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[C1 Level] Food & Cooking – English vocabulary

87 words · English vocabulary · Created by Openquiz Team

87 English words with meanings: gourmet, culinary, appetizer, beverage, cuisine… Study them with flashcards, quizzes and AI speaking practice on OpenQuiz.

Part of the learning path: C1–C2 Everyday English

Word list

  1. gourmet /'ɡʊə.meɪ/ (adj) — high-quality and fancy food
    Example: She prepared a gourmet dinner for her guests.
    Synonyms: fine-dining, luxurious, deluxe
  2. culinary /'kʌl.ɪ.nər.i/ (adj) — about cooking
    Example: He attended a culinary school in France.
    Synonyms: gastronomic, cookery, kitchen-related
  3. appetizer /'æp.ɪ.taɪ.zər/ (noun) — a small dish eaten before the main meal
    Example: We had soup as an appetizer.
    Synonyms: starter, entrée, snack
  4. beverage /'bev.ər.ɪdʒ/ (noun) — a liquid you drink
    Example: Tea is a popular beverage worldwide.
    Synonyms: drink, refreshment, liquid
  5. cuisine /kwɪ'zi:n/ (noun) — the way food is cooked and served
    Example: Italian cuisine is famous for its pasta dishes.
    Synonyms: cookery, gastronomy, fare
  6. aroma /ə'rəʊ.mə/ (noun) — the smell of food or drink
    Example: The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen.
    Synonyms: fragrance, scent, perfume
  7. savory /'seɪ.vər.i/ (adj) — salty and not sweet
    Example: She prefers savory snacks to sweet ones.
    Synonyms: salty, piquant, tasty
  8. palatable /'pæl.ə.tə.bəl/ (adj) — tasty and easy to eat
    Example: The soup was surprisingly palatable.
    Synonyms: tasty, flavorful, appetizing
  9. condiment /'kɒn.dɪ.mənt/ (noun) — seasoning or dipping sauce
    Example: Ketchup is a common condiment for fries.
    Synonyms: seasoning, spice, sauce
  10. seasoning /'si:.zən.ɪŋ/ (noun) — spices like salt and pepper
    Example: Add seasoning to enhance the taste.
    Synonyms: spice, flavoring, herb
  11. marinate /'mær.ɪ.neɪt/ (verb) — soak food in sauce
    Example: Marinate the chicken overnight for better flavor.
    Synonyms: soak, steep, bathe
  12. roast /rəʊst/ (verb) — cook in the oven
    Example: He roasted the turkey for Thanksgiving.
    Synonyms: bake, grill, broil
  13. simmer /'sɪm.ər/ (verb) — cook slowly on low heat
    Example: Let the sauce simmer for ten minutes.
    Synonyms: stew, boil gently, poach
  14. stir-fry /'stɜ: ,fraɪ/ (verb) — cook quickly on high heat
    Example: She stir-fried vegetables for dinner.
    Synonyms: fry, sauté, cook quickly
  15. grill /ɡrɪl/ (verb) — to cook food over direct heat on a metal rack
    Example: They grilled the fish over charcoal.
    Synonyms: broil, barbecue, toast
  16. knead /ni:d/ (verb) — mix and press dough
    Example: Knead the dough until smooth and elastic.
    Synonyms: massage, press, mix
  17. whisk /wɪsk/ (verb) — to beat or mix quickly with a wire tool to add air
    Example: Whisk the eggs until fluffy.
    Synonyms: beat, stir, blend
  18. chop /tʃɒp/ (verb) — cut into pieces
    Example: Chop the onions finely.
    Synonyms: cut, slice, dice
  19. dice /daɪs/ (verb) — cut into small cubes
    Example: Dice the carrots before adding to the salad.
    Synonyms: cube, chop, cut
  20. sauté /'səʊ.teɪ/ (verb) — cook quickly in a pan with little oil
    Example: Sauté the mushrooms in butter.
    Synonyms: fry, sear, cook lightly
  21. blanch /blɑ:ntʃ/ (verb) — dip briefly in boiling water
    Example: Blanch the spinach before freezing.
    Synonyms: scald, parboil, dip in hot water
  22. carve /kɑ:v/ (verb) — cut meat into pieces
    Example: He carved the turkey at the table.
    Synonyms: slice, cut, section
  23. bake /beɪk/ (verb) — to cook food, such as cake or bread, with dry heat in an oven
    Example: She baked a chocolate cake for his birthday.
    Synonyms: roast, cook, grill
  24. broil /brɔɪl/ (verb) — cook under direct heat
    Example: Broil the steak for five minutes.
    Synonyms: grill, roast, toast
  25. steam /sti:m/ (verb) — cook with steam
    Example: Steam the vegetables until tender.
    Synonyms: boil, cook, poach
  26. mash /mæʃ/ (verb) — crush until smooth
    Example: Mash the potatoes with butter and milk.
    Synonyms: crush, squash, press
  27. blend /blend/ (verb) — mix together until smooth
    Example: Blend the fruits to make a smoothie.
    Synonyms: mix, combine, mingle
  28. drizzle /'drɪz.əl/ (verb) — pour a little liquid over food
    Example: Drizzle olive oil over the salad.
    Synonyms: pour lightly, sprinkle, scatter
  29. garnish /'ɡɑ:.nɪʃ/ (verb) — make food look nice
    Example: Garnish the dish with parsley.
    Synonyms: decorate, adorn, embellish
  30. kneading /'ni:.dɪŋ/ (noun) — working dough by pressing and folding it with hands
    Example: Kneading helps develop gluten in dough.
    Synonyms: pressing, folding, pounding

…and 57 more words in this set.

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