Italian Cooking Vocabulary

to boil

to fry

to roast

to grill / to barbecue

to stew / to braise slowly

to braise

to sauté / to stir-fry

to bake / to cook in the oven

to steam

to smoke (food)

to marinate

to gratinate / to brown under the grill

to blanch

to caramelize

pot / saucepan

pl. pentole

frying pan / skillet

pl. padelle

baking tray / roasting tin

pl. teglie

casserole dish / saucepan

pl. casseruole

wok

chef's knife

chopping board / cutting board

pl. taglieri

rolling pin

pl. mattarelli

blender

pl. frullatori

food processor

oven

pl. forni

hob / cooktop

strainer / sieve

pl. colini

colander / pasta strainer

pl. scolapasta

grater

pl. grattugie

ladle

pl. mestoli

spatula

pl. spatole

whisk

pl. fruste

cooking thermometer

recipe

pl. ricette

ingredient

pl. ingredienti

quantity / dose / measure

pl. dosi

portion / serving

pl. porzioni

preparation

pl. preparazioni

cooking / cooking time

pl. cotture

leavening / rising (of dough)

pl. lievitazioni

dough / mixture

pl. impasti

filling / stuffing

pl. farciture

seasoning / dressing

pl. condimenti

marinade / marinating

pl. marinature

reduction (sauce)

pl. riduzioni

emulsion

pl. emulsioni

soffritto (sautéed base of onion, celery, carrot)

pl. soffritti

finely chopped mixture of aromatics

pl. battuti

minced / finely chopped

small cubes / diced

pl. dadini

julienne (thin strip cut)

al dente (firm to the bite)

well done (meat)

rare (meat)

gratinated / au gratin

the soffritto (base of Italian cooking)

ragù (slow-cooked meat sauce)

pl. ragù

homemade pasta

homemade / rustic bread

preserve / conserve

pl. conserve

pantry / larder

pl. dispense

extra virgin olive oil

garlic

pl. agli

basil

Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)

mozzarella

pl. mozzarelle

tomato

pl. pomodori

tomato sauce

béchamel / white sauce

yeast / baking powder

pl. lieviti

flour

pl. farine

balsamic vinegar

parsley