech.

Umami refers to the fifth basic taste, described as savory or meaty. It denotes a rich, brothy mouthfeel produced by glutamates and certain nucleotides. In sensory terms, it complements sweet, sour, salty, and bitter, expanding flavor beyond these four categories.

Vanilla is a noun meaning the sweet, creamy flavoring derived from vanilla beans, or a term used to describe something plain or ordinary. It also refers to the vanilla plant or its pods, and in colloquial use, to a vanilla extract used in cooking and baking. The word often carries connotations of simplicity or standardization.

Velouté is a smooth, pale-sand-colored sauce or stock base in classic French cuisine, typically made from light stock thickened with a roux. It is a key mother sauce, creating a velvety texture with a gentle, rich mouthfeel. In broader culinary use, velouté also refers to a lightened, refined sauce prepared to accompany meat, poultry, or fish dishes.

Vin is a short, monosyllabic word often realized with a vowel-like nucleus and a nasal or approximant near-close vowel quality, depending on language context. In English contexts, it can function as a proper name or finite form, but the core sound is typically a very short, closed-front vowel with a following consonant closure. The term invites close attention to vowel quality, tongue position, and any language-specific nasal or liquid influences in production.

Vindaloo is a spicy Indian curry dish, typically made with meat (often pork) in a tangy, peppery sauce. In usage, the term denotes a prepared curry style as well as dishes labeled vindaloo on menus. The word also signals a bold, intense flavor character in culinary contexts and conversation about regional Indian cuisines.

Walnut is a hard-shelled fruit of the hickory family, typically eaten raw or roasted. The word also refers to the tree itself that bears this fruit. In everyday speech, it often denotes both the nut and flavor, and by extension can describe a color or ingredient in cooking and baking contexts.