The Vocabulary of Cooking.....P

Today is all about the letter P.  There are lots of terms here, so let's get started.  Don't forget to look for the recipe and also a little bit of silliness.

paella is a Spanish dish of rice cooked in stock with meats and vegetables.  Note the pan used is specific to this dish.

paella made in a paella pan

paillard is a flattened piece of meat.  For example, using a mallot to flatten a chicken breast for even cooking.

pain de mie is a type of basic white bread.

pancetta is a salt-cured Italian bacon.

sliced pancetta

panko is a flaky Japanese style of breadcrumb.

panna cotta is a custard that is delicate but just firm enough to hold when inverted.

panna cotta with raspberry sauce

parmigiano reggiano is an authentic parmesan that has a salty flavor with firm texture. 

parsnips are a pale yellow root vegetable (shaped like a carrot) with a sweet, delicate flavor.

parsnips

pasilla peppers have a gentle, complex flavor with mild heat.

pasilla peppers

pearl onions are small mild-flavored onions.

sauted pearl onions

pectin is found naturally in fruits and helps ripe fruit remain firm, hence it’s thickening qualities. 

penne rigate is a pasta with ridges on the surface - which helps the sauce to stick to it.

uncooked penne regate

pepitas are edible pumpkin or squash seeds.

roasted and salted pepitas

pie crust - okay, we all know what pie crust is, but we included it because it is the recipe for this post.

a pre-baked pie crust

Your basic pie crust recipe
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks very cold salted butter, cut into 16 squares*
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup very cold water**

Using your food processor, combine flour and salt with a few pulses. Add cut up butter (I cannot stress enough that the butter must be cold cold cold). Process the flour butter mixture until it is the consistency of meal. Slowly add the water and combine until the ingredients come together in a dough, but do not over mix.  I'll repeat that, do not over mix. Divide dough in two pieces and wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.*** Remove dough and let come to room temperature. Roll out and place in pie pan. If you only need one crust, the second crust can be frozen.

*The true test of a good pie crust is its flakiness. You will get a flaky crust if you use cold butter and if you do not overwork the dough.

**An old time secret ingredient for a tender crust is to add 1 teaspoon vinegar to the water. Do worry. The taste bakes out and no one will ever know it was in there. The vinegar breaks down the gluten so you get a tender crust. 

***It is vital that you let your dough rest. I often let my dough rest overnight. All the ingredients come together and the dough is easier to work with when it comes time to roll it out.

pilaf is a dish of rice that often contain other flavoring ingredients including meat and vegetables. 

plantains are a starchy, firm fruit that are related to bananas.  Because of its starch properties, plantains are cooked before eating.

plantain

poach is a gentle method of cooking in liquid. The poaching liquid can be bold in flavor or subtle or even simply water. 

polenta is cornmeal, or a dish of ground cornmeal boiled in water - served either set solid or as a warm, thick puree consistency.

polenta with a puree consistency

 port wine is a sweet fortified wine that is rich in flavor. 

Prickly Pears any of numerous cacti having flattened, usually spiny stem joints, yellow, orange, or reddish flowers, and often edible fruit.

prickly pears

Prickly Pears two sisters that are a little prickly, a little sweet, and wonderfully creative and talented when it comes to designing home and table.  ;)

PP #1 and PP #2

prosciutto is an Italian, salt-cured ham, usually very thinly sliced.

proscuitto ham

puff pastry is a light, flaky, leavened pastry. 

puree is an ingredient that has been processed, blended, passed or pressed to a very fine, smooth consistency.

Wow!  That's a lot of culinary words that start with the letter P.  Now go out and use your ever growing vocabulary.  Go out and make a pie crust, while you are at it.  

Have fun and eat good things!