The Vocabulary of Cooking....N & O

Hey!  We are already on the N's and O's of our vocabulary list.  We are so glad you are staying with us to learn, learn, learn the language of cooking.  We hope you have been making good use of the terminology.

Don't forget to try out today's recipe.  It is a refreshing dish made for hot weather.

Let's get started!

Nappe (pronouced nap) is the term for a consistency of sauce whereby it "coats the back of a spoon."

Coating the back of a spoon

Nectar  is a beverage of fruit juice and pulp such as apricot nectar.  A drink that is very yummy is call "nectar of the Gods."

Nicoise olives are small distinctively purplish-black olives that have a salty, slightly sour flavor.

Nicoise Olives look like Calamata, but are more sour.

Non-stick pan is a very useful tool to have when cooking delicate ingredients like flakey fillets of fish or cooking eggs.  One good non-stick pan is a key piece of cookware any chef should have in their kitchen.

Nosh is to snack or nibble on small items of food.

Nutmeg is the hard, aromatic, spherical seed of the evergreen tree.   The seed is grated and used as a spice.  Fresh nutmeg has a powerful aromatic and should be used sparingly.

Ground and whole nutmeg

Nutrients are foods or other substances that provides energy or building material for the survival and growth of a living organism.  All living organisms, large and small, need nutrients to survive.

Oats a cereal plant cultivated chiefly in cool climates and widely used for animal feed as well as human consumption.

Okra is a tall annual herb of the herb and shrub family that is cultivated for its sticky green pods used especially in soups or stews.

Raw Okra

Olive Oil  is the oil obtained solely from the fruit of the olive tree.  There is a lot to know about olive oil, not only is it good for cooking but also your skin.  Check out the article from Clairalience to learn more.

Onions are an essential savory ingredient found in many dishes.  They add a depth of flavor and are the foundation for many sauces and stocks.

Onion picante is typically an onion studded with cloves and bay leaf.

Oregano is an aromatic plant of the mint family, related to marjoram, with leaves that are used fresh or dried as a culinary herb.

Fresh Oregano

Orzo is a shape of pasta - shaped like a large grain of rice.

Uncooked Orzo

Orzo Salad served cold

You will need:

1 lb Orzo

1 1/2 Cup cherry tomatoes

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 Tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/3 Cup fresh chopped parsley

1 Tablespoon butter

Salt and Pepper to taste

Here's what you do:

Bring a medium pot of salted water to boil.  Add orzo and cook until soft, but al dente.  Drain and place orzo in large bowl.  Quickly add all the other ingredients and mix until well combined.  While this can be served warm, try placing it in the refrigerator for an hour or so before serving.  It is great along side your grilled chicken or steaks.  Enjoy!

Oyster, also known as a mollusk, has a rough irregular shells.  Several kinds are eaten (especially raw) as a delicacy and may be farmed for food or pearls.

Oyster with a pearl!

Oyster sauce is a savory Asian sauce made from caramelized and reduced oyster liquor.

Those are words for this Thursday.  We hope you enjoy learning new stuff like we do.  Now go out and find your own pearls.  Happy eating!