Picking up Spanish vocabulary through cooking terms is a great way to increase your knowledge of the Spanish language. You can do this yourself at home. Put up a vocabulary list in the kitchen or, if possible, stick notes on items with the Spanish words for them.
The way to the heart of a language can be through its cuisine:
Most of us are acquainted with some or other aspects of cooking. This makes it easier to learn the cooking terms in a new language. Learning about Spanish cooking is a good way to increase your Spanish speaking, reading and writing skills.
Characteristics of Spanish Cooking:
Spanish cuisine differs from region to region. Each region has its own specialty. For example, Central Spain, which includes Madrid and Castille, is famous for its meat roasts and cheeses, Valencia for its rice dishes, Galicia for its seafoods, and Andalucia for its fried food.
“Aceite de oliva” (olive oil) and “ajo” (garlic) are used in Spanish cooking. Condiments like “azúcar” (sugar), “sal” (salt), “pimienta” (pepper), “mostaza” (mustard) and “vinagre” (vinegar) are also used.
Some well-known Spanish foods are rice dishes like paella and caldera, casseroles, gazpacho (a cold vegetable soup) and mayonnaise.
The Spaniards like to eat plenty of nuts like “cacahuates” (peanuts), “pacana” (pecan), “piñones” (pine nuts) and “nuez de nogal” (walnuts).
Spanish Cooking Vocabulary:
The “comidas” (meals) are “desayuno” (breakfast), “almuerzo” (lunch) and “cena” (dinner/supper). Some people have “un aperitivo” (a snack) between meals. Meals may consist of “un plato principal” (a main course), “un segundo plato” (a second dish) and “un postre” (a dessert).
The cooking is usually done in a “cocina” (kitchen). A “cocina” will usually contain “artículos de cocina” (kitchenware), an “estufa de gas” (gas stove) or an “estufa eléctrica” (electric stove), a “batidora” (mixer), a “horno” (oven), a “refrigeradora” (fridge) and a “fregadero” (sink).
“El cocinero” (the cook) may do any of the following when cooking:
- Warm up - Calentar
- Bake - Cocer al horno
- Roast - Asado/asar
- Fry - Freír
- Sauté - Saltear
- Soak - Remojar
- Wash - Lavar
- Melt - Derretir
- Pour - Vertir
- Wipe - Limpiar con un paño
- Boil - Hervir
- Simmer - Cocinar a fuego lento
- Scald - Escaldar
- Skim - Desnatar
- Stew - Estofado
- Mix - Mezclar
- Peel - Pelar
- Garnish - Garnizar
- Flavor - Sabor
- Sweeten - Endulzar
“El cocinero” may use any the following “utensilios” (Utensils):
- Dish/Plate - Plato
- Saucer - Platillo
- Cup - Taza
- Bowl - Tazón/Cuenco
- Frying pan - Sartén
- Saucepan - Cazo
- Knife - Cuchillo
- Spoon - Cuchara
- Fork - Tenedor
- Teaspoon - Cucharilla
- Ladle - Cucharón
- Measuring spoon - Cuchara de medir
- Measuring cup - Taza para medir
- Measuring jug - Jarra graduada
The following “verduras” (vegetables) are used in Spanish cooking:
- Beans - Habas, Habichuelas, Alubias, Frijol
- Soybeans - Sojas
- Kidney beans - Alubias rojas
- Lentils - Lentejas
- Beetroot - Remolachas
- Radish - Rábano
- Carrot - Zanahoria
- Pea - Guisante, Chícharo
- Potatoes - Patatas
- Cabbage - Col
- Cauliflower - Coliflor
- Lettuce - Lechuga
- Spinach - Espinaca
- Watercress - Berro
- Celery - Apio
- Coriander - Cilantro, culantro
- Leeks - Puerros
- Cucumber - Pepino
- Tomatoes - Tomatoes
- Cayenne pepper - Pimienta cayena
- Green pepper - Pimiento verde
- Red pepper - Pimiento rojo
- Mushrooms- Champiñones
- Zucchini - Calabacín, Calabacita, Zapallito
- Onion - Cebolla
- Pumpkin/Gourd - Calabaza, Zapallo
Let’s look at the Spanish vocabulary for “Fruta” (Fruit):
- Apple - Manzana
- Banana - Plátano
- Blackberry - Zarzamora
- Mulberry - Mora
- Strawberry - Fresa
- Grape - Uva
- Prune - Ciruela pasa
- Raisin - Pasa
- Sultana - Sultana
- Plum - Ciruela
- Orange - Naranja
- Lemon - Limón
- Lime - Cal
- Grapefruit - Pomelo
- Tangerine - Mandarina
- Nectarine - Nectarina
- Peach - Melocotón
- Kiwi - Kiwi
- Olive - Aceituna
- Pineapple - Piña
- Coconut - Coco
Let’s look at the Spanish vocabulary for “Hierbas y especias” (Herbs and Spices):
- Bayleaf - Laurel
- Clove - Clavo
- Cloves of garlic - Clavos del ajo
- Fennel - Hinojo
- Ginger - Jengibre
- Julienne - Juliana
- Mint - Menta
- Nutmeg - Nuez moscada
- Oregano - Orégano
- Paprika - Pimentón
- Parsley - Perejil
- Peppercorns - Granos de pimienta
- Saffron - Azafrán
- Sage - Sabio
- Thyme - Tomillo
- Cinnamon - Canela
- Rosemary - Romero
Let’s look at the Spanish vocabulary for “Carne” (Meat):
- Bacon - Beicón
- Pork - Cerdo
- Pork fat - Tocino
- Suckling pig - Lechón
- Wild boar - Jabalí
- Ham - Jamón
- Sausage - Salchicha
- Roast beef - Rosbi
- Minced beef - Ternera picada
- Meatball - Albóndiga
- Mince - Carne picada
- Veal - Ternera (de animal muy joven y de carne pálida)
- Venison - (carne de) venado
- Mince pork - Cerdo picado
- Oxtail - Rabo de buey
- Kidney - Riñon
- Liver - Higado
- Spare ribs - Costillas
- Steak - Bistec
- Sirloin steak - Solomillo
- Chicken - Pollo
- Duck - Pato
- Partridge - Perdiz
- Quail - Codorniz
- Turkey - Pavo, Guajalote
- Lamb - Cordero
- Rabbit - Conejo
- Snail - Caracol
Let’s look at the Spanish vocabulary for “Mariscos” (Seafood):
- Fish - Pescado
- Cod - Bacalao
- Conger eel - Congrio
- Dogfish - Cazón
- Haddock - Abadejo
- Kipper - Arenque
- Salmon - Salmón
- Sardines - Sardinas
- Trout - Trucha
- Tuna - Atún
- Sea bream - Besugo
- Mussels - Mejillones
- Oyster - Ostra
- Prawns - Gambas
- Shrimp - Camarón
- Squid - Calamar
Other foods
- Bread - Pan
- Cake - Pastel
- Pancake - Crepas o pancake
- Noodles - Tallarines
- Cornflakes - Copos de maíz
- Egg - Huevo
- Jam - Mermelada
- Juice - Jugo
- Milk - La leche
- Butter - Mantequilla
- Cheese - Queso
- Cream - Nata o Crema
- Ice cream - Helado
Learning Spanish cooking vocabulary is a fun way to increase your knowledge and skills in the Spanish language.
