Cooking Glossary - B
Baba - a French or Italian small sweet cake made from enriched
yeast dough, often flavored with candied fruits and soaked with a rum
or Kirschwasser syrup after baking. This dough is also used to make the
larger savarin.
Baba ghanoush - A Middle Eastern specialty that is a mixture of
roasted eggplant, tahini (sesame paste), olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic.
Served as either a dip or a spread. Traditionally garnished with pomegranate
seeds and mint.
Bacalao - [Spanish] salt cod; dried codfish.
Bacalaitos fritons - [Spanish] codfish fritters.
Baccalб - See "Salt Cod, dried."
Backstrap - Tenderloin steak.
Bacon (slab) - bacon in a chunk. You must slice it by hand (and may
want to remove the rind first). Slab bacon is often the only way to find
top-quality bacon.
Bacon rashers - Canadian bacon or ham.
Baekenhofe - an Alsatian stew made of pork, lamb, and beef layered
with potatoes and onions. The meat is first marinated in wine and herbs for a
minimum of 24 hours, then assembled and baked in a paste sealed casserole until
the meat is buttery tender. The juices are reduced and the top is browned under
the broiler. Crisp bacon and fried leeks are used to garnish this dish.
Bagel - a hard, glazed, doughnut- shaped roll.
Bagna Cauda - Meaning "warm bath", this is a dip made of
anchovies, olive oil and garlic. Unlike the French anchoiade, this is served
warm and is not emulsified. Bread and raw vegetables are served with this dip.
Baguette - A long, narrow loaf of French bread, usually with a crispy
brown crust and a soft, but chewy interior.
Bain Marie - [French] Simply a water bath. It consists of placing a container
of food in a large, shallow pan of warm water, which surrounds the food with
gentle heat. The food may be cooked in this manner either in an oven or on top
of a range. This technique is designed to cook delicate dishes such as custards,
sauces and savory mousses without breaking or curdling them. It can also be used
to keep foods warm.
Baked Alaska - A dessert comprised of sponge cake topped with ice
cream and covered with meringue. The dessert is then placed in a hot oven to
brown the meringue before the ice cream can melt.
Baking potato - This term refers to Idaho and russet potatoes, the big
potatoes with rough, brown skin and numerous eyes. These potatoes are low in
moisture and high in starch, which makes them ideal for baking. They also make
good mashed potatoes and French fries.
Baking powder - A chemical leavener combining an acid with bicarbonate
of soda to form the gas which enables baked products to rise. The chemical
reaction between the acid and the soda produces carbon dioxide to leaven the
product. The most common form of baking powder is the double acting variety,
which produces gas upon mixing and again at high temperatures. Always store this
tightly covered.
Baking soda - Also called bicarbonate of soda and sodium bicarbonate
is a leavening agent which is used as an essential ingredient in baking powder.
When used alone as a leavener, recipes must include some type of acid to
neutralize the resulting sodium carbonate in the finished product. Buttermilk,
yogurt, sour cream, and citrus juice are adequate acid to use. You may also use
baking soda to help neutralize the acid in recipes that call for large amounts
of fruit.
Baking tray - Cookie sheet.
Baklava - [Middle Eastern - Greek] A very sweet dessert made of layers of flaky pastry filled
with a mixture of ground nuts (often pistachios) and sugar. The pastry is
sliced, baked, and brushed with a honey syrup flavored with lemon or rose water.
Ballottine - A pвtй-like dish in which forcemeat is stuffed back
into the boneless carcass from which the forcemeat was made. This may include
fish, poultry, game birds, or even some cuts of meat. The mixture is wrapped in
muslin and poached or braised. These dishes may be served hot or cold.
Balsamic vinegar - A wonderfully fragrant vinegar made from the juice
of Trebbiano grapes. The juice is then heated and aged in wooden barrels,
evaporating and concentrating in flavor. The resulting vinegar is deep rich
brown with a sweet and sour flavor. Well aged balsamic vinegars are very costly,
some reaching an astronomical $200 an ounce. Most balsamic vinegars found in the
US are not "aceto balsamico tradizionale", but an aged balsamic
vinegar. These vinegars lack in body and flavor that the well-aged balsamic
vinegars possess, yet have a fair sweet and sour balance of flavor not found in
any other vinegars.
Bamboo leaves - Used in Asian cooking to wrap ingredients for
steaming. They need to be reconstituted before use.
Bamboo shoots - The young growth of a certain edible bamboo plant.
Fresh shoots, tender and ivory-colored occasionally turn up in Asian markets,
but rarely. The canned ones are tasteless but provide a decent crunch. found in
Asian markets and many supermarkets.
Bangers - British colloquial term for sausages. "Bangers and
Mash" are sausages and mashed potatoes.
Barbacoa - [Spanish] barbecued or pit-cooked meat; often refers to the
head of a cow, sheep or goat that has been barbecued or pit-cooked.
Barding - The practice of wrapping lean cuts of meat to be with thin
slices of back fat. The converse of this is larding, in which long strips of fat
are inserted into the cut of meat to keep it moist during cooking.
Baron (of beef or lamb) - The two legs and saddle cooked as a unit.
Barquette - A small oval shaped pastry shell with either sweet or
savory fillings.
Basil - Native to India, it has long been a mainstay in Italian
cooking. Its leaves have a spicy smell and flavor that work well in everything
from seafood cocktails and soups to stews and other meat dishes.
Basil also is one of the main ingredients in pesto, a thick paste made by
pounding the herb's green leaves with Parmesan and Pecorino cheeses, pine nuts
and olive oil.
Basquaise - Food prepared in the style of Basque which often includes
tomatoes and sweet or hot red peppers.
Baste - To moisten with marinade or with pan juices during broiling or
roasting.
Basting - Preparation method which moistens meat or poultry with pan
juices or drippings during roasting by using a spoon or bulb baster as a tool.
The bulb on the baster is squeezed while in the liquid, then slowly released to
draw the liquid into the tube.
Bвtarde - A French butter sauce made with egg yolks.
Batter - A flour-liquid mixture that is thin enough to pour. One
example is pancake batter.
Bavarian cream - A cream made with pastry cream lightened with whipped
cream and stabilized with gelatin. This cream may then be poured into molds, or
used as a filling for cakes or pastries. Bavarian cream is often flavored with
fruit purees or alcohol.
Bay leaf - An aromatic leaf that comes from bay laurel. Whole, halved,
or ground, it lends a slightly bitter taste. A pungent seasoning to add to
soups, stews, and stocks. One of the primary ingredients in a bouquet garni.
Bean curd - Cheese-like product made from soybean milk. Buy fresh in
cakes in most supermarkets. Can be found in cans also but the flavor is far
inferior.
Bean sauce - A soybean condiment that is an essential ingredient in
stir-fries. It is labeled either "whole bean sauce" or "ground
bean sauce," which tends to be saltier. Available in Asian markets and many
supermarkets.
Bean sprouts - Edible sprouts which can be produced from a variety of
seeds and beans, from the mung and alfalfa to lentil, radish and even broccoli.
Sprouts should be kept in the refrigerator in the ventilated container or
plastic bag in which they were sold, and used within a few days. Found fresh in
most produce sections. Skip using the canned variety if you can avoid it.
Bear sign or bear claw - Fried pastry similar to the modern doughnut.
Bйarnaise - This is the most notable of all the hollandaise sauce
variations. It is made with a wine and vinegar reduction, egg yolks, butter and
flavored with tarragon or other herbs. This sauce makes a good companion to
grilled meats and fish.
Beating - Process of mixing food to introduce air and make it lighter
or fluffier. Tools utilized to beat an ingredient or mixture include a wooden
spoon, hand whisk or electric mixer.
Bebidas - [Spanish] drinks.
Bйchamel sauce - This is a white sauce made with milk or cream and
thickened with a roux. Bйchamel sauce is generally used as a base for other
more complex sauces, though it may be used alone for binding or moistening.
Beef fillet (filet mignon) - This tender but expensive boneless cut of
meat comes from the small end of the tenderloin. It should be cooked quickly by
frilling or sautйing. Not an overly flavorful cut of meat.
Beef stock - Real beef stock is superior to any. But consommй or
bouillon (mostly salt) may be substituted in a pinch.
Beignet - A French or Creole version of doughnuts. Dough or batter is
deep fried and dusted with powdered sugar or glazed with a flavored syrup.
Belle Helene - Best known as the name of a dessert with poached pears,
ice cream, and chocolate sauce. It is also a term used in French cookery as a
name for a garnish to grilled meat dishes.
Bell peppers - Also known as sweet peppers, bell peppers are
"mature" when they turn bright green, but they are not yet ripe; their
flavor is sharp, even acrid at this point. If picked after they have changed to
red, yellow, or orange their flavor will have mellowed considerably.
Benne seeds - [African] sesame seeds.
Bercy - A French sauce with white wine and shallots as a base.
Bermuda onion - This big, sweet, ivory-colored onion truly does not
come from Bermuda. A sweet, crisp topping for sandwiches, this onion is also a
good choice for everyday cooking. Bermudas have a shorter shelf life than the
basic yellow onion. Also called Spanish onion.
Besan -
Used in East Indian cooking, besan
is a pale yellow flour made from
ground, dried
chickpeas.
This nutritious, high-protein flour
is used for myriad preparations
including doughs, dumplings,
noodles, a thickener for sauces and
in batter for deep-fried foods.
Besan, also known as gram flour
can be found in Indian or Asian
markets. Store, wrapped airtight, in
the refrigerator for up to 6 months.Betabel - [Spanish] beet.
Betty - a baked dessert dating to Colonial America, It is a baked
pudding made with layers of spiced sweetened fruit (usually apples) and buttered
bread crumbs. Apple Brown Betty is made with brown sugar and sliced apples.
Beurre Blanc - An emulsified sauce made of a wine or vinegar reduction
blended with softened butter. This may be flavored in many ways, for fish,
vegetables, and poultry dishes. This is a very tricky sauce and does not hold
for long periods of time. Because of this, modern versions add a touch of cream
to stabilize the sauce for longer periods of time.
Beurre Maniй - A mixture of flour and butter worked into a paste,
either with your fingers or a spoon. This is then used in small quantities to
adjust the thickness of sauces and stews. The sauce must then be boiled briefly
to remove the starchy taste of the flour. For this reason, beurre manie‚ is
used in situations where only a small quantity is needed.
Beurre Noir - A tart sauce made with browned butter mixed with
vinegar.
Bigarade - A sauce, usually served with duck, which includes orange
juice and orange rind.
Binding - A method of preparation that adds eggs, cream, melted fat or
roux to a dry mixture in order to hold it together and keep the mixture from
separating.
Birria - Spanish name given to a dish of seasoned meat, then barbecued
or steamed.
Biscochitos - Crispy anise-flavored cookies native to New Mexico; cut
into stars or other decorative shapes and traditionally served at Christmas.
Biscotti - Dry Italian cookies flavored with almonds, chocolate, or
anise seed, used for dunking in coffee and sweet dessert wine. Not unlike
zwieback.
Bison - Called "hunchbacked cows" by Coronado when he saw
them in Texas; taste is similar to beef, but slightly sweet.
Bisque - A thick, rich creamy soup containing fish or game or pureed
vegetables. A rich shellfish soup made with the shells of the animal. The soup
is enriched with cream and Cognac and garnished with pieces of the shellfish
meat. This name is also used to describe vegetable soups prepared in the same
manner as shellfish bisques. Also a frozen creamy dessert.
Bisteces - [Spanish] steaks.
Bistella - See Pastilla for a definition.
Bitok - [Russian] Small meat patty made from raw minced beef and
bread, then bound together with an egg.
Bitters - A liquid combination of cloves, cinnamon, quinine, nutmeg,
rum, dried fruits, and other root and herbal extracts. Primarily used in
cocktails.
Bittersweet chocolate - Often used in cake and cookie recipes.
Bittersweet or semisweet chocolates are often used interchangeably, although
bittersweet generally has more chocolate liquor, a paste formed from roasted,
ground cocoa beans. Semisweet chocolate contains at least 35% chocolate liquor
while finer bittersweet chocolates contain 50% or more chocolate liquor. Both
chocolates have a deep, smooth, intense flavor that comes from the blend of
cocoa beans to dairy products. Sugar, vanilla extract, and cocoa butter are
added to the chocolate liquor to create an even richer chocolate flavor.
Black (turtle) bean (frijoles negros) - Native of the Yucatбn; satiny
black on the exterior, creamy white inside, with a hearty, almost smoky flavor;
commonly used in soups and low-fat sauces, side dishes, salads and purйed;
cooked beans can be rinsed and added to salsas for visual interest. This
multipurpose dried bean is medium-sized (up to one-half inch long), round to
almost square, and deep black with a white line and interior.
Black beans (frijoles negros) - Small, with a dark blue-purple color;
also known as black turtle beans.
Black-eyed peas - Small, slightly kidney-shaped beans marked with one
black spot or "eye"; introduced into the Southwest by African slaves.
Black pepper - Green, white, and black peppercorns all come from the
berries of the Piper nigrum plant; black peppercorns are the strongest of
the three varieties. Pre-ground black pepper is sold is sold cracked and
coarsely or finely ground, but loses its flavor quickly and should be stored in
a cool dark place for no more than 3 months. Freshly ground black pepper is far
superior.
Black rice - Milled rice is white in appearance, but the outer bran
layer can be brown, red or black. Raw black rice appears charred and, when
cooked, appears much like the color of blackberries.
Blackberries and Raspberries - There are hundreds of types of black
and red berries (some are orange, yellow, or almost white), but all are treated
basically the same. (Technically, a raspberry leaves its inner core behind when
picked; the core comes along when you pick a blackberry). These berries are
highly perishable and quite expensive in the market.
Blackstrap Molasses - Thick, black syrup, produced from sugar cane. In
the UK and Australia, simply known as molasses. It produces a bitter flavor.
Blade Steak - See "Arm steak".
Blancmange - A simple stove-top pudding made with milk, sugar, and
vanilla, thickened with cornstarch.
Blanco - [Spanish] white.
Blanquette - [French] A white, creamy stew of veal, chicken, rabbit or lamb with small
onions and mushrooms. The sauce is thickened with roux and enriched with cream.
Blender - Electric liquefier with a glass or plastic container into
which ingredients are added. A set of rotary blades is attached to the base of
the vessel and rapidly reduces most ingredients to a smooth, or blended,
consistency.
Blending - Preparation method that combines ingredients with a spoon,
beater or liquefier to achieve a uniform mixture.
Blind Bake - To bake a pie crust without the filling. Metal weights or
dried beans are commonly used to weigh the crust down to prevent it from
bubbling.
Blini - [Russian] A small unsweetened pancake made of buckwheat flour and often
leavened with yeast. These pancakes are often brushed with large amounts of
melted butter and served with caviar and sour cream. Other versions may be made
of vegetable purees or semolina flour.
Blintz - A stuffed crepe or thin pancake. The filling is usually made
of a fresh cheese or cottage cheese, and often topped with fresh fruit or fruit
preserves.
Blue (Bleu) Cheese - A semi-soft, blue-veined cheese produced from
cow's milk. It has a very strong, pungent aroma. Similar in flavor to French
Roquefort and Italian Gorgonzola.
Blue corn - A variety of corn with blue-gray kernels; indigenous to
the Southwest and originally grown by Pueblo Indians; dried and ground blue corn
is more flavorful than yellow cornmeal.
Blueberry - More closely related to the cranberry than to the
raspberry, the blueberry (and bilberry, huckleberry, and like berries) is
distinctively different from both. Unlike the cranberry, it is sweet enough to
eat raw, whole, and out of hand. Unlike the raspberry, it is sturdy enough to
store, and it freezes well. With its relatively high sugar and acid content,
it's the closest thing to an all-purpose berry.
Blue cheese - The blue (or green) veins in blue cheese are created by
flavor-producing molds injected (or occurring naturally) during the curing
process. Roquefort, blue d'Avergne, Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Maytag blue are
some of the best varieties. All blue cheeses smell strong but some varieties
actually are quite mild.
Boar - Wild pig; served both roasted and smoked.
Bocaditos - [Spanish] little bites.
Boiling - Preparation method which cooks a liquid at a temperature of
212F or 100C.
Bok Choy - A vegetable resembling Swiss Chard in shape, but much
lighter in color and flavor. Bok choy has a mild flavor that is great raw in
salads. It's also the best cabbage for stir-fries; the stems turn almost creamy
after cooking. It can be found fresh in Oriental markets and most supermarkets,
year-round. (Also called Chinese Chard)
Bola (bolita) - [Spanish] ball (little ball).
Boletus - A family of wild mushrooms known for their rich taste and
meaty texture. Porcinis and cepes are two members of this family of mushroom.
Bolillos - Mexican hard rolls which are similar to French bread; also
a short rolling pin 2 inches in diameter and 8 inches or more long which rolls
tortillas to a uniform thickness.
Bollito - A boiling bean native to the Southwest; an ancestor of the
pinto bean; takes a bit longer to cook; often used in broth-style side dishes of
Mexican cuisine.
Bollito Misto - An Italian stew consisting of various cuts of meat,
including zampone, boiled in a rich broth with vegetables. The whole dish is
served with cornichons, pickled onions and a variation of chutney called
mostarda di Cremona. These are whole or large pieces of fruit cooked in a spicy
mustard flavored syrup. Other common sauces are salsa verde and mayonnaise.
Bombay duck - A small dried fish served in curry sauce.
Bombe - A rich dessert containing cream or custard mixtures arranged
and frozen in a mold.
Boniato - Also called batata, this is a popular tuber in both Latin
America and Asia. The blotchy skin may be purplish or reddish, and the inside is
white or creamy and slightly mealy when cooked. It tastes like a cross between
white and sweet potatoes, and can be treated like either. The flavor somewhat
suggests roasted chestnuts.
Boning - Preparation process which removes bones from meat, poultry,
game or fish.
Bonito flakes - The dried flakes of a dark, full-flavored fish, used
in the Japanese soup stock dashi, which is among the simplest stocks to make.
Bonito flakes are available in Asian markets.
Bonne femme - Cooked home-style; often with a creamy mushroom sauce.
Bordelaise - This is a term primarily used to describe a dark brown
sauce that includes shallots and red wine, vegetables, and garlic. Some versions
of this sauce include slices of bone marrow added at the end of cooking. Fish
dishes with this name will be cooked with white Bordeaux wine.
Borracho - [Spanish] drunken; foods containing liquor, beer or wine.
Borrego - [Spanish] baby lamb.
Borscht - A rich soup from Eastern Europe containing beets or cabbage.
Other ingredients may include potatoes, beans, meat or sausage. The best known
of these soups is a cold version based on beets and served with sour cream, but
hot versions are very common.
Boston lettuce - Part of the butterhead family, this simple lettuce
sports soft but fairly well-defined heads with lots of loose outer leaves. The
bland tenderness mingles nicely with some bitter loose leaf and super-crisp
romaine.
Botanas - Plugs; stoppers; appetizers served with drinks.
Bouchee - [French] A small round puff pastry shell baked blind used for sweet or savory
fillings.
Boudin - Acadian pork blood sausage, highly seasoned and containing
rice. The proportion of blood to rice produces "white" or
"red" boudin. It originated among the Bayou communities. Smooth
sausages of two types. Boudin blanc contain veal, pork, and chicken. Boudin noir
are made with blood and rice or potatoes. The latter type are popular in
European and Creole cooking.
Bouillabaisse - A rich fish stew from southern France. This was once a
poor man's meal made of any fish available. Modern versions include lobster and
shrimp. The broth is flavored with garlic, orange peel, fennel, and saffron.
Olive oil is added to the stew and rapidly boiled to blend it into the broth.
The stew may be served with croutons and rouille, a variation of aioli.
Bouilli - Meat used to prepare soup which is then served as a separate
course.
Bouillon - A clear, seasoned soup usually made from beef or chicken,
vegetables and seasonings; also obtained by dissolving a bouillon cube or
envelope in boiling water.
Boule - A ball-shaped loaf of bread that's baked without a pan in the
oven.
Bouquet garni - A French-invented sachet of herbs, traditionally
tied together, but now sold in small muslin bags. Usually includes parsley,
thyme, a bay leaf and some rosemary, but may also include marjoram,
garlic, rosemary, etc. Variations may include fennel, leeks, celery
leaves, citrus rinds, garlic and black pepper. Added to stews, soups
and sauces for flavoring; the bundle is easily removed when desired.
Bourguignon - [French] Foods cooked in the style of Burgundy. This includes red
wine, mushrooms, pearl onions, and bacon. Also spelled; Bourgogne or Bourguignonne.
Bourrride - Another fish stew from southern France. Here the broth, in
which large pieces of fish are poached, is strained and thickened with aioli.
The two are then served together in shallow bowls with bread or croutons.
Braise - To prepare food by browning, then cooking slowly in a small
amount of liquid in the coven or in a covered pan on the stove top.
Braising - A cooking method whereby food, typically raw meat, is first
browned in oil, then cooked slowly in a liquid of wine, stock or water.
Bran - The outer husk of grains such as wheat, containing a high
percentage of fiber. White flours have the bran removed. Whole wheat flours may
contain all or part of the bran.
Brandade - A purйe of salt cod mixed with olive oil and potatoes.
Another version of brandade is covered with Gruyere cheese and browned in the
oven. Both are served with croutons.
Breadfruit - The exterior of these melon-sized round fruits is covered
with hundreds of scaly bumps. Unripe, they are green and their flesh resembles a
potato--hard, white, and starchy. Like plantains, breadfruit is used in savory
and sweet dishes according to its ripeness. At the hard stage it is used in
savory dishes and cooked like a potato or sweet potato. When slightly ripe, the
outside is partly green. Baked at this stage, its flesh is slightly sticky,
somewhat fruity, but spongy like bread. When ripe, the exterior is tender and
brownish, and the flesh is creamy and sticky but still starchy and rather bland
in flavor.
Bread crumbs - There are two kinds of bread crumbs - fresh and
dry. They should not be used interchangeably. Fresh crumbs can be made in a food
processor or blender/ Dried bread crumbs are lightly browned and may be plain or
flavored. They can be bought or made from good quality stale bread.
Bresaola - A cured and dried beef filet from Italy with a more
delicate texture but stronger flavor than that of prosciutto. A Swiss version of
this is called bundnerfleisch. This style is pressed into a rectangular shape
and has a bit drier texture than bresaola. Both are served thinly sliced with
bread and fruit or pickled vegetables.
Bretonne - An Espagnole sauce with onions.
Brine - Salt and water solution used for pickling and preserving.
Brinjal - [India] Eggplant.
Brioche - [French] A large light, very rich, yeast roll made with lots of
butter and eggs. Brioche is baked in many shapes though the brioche e tete is
best known. The dough can be flavored with nuts or candied fruit, as well as
herbs and spices. It may also be used to wrap foods like coulibiac. Slices of
toasted brioche are the perfect companion to foie gras and gravlax. Brioche is
very similar to the Jewish Challah.
Brisket - The chest portion of the beef, usually extending some
distance back of the forelegs; flavorful but rather tough, thus best used for
pot roasts and for braising.
Broccoli, Broccoflower, Purple broccoli, Chinese Broccoli - Broccoli
is a relative of cabbage, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. A head of broccoli
is a bouquet of tiny flower buds. Each small green stalk is called a floret and
contains hundreds of buds. It has a deep emerald-green color with a purple or
blue haze, and comes in tight clusters of tiny buds that sit on stout, edible
stems. Purple broccoli or purple cauliflower or broccoflower closely
resembles broccoli in shape and flavor. Romanesco is a form of broccoli
with a conical head formed of small peaks of buds in a wonderful chartreuse
color. Chinese broccoli, also known as Chinese kale. It is closely related to
both broccoli and our common kale.
Broccoli raab - Broccoli raab, or rape, is more bitter, and has more
stems and leaves than head broccoli, which has more florets. It can be found
from fall to spring in markets with specialty produce sections, and can be used
in any broccoli recipe.
Brochette - [French] A skewer. Food cooked "en brochette" is cooked
on a skewer.
Brodo - [Italian] broth.
Broth - Liquid in which meat, poultry or vegetables have been
simmered. Closely related to stock.
Brown beans - Smaller and rounder than American beans, these are used
in Scandinavian dishes. found in specialty stores or Scandinavian markets.
Brown sugar - Brown sugar is simply white sugar combined with
molasses. Dark brown sugar has lots of molasses; light brown sugar contains
less. To recreate brown sugar, add two tablespoons molasses to white sugar. Dark
brown sugar contains more molasses than light brown sugar.
Browned flour - Wheat flour browned in an oven or skillet; favored by
Mexican and pioneer cooks for gravies and stews.
Browning - Preparation method, usually in a skillet or pot on the
stove top, which sears in the outer surface of meat to seal in the juices.
Brulee - [French] Finishing method applied to dishes such as cream
custards finished with caramelized sugar glaze. Can be done with a torch or
under the broiler.
Brunoise - A very fine dice usually applied to vegetables.
Bruschetta - Grilled slices of bread brushed with olive oil and fresh
garlic. This was the original garlic bread.
Brussels sprouts - Brussels sprouts look like miniature cabbages, and
that's what they are. Many rows of sprouts grow on a single long stalk. They
range from 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter; the smaller sprouts are more tender.
Like cabbage, they must not be overcooked, or they become soggy and
strong-flavored. Reject sprouts with yellow leaves, loose leaves, or those that
are soft or not tightly packed. Generally, Brussels sprouts are a winter
vegetable, found from September or October on.
Bucatini - Long, narrow tubes of pasta usually served with a hearty
meat sauce.
Buckwheat - An herb whose seeds impart a distinctive nutty, slightly
fermented flavor to pancakes and other baked goods, as well as to noodles and
pasta; because of its low gluten content, it is mixed with other flours for
baking.
Budнn - Pudding; usually a soufflй-like dish, made with carrots,
spinach or zucchini.
Bufбlo - [Spanish] buffalo.
Buffet - A vast array of hot and cold foods, often elaborately
garnished.
Bulgur wheat - Processed wheat made from the whole kernel that has
been cooked and dried, used a lot in Middle Eastern dishes. Most commonly used
in breads and tabbouleh salad. Three grinds; fine, medium, and coarse. Find in
fancy supermarkets or gourmet stores.
Buсuelos - [Spanish] bungle; mess up; fritters; sweetened fry bread
usually sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
Burdock - A root that grows more than 3 feet deep but is rarely more
than 1/2 inch wide. Like carrots it is a member of the parsley family, and the
white flesh is mildly sweet. Young shoots and large soft leaves are slightly
bitter and nice in salads. Japanese cuisine is fond of burdock, and always
include it when in season in their mixed vegetable tempuras.
Burrito - Flour tortilla folded like an envelope around a filling.
Burrito desayuno - [Spanish] breakfast burrito.
Burros (Arizona) and burritos (New Mexico and Texas) - Flour tortillas
stuffed with meats, beans, cheeses and chile sauces or any combination thereof.
Butcher's knots - Butcher's knots are slip knots that make it possible
to tighten and loosen string as needed when rolling a boned roast.
Butter - a cooking and eating fat that is made from sweet or sour
cream and, by federal law, must contain a minimum of 80% milk fat (butterfat).
It comes salted and unsalted (sweet); it also comes whipped for greater volume
and easier spreading. Butter absorbs odors easily and is highly susceptible to
rancidity. To avoid either of these problems, store butter in the refrigerator
no longer than 2 weeks. For longer storage, butter may be frozen for up to 9
months without deterioration.
Butter, Cultured - Cultured butter is butter churned from cultured
cream (cream fraiche). Most butter produced in the U.S. before 1920 was cultured
butter, but in the 20's, the U.S. Government guaranteed the sale of every pound
of butter produced, so quality became a non-issue and sweet cream butter
prevailed.
Buttermilk - Originally a by-product of butter making, buttermilk is
commercially produced by adding lactic acid culture to skimmed or partially
skimmed milk. Liquid left after butter is churned solid.
Button mushroom - This is the standard, white, cultivated mushroom.
Button mushrooms work well in concert with "wild mushrooms," which are
more intensely flavored, but also more expensive.
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