The list of commonly mispronounced words just does not stop! We move on to part 2 of Food pronunciations made easy. Reading up on food is a humbling experience. When you realize the amount of work that goes into creating a dish sitting in front of you, the more you learn to appreciate those behind the scenes! Right from sowing to processing to cooking to serving, the amount of hard work that goes in is beyond amazing. To be a foodie one needs to understand and more importantly, value food. The next set of 20 food words once again comes with descriptions, credited pictures and audio files to help you widen your culinary scope.
21) POUTINE
What is it?
Poutine is a French-Canadian classic that is served across Canada. It is a hearty dish of French fries, fresh cheese curds and brown gravy. Freshly made fries cooked until perfectly crispy, squeaky fresh cheese curds cut into small pieces and well seasoned made from scratch gravy comes together beautifully. The hot fries and steaming gravy gently melt the cheese at first and meld more and more changing textures and flavours along the way as you get further into the bowl. (Source: Thespruceeats.com)
How is it pronounced?
POO TIN
22) PROSCIUTTO
What is it?
Prosciutto is an Italian dry-cured ham that is usually thin sliced and served uncooked. This style is called prosciutto crudo and distinguished from cooked ham prosciutto cotto. Sliced prosciutto crudo in Italian cuisine is often served as an antipasto, wrapped around grissini or accompanied with melon. It is also eaten as an accompaniment to cooked spring vegetables such as asparagus or peas. It may be used in a simple pasta sauce made with cream, used in stuffing other meats or as a pizza topping. (Source: Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
PROH-SHOO-TOH
23) VICHYSSOISE
What is it?
Vichyssoise is a thick soup made of boiled pureed leeks, onions, potatoes, cream and chicken stock. It is traditionally served cold but it can be eaten hot. (Source: wiki)
How is it pronounced?
VISH-EE-SWAHZ
24) ACAI BERRY
What is it?
The Acai Berry is an inch long, reddish-purple fruit. It comes from the Acai palm tree which is native to Central and South America. Some studies show that the pulp of the Acai berry if even richer in antioxidants than cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries or blueberries. (Source: webmd.com)
How is it pronounced?
AH-SAH-EE
25) JALAPENO
What is it?
Jalapeno is a medium sized chilli pepper that is commonly used in Mexican cooking. Commonly picked and consumed while still green, it is occasionally allowed to fully ripen and turn red, orange or yellow. The japaleno can have a range of pungency with Scoville heat units of 3,500 to 8,000 (The Scoville scane is a measurement of the pungency of chilli peppers or other spicy foods. It is a function of capsaicin concentration which is one of the many related pungent compounds found in Chilli peppers). (Source:Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
HA-LA-PEN-YO
26) KIBBEH
What is it?
Kibbeh is a popular dish in Middle Eastern Cuisine. Made of bulgur wheat (cracked wheat), minced onions and finely ground lean beef, lamb, goat or camel meat combined with Middle Eastern spices. kibbeh may be shaped into balls or patties and baked, cooked in broth, or served raw. It is considered to be the national dish of many Middle Eastern countries. (Source:Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
KIB-BEH
27) EDAMAME
What is it?
Edamame is a preparation of immature soyabeans in the pod. It is found in cuisines with origins in East Asia. The pods are boiled or steamed and may be served with salt. In Japan, they are usually blanched in 4% salt water and not served with salt.
How is it pronounced?
AY-DUH-MAH-MAY
28) PARMIGIANO REGGIANO
What is it?
Parmigiano Reggiano is an Italian hard, granular cheese. It is made from unpasteurized cows milk. Traditionally, the cows have to be fed only on grass or hay. The only additive allowed during the processing is salt which the cheese absorbs while being submerged for 20 days in brine tanks saturated to near salinity with Mediterranean sea salt. The product is aged n average of two years. The cheese, produced daily can show a natural variability. True Parmigiano Rrggiano has a sharp, complex fruity or nutty taste with a strong savory flavour and a slightly gritty texture. Inferior versions of the cheese can impart a bitter taste.
It is commonly grated over pasta dishes, shaved over salads, stirred into soups and risottos and eaten on its own. (Source:Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
PAR-MI-ZHA-NO RE-ZHI-ANO
29) CHIPOTLE
What is it?
Chipotle is a smoke dried jalapeno. It is a chilli used primarily in Mexican and Mexican inspired cuisine such as Mexican-American, Tex-Mex and South-western dishes.
Often a key ingredient in a recipe, it imparts a relatively mild but earthy spiciness to many dishes. Chipotle are used to make various salsas, ground and combined with other spices to make a meat marinade, adobo. Chipotle can be used typically in powdered form and they have a spiciness and distinctive smoky flavour. The flesh is thick so the chillis are usually added in slow cooked dishes rather than raw. Whole chipotles are added to soups, stews and in the braising liquids for meats. They can also accompany beans or lentils. (Source:Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
CHI-POTE-LAY
30) HUMMUS
What is it?
Hummus is a dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas or other beans, blended with tahini, olive oil, leon juice, salt and garlic. It is popular in the Middle East and Mediterranean as well as in Middle Eastern Cuisine. (Source:Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
HA-MUS
31) TORTILLAS
What is it?
Tortillas is a type of soft, thin flatbread made from finely ground wheat flour. Popular in Mexico, flour tortillas are commonly prepared with meat, mashed potatoes, cheese and other ingredients to make dishes such as tacos, quesadillas and burritos. (Source:Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
TAWR-TEE-UH
32) CROISSANT
What is it?
A croissant is a buttery, flaky pastry named for its crescent shape. Croissants are made of a layered yeast leavened dough. The dough is layered with butter, rolled and folded several times in succession, then rolled into a sheet in a technique called laminating. The process results in a layered, flaky texture similar to puff pastry. (Source:Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
KRAWH-SAHN
33) MASCARPONE
What is it?
Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese coagulated by the addition of certain acidic substances such as lemon juice, vinegar, citric acid or acetic acid.
It is milky white in colour and is easy to spread. It is one of the main ingredients in the modern Italian dessert known as Tiramisu and is sometimes used instead of or along with butter or Parmesan cheese to thicken and enrich risotto. Mascarpone is also used in cheesecake recipes. (Source:Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
MAS-KHAR-POH-NEE
34) SAUVIGNON BLANC
What is it?
Sauvignon Blanc is a green skinned grape variety that originates from the brdeaux region of France. It is planted in many of the world’s wine regions producing a crisp, dry and refreshing white varietal wine (A varietal wine is made primarily from a single named grape variety and typically displays the name of the variety on the wine label. Eg: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chadonnay and Merlot).
Depending on the climate, the flavour can range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical. In cooler climates, the grape has a tendency to produce wines with noticeable acidity and green flavours of grass, green bell peppers and nettles with some tropical fruit such as passion fruit and floral such as elderflower notes. In warmer climates, it can develop more tropical fruit notes but risk losing a lot of aromatics from over ripeness, leaving only slight grapefruit and tree fruit such as peach notes. When slightly chilled, this wine pairs well with fish or cheese. It is also known as one of those few wines that can pair well with sushi.
How is it pronounced?
SOH-VEE-NYAWN BLAHN
35) CIABATTA
What is it?
Created in the year 1982, the Ciabatta is an Italian white bread made from wheat flour, water, salt and yeast.
The literal translation of the word is slipper because of its shape. The loaf is somewhat elongated, broad and flattish. Since the 1990s, it has been widely used as sandwich bread across Europe and in the United States. (Source:Abigailsbakery.com)
How is it pronounced?
CHUH-BAH-TUH
36) NUTELLA
What is it?
Nutella is a brand of sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero. It was first introduced in the year 1965. (Source:Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
NU-TELL-AH
37) BERNAISE
What is it?
Bernaise is a sauce made of clarified butter emulsion in egg yolks and white wine vinegar, flavoured with herbs. Its mother sauce is considered to be the Hollandaise, one of the five mother sauces in French haute cuisine. Bernaise uses shallot, chervil, peppercorns, gherkin and tarragon in a reduction of vinegar and wine. In appearance, it is light yellow, smooth and creamy. Bernaise is a traditional sauce for steak. (Source:Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
BEY-ER-NEYZ
38) BEEF BOURGUINGNON
What is it?
Beef Bourguignon is a well known traditional French recipe. It is a stew prepared with beef braised in red wine, traditionally red Burgundy and beef broth generally flavoured with garlic, onions and a bouquet garni (a bundle of herbs usually tied together with string and mainly used to prepare soup, stock, casseroles and stews. It is removed from the dish prior to consumption) with pearl onions and mushrooms added toward the end of the cook. (Source:Wiki)
How is it pronounced?
BOOR-GEE-NYAWN
39) CACCIATORE
What is it?
Cacciatore means ‘hunter’ in Italian. In cuisine, alla cacciatore refers to a meal prepared ‘hunter-style’ with onions, herbs, usually tomatoes, often bell peppers and sometimes wine. It is popularly made with braised chicken or rabbit.
How is it pronounced?
KAH-CHUH-TAWR-EE
40) CAPRESE SALAD
What is it?
A Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad made of sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and sweet basil seasoned with salt and olive oil. In restaurant practice it is usually arranged on a plate and features the colours of the Italian flag: Green, white and red. In Italy, it is usually served as an antipasto (starter).
How is it pronounced?
KUH-PREY-ZEE
Part 3 coming up next week! Until then, bon apetit!
To read up on part 1 of food pronunciations made easy, click: http://letsstalkfood.com/food-pronunciations-made-easy-part-1/