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Definition: Five-Spice Powder
A crucial component of Chinese cooking, five-spice powder (also known as Chinese five spice) is a mixture of ground spices that combine the five primary flavors of Chinese cuisine: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and pungent.
The five spices — cinnamon, cloves, star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, and either fennel seed or ginger — are employed based on the Chinese philosophy of balancing the yin and yang in food. The powder is used to flavor dishes from Cantonese roasted duck to beef stew.
Definition: Fiddlehead Fern
Fiddlehead Fern
Also known as the ostrich fern, this Spring vegetable, when coiled, resembles the head of a fiddle. It's dark green in color and about two inches wide in diameter. A good source of vitamins A and C, these ferns are best consumed cooked; in their raw state, they are too bitter.
Definition: Coulis
Coulis
French for "strained liquid," coulis is a thick, evenly textured sauce that can be either sweet or savory and is made from puréed, strained fruits or vegetables. The sauce, which may also be frozen for future use, is used in a wide range of dishes, from meat roasts to chocolate desserts. Raspberry and other variations of coulis, such as berry, mint, and tomato, were a critical part of the nouvelle cuisine that was popular in the 1980s.
Definition: Roulade
Roulade
A European dish of meat rolled around a filling, such as cheese, vegetables, or other meats. The meat is often browned and simmered in liquid, then sliced into rounds and served. A roulade can also refer to any rolled dish, from a jelly roll cake to sushi.
Definition: Plantain
Plantain
A member of the banana family, this fruit is larger, less sweet, and more firm than the common banana. It's extremely popular in Latin American cuisine and has a mild, squashlike flavor with a starchy texture similar to a potato. Plantains are never consumed raw but are enjoyed fried, boiled, or mashed.
Wait, Carne Asada or Carnitas, Which One's the Beef?
If you're not somewhat versed in the Spanish language, heading to your local taqueria can be quite daunting. Often times — at least in my neck of the woods — the meat selection is written in Spanish. There's Pollo, Carne Asada, Pescado and more.
Definition: Locavore
Locavore
Someone whose diet consists of food grown or produced within an area most commonly bound by a 100-mile radius of their home. Locavores usually shun large supermarket chains, opting for farmer's markets and local gardens instead. It is also a current trend for many high-end restaurants as well.
Definition: Kimchi
Kimchi
A traditional Korean dish made of fermented, seasoned vegetables — such as cabbage and radishes — that are pickled and stored tightly in pots or jars. It is spicy-hot and is served as a condiment with almost every Korean meal.
Also written as kimchee.
Definition: Mirin
Mirin
A low-alcohol sweet Japanese rice wine. It is essential in Japanese cooking and adds a sweet flavor to dishes, sauces, and glazes. It is also used to erase the smell of broiled fish.
Definition: Buddha's Hand
Buddha's Hand
A fragrant citrus fruit that is usually described as "lemon-like," even though there is no juicy pulp beneath the rind. It is bright yellow in color and has 5-20 long yellow "fingers." It's used primarily for its zest, as it does not have bitter white pith, but can also make a great marmalade.
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