home > Kitchenware ingredients - Cooking Ingredients from Start2Cook.co.uk         1) Cooking Ingredients 2) Information about Herbs and Spices 3) Information about Meat 4) Information about Vegetables 5) Information about Fruit 6) Cooking Techniques 7) Great Recipes 8) Cookware Kits 9) Cooking Utensils 10) Strainers And Colanders 11) Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmos 12) Whisks 13) Splatter Screens 14) Graters 15) Wooden Spoons 16) Can Openers 17) Peelers 18) Paring Knives 19) Pointed Knives 20) Bread Knives 21) Chefs Knives 22) Filleting Knifes 23) Cheese Knives 24) Vegetable Cutters 25) Corkscrews 26) Ice Cube Trays 27) Salt Pots and Pepper Pots 28) Serving Spoons 29) Serving Ladels 30) Slotted Food Turner 31) Fish Slices 32) Measuring Jugs 33) Egg Pancake Rings 34) Pastry Brushes 35) Slotted Spoons 36) Potato Mashers 37) Garlic Presses 38) Vegetable Peelers 39) Egg Slicers 40) Cutting Chopping Boards 41) Ice Cream Scoops 42) Fridge Freezer Thermometers 43) Meat Thermometers 44) Food Safety Covers 45) Corn Cob Holders 46) Food Handling Tongs 47) Cooling Racks 48) Spaghetti Servers 49) Apple Corers 50) Pizza Cutters 51) Spatulas 52) Measuring Spoons 53) Gas Lighters 54) Fizz Keeper Caps 55) Wine Saver Systems 56) Cookie Cutters 57) Timers 58) Skewers 59) Basting Stock Pots 60) Kitchen Weighing Scales 61) Silicon Bakeware 62) Pan Sets 63) Iced Lolly Moulds 64) Oven Trays 65) Cutlery Sets 66) Stock Pots 67) Baking Trays 68) Pressure Cookers 69) Roasting Racks 70) Grill Pans 71) Sandwich Tins 72) Bun Cake Baking Trays 73) Griddles 74) Pizza Crispers 75) POTS AND PANS 76) CUTTING CHOPPING PREPARING 77) STIRING AND SERVING 78) SUPER FAST COOKING 79) ROASTING IN THE OVEN 80) WEIGHING AND MEASURING 81) OVEN BAKING 82) FRIDGE AND FREEZER TOOLS 83) DRINKING AND WINE TOOLS 84) ANTONY WORRALL THOMPSON 85) Food Storage 86) Potato Ricer 87) Popular Products > Aduki Bean The aduki bean is a tiny, reddish-brown bean with a cream coloured seam and sweet, nutty flavour. It is particularly popular in Asian cooking, most often used for sweet dishes including soups, desserts and as a dim sum filling. Aduki beans are regarded as the king of beans in Japan and are prized for their health-giving properties: reputedly benefitting the liver and the kidneys. In Japan and China aduki beans are often cooked, puréed and mixed with sugar to make a chocolately paste which is used to fill cakes and desserts.     > Anchovy Silver, slender salty little fish found mainly around the Black Sea and the Pacific and Atlantic, as well as the Mediterranean, where the best are thought to come from. They're generally around 8-10cm long and, as their delicate flavour doesn't last long after they're caught, they are rarely exported fresh. Instead, they're filleted, salt-cured and packed in oil or salt (these are particularly flavourful) in tins or jars. Preserved that way, they take on an intense but sophisticated fish flavour and are a great store cupboard standby.     > Angelica This sweet 'herb of the angels' is a member of the parsley family and was once thought to be a remedy against witchcraft, poison and plague. Its pale green, celery-like stalks stimulate production of digestive juices, improves the flow of bile into the digestive tract, and combats digestive spasms. Angelica is also used to flavor gin and sweet wines.     > Apple Grown in temperate regions, apples are one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits. There are over 7,000 varieties in existence, many of which are grown in Britain but, despite that, only around 12 varieties are commonly sold in UK supermarkets, of which many are imported. Colours range from red, to yellow and green, but all varieties fall into one of two categories: eating, also sometimes called dessert apples (including Cox's Orange Pippin, Golden Delicious, Granny Smiths, Braeburn, Gala, Pink Lady and Jonagold) or cooking, with the latter being more tart in flavour, a result of their higher levels of malic acid (the best is Bramley, though Blenheim Orange, Grenadier, Reverend W Wilkes and Ida Red are also available). The texture can be very crisp and juicy or more yielding, according to variety. All apples are a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as fibre.     > Apricot A relative of the peach, nectarine, plum and cherry, apricots are fragrant, with a soft, velvety skin that ranges from pale yellow to deep orange. Inside there's a large kernel that will fall out easily if the flesh is ripe. Apricots need a warm climate to thrive - in the summer most come from hot European countries, and there's also a short winter season for apricots grown in Chile and South Africa.     > Arborio Rice The high-starch kernels of this Italian-grown grain are shorter and plumper than any other short-grain rice. When cooked the grains become soft in texture with a chalky centre. Arborio is traditionally used for risotto because during the cooking process some of the starch from the rice is released and creates the desired creaminess.     > Asparagus Labour-intensive to grow, asparagus are the young shoots of a cultivated lily plant. They're considered to be one of the delicacies of the vegetable world, with a price tag to match, and have a distinct, intense savoury flavour. Sprue is the term for young, very slender asparagus. While French asparagus is purple, the British and American varieties are green. In contrast, Spanish and much Dutch asparagus is white, as it's grown beneath the soil and cut just as the tips emerge. All types pack a nutritional punch, with high levels of vitamins A and C, potassium, iron and calcium, and they're also diuretic, giving urine an unmistakable aroma (which, curiously, not everyone can smell!).     > Aubergine Although it's technically a fruit (a berry, to be exact), the aubergine is used as a vegetable. It's native to South-East Asia, but is grown all over the world, and there are many different varieties, including the bulbous, glossy, deep purple zepplin-like types common to Mediterrean cuisine; the small, tubular Asian types; the small, plump and ivory examples (hence 'eggplant', its name in the United States and Australia); or the scarcely-bigger-than-a-pea varieties grown in Thailand. All varieties share the same bland, mildly smokey flavour and flesh that's spongey when raw but soft when cooked.     > Autumn Lamb As opposed to 'spring lamb' autumn lamb is lamb that is born in the spring and is often more flavoursome and tender than its more heralded spring equivalent. The lambs graze and fatten up on summer grass and are all the more flavoursome for it.     > Avocado Although it's technically a fruit, the mild-flavoured avocado is used as a vegetable. Native to central America, there are four main varieties: Hass (considered to be the best), which has a dark, knobbly skin; the pear-shaped, smooth-skinned Ettinger and Fuerte (of which a tiny, baby-sized variety is also available); and the more spherical Nabal. Avocado is also sometimes known as a butter pear, because of its unctuous flesh, or as alligator pear because of the Hass variety's textured skin. Highly nutritious, containing vitamin E, iron, potassium and niacin, it's also unique among fruits in that it contains oil - but most of it is the good, monosaturated type.     > Bacon Bacon is pork that has been cured one of two ways: dry or wet. It can be bought as both rashers and larger cuts. A dry-cure (in which the meat is rubbed with salt and flavourings) is the superior method of curing. A wet cure involves steeping the meat in a brine of salt and water. It's common for manufacturers to inject the brine into the meat too, in order to increase the weight and volume; bacon that's been cured in this way will shrink and release a cloudy, yellow liquid when it's cooked, and won't be as crisp as dry cured. Bacon is sold as both smoked or unsmoked - the latter is termed 'green', and is paler and milder than the smoked variety. There are three types of rasher: back (from the loin, the leanest and most expensive), streaky (from the belly, it's the fattiest and often tastiest cut) and middle (back and streaky bacon in one cut). Bacon joints include collar (from the shoulder), hock (from the front leg of the pig) and gammon (from the hind leg). Never eat raw bacon.     > Baking Powder A raising agent used in baking that combines mild acid (usually cream of tartar) with mild alkali (such as bicarbonate of soda). When mixed with liquid the powder generates carbon-dioxide forming bubbles that cause a mixture to expand.     > Balsamic Vinegar True Balsamic vinegar is an artisan product from Modena, in Emilia Romagna, Italy, and is made with grape must (juice) that is simmered to make a concentrate, allowed to ferment, then, for a minimum of 12 years, matured in barrels of progressively decreasing size, made from different woods in order to impart different flavours. The result is dark, rich and syrupy and to be used very sparingly. The real thing will be marked with 'tradizionale' and/or DOC and will be expensive. You can also buy the more afforable, industrially made 'aceto balsamico di Modena', which uses vinegar as well as grape must; as it's not aged for so long, the flavours won't be as strong.     > Banana Probably the best known, most popular tropical fruit, their name probably derives from the Arabic for finger, 'banan'. There are a number of varieties, inluding red bananas (which have a yellow-pink skin and flesh) and the small sugar bananas, which are around 3 inches long. But the most commonly sold type in the UK is Cavendish - the longer ones tend to come from Latin America, as they pick them later, and the smaller ones from the Caribbean, where they pick earlier. All bananas are extremely nutritious; rich in potassium, riboflavin, niacin and fibre, and the rapid energy boost given by their high sugar levels means that they're a great snack.     > Basil Most closely associated with Mediterranean cooking but also very prevalent in Asian food, the herb basil has a sweet, strong aroma and flavour. There are three main Mediterranean types: sweet, with large green leaves; Greek, with smaller leaves and a peppery undertone; and purple, whose dark leaves have a milder flavour. Asian varieties include lemon basil, which has a citrus note and smaller leaves; Thai, like sweet basil, but stronger; and holy basil, spicy and intense, and unusual in that it's best when cooked, rather than raw.     > Beef The classic cut of meat for a British Sunday roast, beef is full of flavour, as well as being a good source of high-quality protein, iron and B vitamins. But it's not just a one-dish ingredient - the wide range of cuts available, from expensive sirloin steak to the much more affordable brisket, mean it's pretty versatile. British-reared breeds, such as Aberdeen Angus, Longhorn and Hereford have traditionally been considered to be among the best beef in the world, but the reputation of other premium breeds such as Wagyu, which originated in Japan, are increasingly on the rise. Most beef cuts are sold ready-prepared, so it's generally a fairly easy meat to cook.     > Beetroot A favourite in 1970's British salads (served cooked and pickled in vinegar), beetroot is a root vegetable with dark, purple skin and pink/purple flesh. It has also enjoyed something of a deserved comeback in recent years, its earthy, rich and sweet flavour and vibrant colour lends itself to a variety of both sweet and savoury dishes. Beetroot is a close relative of spinach and chard and has an earthy flavour and a good nutritional content - it's also reckoned to be a good detoxifier.     > Blackberry A purply black-coloured berry comprising many individual seed-containing fruits surrounding a cone-shaped core. Wonderfully juicy, they're good raw (straight from the hedge!) or cooked and are bursting with vitamin C. Wild, they're often called brambles.     > Blackcurrants The most intensely coloured and flavoured of all currants, blackcurrants are highly aromatic and have a delicious tart flavour. Recent research findings suggest that eating blackcurrants can help prevent the onset of Alzheimers disease.     > Blueberry Small, round, smooth-skinned and fleshy with tiny seeds, blueberries grow on shrubs on peaty moors and uplands, predominantly in North America and New Zealand. They have a balanced, tart and sweet flavour, although the cultivated type (which is what's mainly available in the UK) has a less intense flavour than the wild variety. The high levels of phytochemicals, which are thought to help protect against cancer and heart disease, mean blueberries are considered one of the top superfoods for good health.     > Braise Braising involves cooking a piece or pieces of meat at a low-to-moderate temperature in a covered cast-iron or earthenware casserole for a long time in just enough liquid to ensure a succulent result. The meat may or may not be floured and sealed in hot oil before cooking. Vegetables and other ingredients are usually added to add flavour and aroma.     > Bramley Apple A large, flattish cooking apple, green in appearance but sometimes with specks of red. The flesh is white, juicy and acidic and when boiled it turns into a frothy pulp making it what many consider the best cooking apple of all.     > Broad Bean A member of the legume family, broad beans are pretty hardy and adaptable - they grow in most soils and climates. They're a great source of protein and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins A, B1 and B2. In the US, they're known as fava beans.     > Broccoli Like cabbage and cauliflower, broccoli is a brassica and is sometimes known by its Italian name, calebrese. It has tight clusters of deep green buds and thick, edible stems and was developed from the more loosely packed purple sprouting broccoli. There's little to choose between the two in terms of flavour or nutrition.     > Brussels Sprouts The quintessential Christmas dinner veg, Brussels sprouts are throught to have been cultivated in Belgium in the 16th century -hence the name. Although they're related to cabbage - they even look like a miniature, compact version - they have a sweet, nutty flavour, which some people can find bitter. They grow in multiple rows along a thick, central stalk.     > Cabbage The cabbage, or brassica, family is huge, and includes everything from the familiar red, white or green varieties with tightly packed leaves, to cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts as well as pak choi, popular in Asian cookery. The round, crinkle-leafed Savoy cabbage and the pale, lozenge-shaped Chinese leaf are considered to be two of the best to cook with. The flavour of cabbage varies from type to type, ranging from savoury to gently sweet, but one thing they all have in common is a rank smell if overcooked, so brief cooking is key.     > Cannellini Bean Slightly kidney-shaped with squarish ends, cannellini beans are from Italy and are creamy white in colour. When cooked, they have a fluffy texture and a slightly nutty, mild flavour.     > Capers Capers are the small flower buds of the Capparis shrub, which grows in the Mediterranean. As they're picked by hand they're fairly pricey but they're a versatile store cupboard ingredient, and are good for adding a distinctive sour/salty flavour to many savoury dishes.     > Carrot The carrot, with its distinctive bright orange colour, is one of the most versatile root vegetables around - a result of its sweet flavour, which means it can be used raw or cooked, in sweet or savoury dishes. Up to the Middle Ages, all carrots were purple - the orange variety was first developed in 16th-century Holland by patriotic growers who bred it in tribute to the king, William I of Orange. That old wive's tale about carrots helping you see in the dark isn't entirely off-target; they're very high in betacarotene, which is an important nutrient in maintaining healthy eyes.     > Cashew The seeds from the 'Cashew Apple' - a tree which bears bright orange fruit and is native to Brazil and the West Indies. They have a sweet flavour and crumbly texture and are often roasted and salted to bring out their flavour. Cashews are never sold with their shells because of the extreme heating process that must be applied to remove them.     > Cauliflower A brassica, like cabbage and broccoli, cauliflower is a mass of tiny, tightly packed flower heads (called curds), which grow from a thick central stem to form a single, round head, cupped by green leaves. It has a firm, almost waxy texture, and a mild, delicate flavour. Most cauliflowers are white, but it's also possible to find green and purple varieties, as well as the sweeter Romanesco cauliflower, with its distinctive pointed florets. Like all brassicas, cauliflower smells very unpleasant if overcooked, so brief cooking is essential.     > Cavolo Nero A loose-leafed cabbage from Tuscany, Italy. The leaves are a very dark green, almost black, hence its name, which translates as 'black cabbage'. It has a pleasantly tangy, bitter flavour, with a sweet aftertaste. Some people spell this 'cavalo nero'.     > Caviar Caviar is salted fish eggs (roe) and is widely regarded as the most luxurious food item in the world. There are three types of caviar. Beluga is the rarest and most expensive. The eggs are dark grey in colour, large and well separated. Iscveitra is golden coloured, smaller and oily in texture while Sevruga is the least expensive and greenish-grey, small and distinctly salty in flavour.     > Celeriac The unsung hero of the vegetable world, knobbly, odd-shaped celeriac has a subtle, celery-like flavour, with nutty overtones. Try it as mash, in big-flavoured, slow-cook dishes, or in its classic form, and as they do in France, as a remoulade.     > Celery A collection of long, thick, juicy stalks around a central, tender heart, celery ranges in colour from white to green - the darker its colour, the stonger its flavour. It has a very mildly bitter taste and a texture that's both crisp and succulent and is eaten either raw or cooked.     > Cherry One of the delights of the summer, cherries are much loved for their succulent texture, flavour and gorgeous good looks. The juicy flesh can be sweet or sour, depending on which of the hundreds of varieties they are. Cherries are divided into three groups: sweet, sour and hybrids.     > Chervil Chervil is an annual herb that looks similar to flat leaf parsley but with a finer stem and more delicate, almost wilting leaves. It has a faint aniseed flavour and is one of the herbs used to make up the French herb mixture fines herbes. It is also reputed to aid digestion when turned into a tea.     > Chestnut In contrast to other nuts, chestnuts have a low oil and a high water content (hence their unique, soft texture) and should never be eaten raw.     > Chicken Chicken's many plus points - its versatility, as well as the ease and speed with which it can be cooked - make it one of the most popular meats around. It's lower in saturated fat than most meats, especially if the skin is removed, and has a high level of good quality protein, as well as B vitamins, iron, copper and selenium. The pale flesh has a close texture and a mild flavour that pairs up well with many different ingredients. Never eat raw chicken, and always thoroughly wash your hands, utensils and cutting board as soon as you've cut or handled raw chicken.     > Chicory Also known as endive, chicory is a forced crop, grown in complete darkness, which accounts for its blanched white, yellow-tipped leaves. It has a distinctive, cigar-like shape, about 12cm long, and the crisp leaves have a mildly bitter flavour.     > Chilli Part of the capsicum family, chillies come in scores of varieties and colours (from green through to yellow, orange and red) and are one of the most popular spices in the world. Chillies can be used fresh, dried or powdered, and the level of heat varies from type to type, from sweet and mellow to blisteringly hot - as a general rule, the smaller the chilli, the hotter the taste. The substance that generates the heat is called capsaicin, which is found mainly in the pith and, to a lesser extent, the seeds. But it's not all about heat - each type has its own distinct flavour. To cool down the mouth-burn from a too-hot chilli dish, try milk or yoghurt; they're much more effective than water.     > Chorizo A coarsely textured spiced pork sausage widely used in Spanish and Mexican cooking. It is made from coarsely chopped pork and red pepper and seasoned with chilli and paprika. Mexican chorizo is made with fresh pork while Spanish chorizo uses smoked pork. Chorizo can be eaten raw or cooked. If raw it must be cooked but it is usually a fermented cured sausage which can be sliced and eaten without cooking. Uncooked chorizo is softer to the touch and, when cooked, releases a delicious spicy red oil. Spanish chorizo gets its trademark smoky flavour and rich red colour from Pimenton, which is smoked Spanish paprika, and is usually very spicy. Uncooked chorizo is softer to the touch and, when cooked, releases a delicious spicy red oil.     > Cinnamon A fragrant spice which comes from the inner bark of a tropical tree that, when dried, curls into quills used to add a warm, distinctive flavour and aroma to usually sweet dishes.     > Clarified Butter This is butter from which all milk solids has been removed. The result is a clear yellow fat that can be heated to a higher temperature than butter before burning. It is an excellent fat for pan-frying.     > Clementine The smallest and sweetest variety of tangerine is sweet and tangy, contains no seeds and is recognisable by its loose, baggy bright orange skin. Tangerine segments can be eaten on their own or dipped in melted chocolate. The zest can be candied or used to flavour recipes.     > Clove The dry, unopened flower bud of the tropical myrtle tree family used to flavour a wide variety of sweet and savoury dishes. Cloves can be used whole or ground to impart a strong sweet but spicy and peppery flavour so should be used in moderation to avoid over seasoning. Insert whole cloves into baked hams or oranges, apples or onions to add flavour or add ground cloves to curries.     > Allspice Allspice, also called Jamaica pepper, Kurundu, Myrtle pepper, pimenta, or newspice, is a spice which is the dried unripe fruit ("berries") of Pimenta dioica , a mid-canopy tree native to the Greater Antilles, southern Mexico and Central America, now cultivated in many warm parts of the world.     > Cockles They may be most associated with Dublin, alive alive-o, but cockles are available all over the world. Their small, heart-shaped shells contain a small, delicate morsel of flesh that can be eaten raw, steamed or boiled. A member of the clam family, although cockles may seem like a lot of work for little return, they have a delicious salty flavour that needs to be treated gently.     > Coconut A large hairy, brown nut that grows on the coconut tree, found throughout the world's tropical islands and countries. The coconut tree is known as the 'Tree of Life' given its usefulness: its wood is used for furniture and building, its branches make great thatched roofs, and its nuts for eating and drinking. Inside the nut is white flesh which is used in both sweet and savoury dishes. The creamy milk commonly used in curry sauces and rice dishes does not actually come from the milky liquid in the centre of the nut, instead coming from the coconut milk and cream squeezed from the flesh.     > Cod A popular mild-flavoured saltwater fish mainly found in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Cod's white flesh is succulent, flaky, firm and lean but it has commonly been considered inferior to other types of fish most probably because it was overcooked and, for many years, plentiful and cheap. Overfishing has since depleted stocks - to the point of disappearance in some areas.     > Coriander Seed The small, creamy brown seeds of the coriander plant give dishes a warm, aromatic and slightly citrus flavour totally different to fresh coriander leaves. They are commonly used in Indian cooking as well as featuring in Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes.     > Courgette The courgette is a variety of cucurtbit, which means it's from the same family as cucumber, squash and melon. It is the most popular vegetable of the squash family, being extremely versatile, tender and easy to cook. Just don't boil them! They have a deep green skin with firm pale flesh and are also known as zucchini.     > Cougette Flower The edible flower of the courgette, or zucchini bush. There are two sorts of flower: the flower with the immature vegetable attached is the female and the more eyecatching flower on the long stalk is the male. It is the male flower that is sold in bunches and used in Italian cooking.     > Couscous Consisting of many tiny granules made from steamed and dried durum wheat, couscous has become a popular alternative to rice and pasta. It has a light fluffy texture which is a little bland in flavour but which readily soaks up the flavours of other ingredients. Couscous originates from North Africa, and is the staple ingredient in the North African diet. The term couscous also refers to dishes made with combinations of meat, vegetables and spices and combined with the semolina.     > Crab A crustacean that has its skeleton on the outside protecting a soft, flavoursome flesh. There are many varieties of crabs. The most commonly eaten crab in the UK is the common edible or brown crab that weighs up to 3kg and contains plenty of sweet, succulent flesh. Female crabs have sweeter flesh than males.     > Cranberry A tart, ruby-red coloured berry which grows wild on shrubs throughout northern Europe and North America. High in vitamins C and D, potassium and iron they are believed to be a natural remedy for a host of health conditions. Cranberries come into their own around Christmas but are good for much more than accompanying the turkey. Their sour flavour lends itself well to both sweet and savoury dishes, as well as drinks.     > Cream A dairy product which comes from the butterfat layer skimmed off the top of milk prior to homogenization. High in fat and delicious, it is top on the 'no-no' list of many dieters but is worth splurging out on now and then - a scone is simply not the same without a dollop of it. Different types of cream have different percentages of butterfat. The lower the butterfat, the more beating is required to make whipped cream.     > Cumin An aromatic spice native to eastern Mediteranean countries and Upper Egypt. This warm, flavoursome and slightly bitter spice derives from the seed of the Cumin plant and is traditionally added to curries, Mexican dishes and Moroccan lamb dishes. White cumin seeds are the most commonly available variety; black cumin seeds are slightly smaller and sweeter in flavour.     > Damson A small fruit with vibrant dark blue skin and a strong, sour flavour, damsons are similar to plums and a member of the rose family. They have a large stone and are often juicy, but tend not be eaten raw due to the tartness of the flesh.     > Date Dates are one of the oldest cultivated fruits - it's thought that they were a staple part of the Babylonian diet 8,000 years ago. Grown in North Africa and Israel, there are several varieties, but only a handful are exported to Britian. Colours range from honey yellow, red to brown, the last of which is the most common. Available fresh or dried, they're very sweet, with a rich, deep flavour and a lush, slightly chewy texture. The mahogany brown Medjool variety is the sweetest, and tastes a little like toffee.     > Dublin Bay Prawn A crustacean the size of a small crayfish fished not from Dublin Bay but off the North West coast of Scotland. Dublin Bay Prawns are similar to scampi and langoustines. When very fresh, Dublin Bay prawns have an outstanding slightly sweet flavour - this is often lost when they have been frozen.     > Duck Rich and full of flavour, duck meat is extremely nutritious, with high levels of protein, B vitamins and minerals such as zinc, potassium, magnesium and iron. Weight for weight, it has less meat than chicken and turkey but, because its flavour is strong, a little goes a long way. If you're cooking duck breast its comparatively high fat content can be reduced by removing the skin, and the layer of fat that sits beneath it, before cooking. Farmed duck, domesticated from the wild mallard, is the most commonly available, but wild duck is also available in season. Duck is popular in Chinese and Thai cuisine, as well as in European cookery, which often pairs it with fruits such as oranges, raspberries, cherries, cranberries and blueberries.     > Egg The ultimate convenience food, eggs are powerhouses of nutrition, packed with protein and a range of 18 vitamins and minerals. They're also hugely versatile. Almost all eggs are edible but the most commonly consumed are hen's eggs. Bantam, quail, duck and goose eggs are also readily available and vary in size and flavour.     > Fennel Bulb Like Marmite, fennel is something that you either love or hate - its strong aniseed flavour leaves no room for the middle ground. From the same family as the herb and seed of the same name, it's also known as Florence fennel, finocchio, or sweet fennel, is very popular in Italian cookery, and has a bulb-like shape that looks a little like a heavy-bottomed celery. When eaten raw, the texture is crisp and the flavour is quite assertive and anisseedy. Cooked, it's softer and more mellow.     > Fennel Leaf Its green, feathery fronds look a lot like dill but the fennel herb has a much stronger aniseed flavour. The seeds from which the herb is grown (fennel seed) can also be used in cooking. It's related to, but different from the vegetable, fennel bulb. A bronze variety, with a milder flavour, is also available.     > Dill Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a short-lived perennial herb. It is the sole species of the genus Anethum, though classified by some botanists in a related genus as Peucedanum graveolens (L.) C.B.Clarke. It grows to 40–60 cm (16–24 in), with slender stems and alternate, finely divided, softly delicate leaves 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) long. The ultimate leaf divisions are 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) broad, slightly broader than the similar leaves of fennel, which are threadlike, less than 1 mm (0.039 in) broad, but harder in texture. The flowers are white to yellow, in small umbels 2–9 cm (0.79–3.5 in) diameter. The seeds are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 1 mm (0.039 in) thick, and straight to slightly curved with a longitudinally ridged surface.     > Fennel Seeds A dried seed that comes from the fennel herb, fennel seeds look like cumin seeds, only greener, and have an aniseed flavour and a warm, sweet aroma. They're also used in spice mixes such as Chinese five spice and the Indian panch poran.     > Fenugreek Herb A staple of Indian food (the herb's Indian name is methi), fenugreek has a very distinctive, curry-powder aroma and a three-leafed, clover-like shape. The dried seed (see fenugreek seed) is also available.     > Fenugreek Seed A popular seed in Indian cookery, in which it's termed methi, this small, hard, mustard yellow seed has a tangy, bitter, burnt-sugar flavour. The herb of the same name (see fenugreek herb) is grown from it and is also used in Middle Eastern cooking.     > Feta A creamy soft white cheese with an ancient history - nomadic tribes who needed to preserve the milk of their sheep and goats are attributed with inventing it and the recipe has remained virtually unchanged. Feta became a cheese of protected origin in 2002 and come 2007 it will only be produced in Greece. When the cheese becomes firm it is cut into slices, sprinkled with salt, packed into barrels and covered with brine or oil.     > Fig Although not juicy, the fig is an incredibly luscious fruit, with a delicate aroma and sweet flavour. Originally from Asia, figs are now grown across the Mediterranean and there are hundreds of different varieties, grouped into four main colours: white, green, red and purple/black. Figs have an oval or squat pear shape, and thin skin that encloses hundreds of seeds (actually miniature fruits themselves) held in a succulent, softly fibrous red or purple flesh. Figs are very delicate and need gentle handling. You can also buy them dried.     > Flour Flour is a powdery ingredient made from grounding wheat, maize, rye, barley or rice. It is the key ingredient of bread, which makes it one of the most common and sought after ingredients in the world. There are many different types of flour which are dependent on the degree of processing processing and type of wheat used. Most flour readily bought from supermarkets is steel crushed, meaning it is ground with huge steel hammers that generate heat which strips away the wheat germ, and consequently, vitamins. Stone-ground flour is naturally more nutritious. Wheat flour is the most popular and versatile flour and there are many different varieties: White flour, otherwise known as plain flour, contains about 75 per cent of the wheat grain, with most of the bran and wheat germ taken out. It is commonly used for pastry-making, sauces and biscuits. Self-raising flour contains baking powder which raises cakes and scones. Unbleached flour is an off-white colour because it has not been whitened artificially. Who     > Fontina Made in Italy's Val d'Aosta by a number of different cooperatives, fontina is a cow's milk cheese. The best are made from May through to September, during which time the herds graze on Alpine meadows. It has a smooth, semi-soft texture and a pale yellow interior, with an even scattering of small holes. The brown rind is thin and slightly oily. As it ages, its delicate, nutty, slightly honeyed aroma intensifies. Its creamy nature makes it very versatile, and it's particularly good melted.     > Frisee Frisée, also called curly endive, is a variety of chicory which is frequently used in mesclun (a mixture of baby greens). The attractive pale green leaves are narrow and curly with a frizzy appearance and a slightly bitter taste.     > Garlic Part of the lily, or alium, family, of which onions are also a member, garlic is one of the most indispensible ingredients around, and plays a central role in Mediterranean and Asian cookery. A bulb composed of many individual cloves enclosed in a thin white, mauve or purple skin, it's quite fiery, pungent and crunchy when raw. As it cooks it becomes more mellow and creamy. It's mainly available dried, but fresh (also known as 'wet' or 'green') garlic, which has a mild flavour, can also be found in some stores in season. Dried garlic is sold either loose, in bunches or plaited into strings; generally speaking, the smaller the bulb, the stronger the flavour. Solo garlic (just one large clove) and the large-bulbed elephant garlic are also available, though the latter is, in fact, more closely related to the leek, and has a very mild flavour and soft texture.     > Gelatine A colourless, tasteless and odourless setting agent made from the boiled bones, skins and tendons of animals. When dissolved in boiling water and then cooled it turns into a jelly-like form that is used to thicken and stabilise desserts such as jelly, custard and fillings. Gelatine comes in either leaf or powdered form. Powdered gelatine in available in most supermarkets, usually with instructions on how much is need to set a specific quantity of liquid. Most cooks, however, prefer to use leaf gelatine as it dissolves quickly and is odourless, flavourless and clear.     > Ginger Mainly grown in Jamaica, Africa, India, China and Australia, ginger is the root of the plant. It has an unmistakable shape - bulbous little joints, from which grow small, knobbly bumps, and its skin is light brown with a slight silvery quality. The flesh can range from ivory through to a pale, greeny yellow. Ginger has a peppery flavour, with a sweet hint of lemon, and the aroma is pungent and sharp. It's also available ground, which is particularly good for baking; pickled; preserved in syrup (also called stem ginger); candied; or crystallised.     > Globe Artichoke No relation of the tuber-like Jerusalem artichoke, the globe artichoke is considered to be the 'true' artichoke and is the bud of a large member of the thistle family. The tender ends of the leaves and the base (or 'heart') of the bud are both edible; the tough outside leaves and the furry central choke and its surrounding leaves aren't.     > Gnocci An Italian dumpling made with semolina, flour, potatoes or ricotta and spinach cooked and eaten in much the same way as pasta. Gnocchi is usually hand-shaped into shells, ovals or flat discs.     > Goji Berries Increasingly hailed as a superfood in the UK, goji berries have been eaten as a nutrionally rich food in China for around 2000 years. The bright red berries, sometimes called 'wolfberries', 'Duke of Argyll's Tea Tree' or 'Matrimony Vine", have a woody, slightly raisiny taste - a bit like cranberry. They are cultivated worldwide, with most imported from the Tibetan plateau and China. The berries are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, 18 amino acids and 21 trace minerals - it's no wonder that some marketing claims that these are the most nutritionally rich fruit available.     > Goose A traditional alternative to a Christmas turkey, goose is packed with flavour, with rich, densely-textured meat. Although it has a high fat content, most of this is under the skin, rather than in the meat, which means that, during cooking, it melts and bastes the breast, keeping it juicy. The extra fat layer, and the fact that it's bonier, with a large rib cage, means that, weight for weight, a goose will feed fewer people than a turkey.     > Gooseberry The size of large grapes, but with a more spherical shape, gooseberries are related to the blackcurrant, and have been a popular British fruit since as far back as Elizabethan times. Early in the season they are bright green, with a veined effect on the skin, and quite hard and tart - they are best for cooking with, in particular to make the classic English pudding, gooseberry fool. Later on, softer, sweeter varieties become available, often yellow or red coloured - they are good eaten raw. Some varieties have sparse, thin hairs.     > Gorgonzola A blue-veined cheese originating from a small town near Milan in Italy and now made by more than 80 producers. Gorgonzola is made from whole unpasteurised cows milk and injected with a sharp, spicy greenish-blue mould which is a delicious contrast to the creamy cheese.     > Grapefruit Named for the fact that the fruits grow in grape-like bunches, grapefruits are the largest citrus fruits, growing up to 18cm in diameter. Inside, the flesh is segmented, like an orange, though the flavour is more tart. They come in both seeded and seedless varieties and, although the skins are always yellow, sometimes with a faint blush of pink, the flesh varies from yellow-ish white through to pink and ruby red. Grapefruits are also a good source of fibre and vitamin C.     > Grouse Of all the feathered game, grouse is considered the king - hence the first day of the grouse shooting season, 12 August, being named The Glorious Twelth. Grouse is native to Scotland but is found elsewhere in the UK. Its flesh is rich, with a distinctive red colour and a gamey flavour, and it's quite small, meaning that one bird is enough for one person. Young birds are best roasted, while older birds work well cooked in a casserole.     > Guinea Fowl A small domesticated fowl somewhat similar to chicken or pheasant in flavour with a darker, slightly dryer and gamier tasting flesh. There are several species of guinea fowl and all originate from Africa but can be found raised in Europe.     > Gurnard A lean, firm, white-fleshed, prehistoric looking fish found in the Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans. Gurnards live on the seabed and use their fins to find the crab, fish and shrimps that live in the sediment.     > Haddock A white-fleshed salt water fish often compared with cod in flavour and texture. Found on the seabed of cold northern seas in Europe and North America, haddock has suffered from overfishing.     > Halibut The largest flatfish in the ocean, halibut is a delicious white-fleshed fish with a firm, meaty texture. Halibut live in the freezing cold waters off Scotland, Norway, Iceland and Newfoundland and will devour almost any type of fish or crustacean they come across.     > Hazelnut Grown in Europe and the US, hazelnuts are encased in a smooth, hard brown shell but are most commonly sold shelled. The sweet-tasting, cream-coloured kernel is small and round, with a pointed tip. Its thin, dark brown skin is faintly bitter, so some people like to remove this before eating. Also known as cobnuts or filberts, hazelnuts are good eaten raw but the flavour takes on a more mellow, sweeter character when they are roasted. Like almost all nuts, they have a high fat content, which means they'll go rancid pretty quickly if not refrigerated.     > Honey Honey is made by bees from the nectar they collect from flowers. Viscous and fragrant, it's a natural sweetener and can be used just as it is to spread on bread or toast, or added to sweet and savoury dishes. The flavour, colour and consistency vary, depending on the flower(s) the nectar was collected from and the production method used - as a general rule, the darker the colour, the stronger the flavour. Honey is available clear and runny, thick and opaque, in a honeycomb or as a chunk of cut honeycomb suspended in runny honey.     > Jalapeno Pepper A member of the capsicum family, jalapeño chillies range from moderately to very hot. Originating from South America, they are about 4cm long, dark green when young and scarlet when ripe, and are sold both fresh and tinned. Dried and smoked, they are known as chipotle, and take on a deep, sweet flavour that some say has a slight chocolate note. Chipotles are also available pickled.     > Jerusalem Artichoke This vegetable is not truly an artichoke but a variety of sunflower with a lumpy, brown-skinned tuber that often resembles a ginger root. Contrary to what the name implies, this vegetable has nothing to do with Jerusalem but is derived instead from the Italian word for sunflower, girasole. The white flesh of this vegetable is nutty, sweet and crunchy and is a good source of iron.     > Kale A member of the cabbage family, kale comes in two forms: kale, which has smooth leaves, and curly kale, which has crinkly leaves. Curly kale is the most common of the two. Instead of forming a head, the leaves grow in a loose rosette at the top of a stem. The leaves are green, sometimes tinged with blue or purple, and their flavour is strong and distinct.     > Kiwi Fruit The brown and hairy exterior of this egg-shaped fruit doesn't look promising, but inside it's a different story - sweet, yielding, bright green flesh, prettily dotted with black seeds. The flavour is distinctive but hard to pin down - some say it's like strawberry, others say pineapple. Its named after the bird of the same name from Zealand, where it's also grown, though its other name, Chinese gooseberry, reflects its original country of origin. Very high in vitamin C, kiwi fruit is far better eaten raw - cooking it destroys the vitamin content and the green colour. The enzymes it contains makes it good for tenderising meat, but they'll also cause milk to curdle and will prevent gelatine and aspic from setting, so don't attempt kiwi ice cream or jelly.     > Kumquat It looks like a small, oval orange, but the kumquat, which originates in Asia, is a member of another species, fortunella. The flesh of a kumquat is quite dry and has a sharp flavour, while the skin is sweeter; the two different flavours complement each other well so that the fruit succeeds in both sweet and savoury dishes. The rind, flesh and pips of kumquats are all edible, though some people prefer to remove the pips.     > Lamb A lamb is a sheep that is under one year old, and is known for its delicate flavour and tender flesh. Young lamb is slaughtered between 6 and 8 weeks - it is the palest of all lamb. Spring (also called early or summer lamb) is 3 to 5 months old. Lamb between 1 and 2 years is called 'hoggart' - it has a stonger flavour and slightly less tender flesh; anything over 2 years is called mutton, which has much more flavour - but also a tougher flesh that needs slow-cooking to tenderise it. The older a lamb, the deeper the colour of the meat, though the time it has been hung for and the breed that it comes from will also make a difference.     > Leek Like garlic and onion, leeks are a member of the allium family, but have their own distinct flavour - quite harsh when raw (only very young leeks are eaten this way) but, when cooked, very delicate, like a mild onion but with a hint of sweetness. Two thirds of their length is white and firm, and this is the part that is mainly eaten. The rest of the third is made up of the leaves (flags), most of which is discarded. Leeks are very versatile and work well cooked in various recipes or as a side dish. Two of the world's most famous soups, Scotland's cock-a-leekie and France's crème vichyssoise, are based around them.     > Lemon Oval in shape, with a pronouced bulge on one end, lemons are one of the most versatile fruits around, and contain a high level of Vitamin C. Although the juicy yellow flesh is a little too sour to eat on its own, its citrus fragrance and tartness means it's wonderful combined with all manner of ingredients and dishes, from the sweet to the savoury. The bright yellow skin can be used as well, when zested. A kitchen essential.     > Lemon Grass Although lemon grass is central to Asian cuisine, especially Thai, it works well in Western dishes, too. This mixing of flavours is sometimes called 'fusion'. Also called citronella or sereh, it grows in dense clumps, from which the individual stems are cut. Lemongrass look a little like fat spring onions, with the same swollen base, but the stalk is woodier, and composed of tightly packed grey-green leaves. The fragrance and flavour is unique - lemony, but sweet - and is quite subtle until the stalk is cut or bashed. The stalks are available freeze-dried, too.     > Lettuce Lettuce are available in a vast number of varieties, and are either crisp or floppy, growing from a central stalk to form a spherical or lozenge-like head. Most of them have green leaves, some with red tinges, and they all have a delicate, clean flavour. Lettuce is mainly eaten raw in salads, though you can also add them to soups or braise them as a side dish. Crisp leaves work well with robustly flavoured dressings, while the floppier types need to be partnered with something more subtle. Among the most commonly available floppy lettuces in the UK are Round, Butterhead, Lollo Rosso, Escarole, Oak Leaf and Little Gem. Crisp include Iceberg, Cos, Curly Endive (also known as Frisée), Web's Wonder and Romaine.     > Lime The same shape, but smaller than lemons, with a bright green, fairly smooth skin, limes are highly aromatic and have a taste that's both stronger and slightly sweeter than lemons. Limes are an important ingredient in Mexican, Indian, Latin American and South-East Asian cookery. Three main types are available: Tahitian, which is the largest, with the most acidic flavour; Mexican, slightly smaller, very aromatic, and with a particularly bright green skin; and Key lime, which have a paler skin, a high juice content and a strong flavour. Like lemons, lime are high in vitamin C.     > Lobster The king of the crustaceans, lobster is a delicacy that commands a very high price, with white, firm meat that is sweet and succulent. Before it is cooked, lobster shell has a very dark colour, with tints that range from blue/green to red/purple - it gains its distinctive deep red brick colour only when it's cooked. Generally speaking, the colder the waters in which the lobster was fished, the better the flavour. There are three main types: Canadian or American, which have round, very fleshy claws; European, fished around England, Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and Norway, which are considered to have the best flavour; and Slipper or Squat lobster, which live in warmer oceans, such as those surrounding Australia, where they are called 'bugs'. They have wide bodies and spindly legs, and aren't generally sold in Europe.     > Milk One of the most widely used ingredients, milk is often referred to as a complete food. While cow's milk continues to be the most popular, other milks are becoming more regularly used in cooking, drinks and cheeses. Most of the milk we buy is pasteurized, meaning it has been heated to a temperature that removes any potentially dangerous bacteria, however unpasteurized milk is becoming increasingly popular as the general preference for untreated products continues to grow. Babies, young children, pregnant women and the elderly are advised to avoid eating or drinking unpasteurized milk products.     > Mint There are several types of mint, each with its own subtle difference in flavour and appearance. The most popular type is spearmint, with its pointed, serrated leaves and a familiar refreshing flavour. It is commonly used to make mint sauce or jelly and in tea. Peppermint has longer, darker leaves and a stronger flavour and is popular in sweets and confectionary. Another popular variety is apple mint, which has a subtle, fruit-tinged flavour and is popular in summer drinks.     > Mushroom The mushroom is a fungus which comes in a wide range of varieties that belong to two distinct types: cultivated and wild. In myth and folklore mushrooms have always had something of a mystical connection: elves and fairies are often depicted sitting atop them, and they are known to spring up seemingly overnight in 'fairy rings'. On a more practical level, many mushrooms and fungi can be poisonous or hallucinogenic. If foraging in the forest, it's important to know what you're looking for.     > Mussels Once regarded as the poor relation of the shellfish family because of their small size and relative abundance, mussels are now very popular and fairly cheap. The most common Blue or European mussels have sleek, shiny shells and tender, nutritious flesh. Like oysters, they are indiscriminate feeders and must be gathered from unpolluted waters. It is because of this that most mussels that you find in supermarkets and fishmongers are farmed.     > Mustard A condiment made by mixing the ground seeds of the mustard plant with a combination of ingredients usually including water, vinegar and flour. There are three varieties of mustard plant: black, brown and white or yellow - all of which release a hot, tangy flavour when mixed with liquid. The most popular blends of mustards include English, American and French which contrast widely in strength and flavour.     > Nectarine A smooth-skinned variety of peach native to China, similarly flavoured to peaches with slightly more acidity. The flesh is light pink, yellow or white and is delicate and sweet. Nectarines are high in vitamins A, B, and C, and are lower in calories than peaches.     > New Potatoes New potatoes have thin, wispy skins and a crisp, waxy texture. They are young potatoes and unlike their fully grown counterparts, they keep their shape once cooked and cut. They are also sweeter because their sugar has not yet converted into starch, and are therefore particularly suited to salads. Jersey Royals are the best known variety, and their appearance in late April heralds the beginning of the summer. Other varieties include Pentland Javelin and salad potatoes, which are best eaten cold.     > Okra Originally from Africa, okra is now widely used in cuisines such as Caribbean, Creole, Cajun and Indian. It's also known as bhindi or lady's fingers, in reference to the long, elegantly tapering shape. Ridged along its length, the green, slightly fuzzy pod contains rows of edible seeds that release a mucilaginous (sticky, viscous) liquid when chopped and cooked, which has led to it being used to thicken soup and stew recipes, such as Cajun gumbo, but it's also served whole as a side dish. Its flavour is quite subtle, so it benefits from being cooked with strong, spicy ingredients.     > Olive Oil Probably the most widely-used oil in cooking, olive oil is pressed from fresh olives. It's mainly made in the Mediterranean, primarily in Italy, Spain and Greece (though countries such as America and Australia also produce it). Much like wine-making, climate, soil and the way the olives are harvested and pressed all have an impact on an oil's character. Olive oil is assessed on three criteria - fruitiness, bitterness and pepperiness - the flavour, smell and colour can vary radically, both according to its origin, as well as whether it's extra virgin (the finest grade) or not. Generally speaking, the hotter the country, the more robust the flavour of the oil. It is also possible to flavour olive oil with herbs and spices by steeping them in the oil for ten days or so (though chilli needs far less time).     > Olive Widely grown all over the Mediterranean, where they've been cultivated since biblical times, olives are mainly green and black, but can also come in many different shades in between. The difference in colour reflects not their variety, but the stage of ripening when picked. Green olives are harvested in October or November, when still young. Black olives are picked in December, by which time they have matured and are fully ripe. Most of the crop is used to make olive oil, and the remainder is preserved by pickling, marinading or sometimes salting, to be eaten as they are or used in cooking.     > Onion Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia, these underground bulbs are prized all over the world for the depth and flavour that they add to savoury dishes. Dry onions are fully matured, with juicy flesh and dry, papery skin and have a pungent flavour that becomes wonderfully sweet upon lengthy cooking. Varieties of onion differ in size, strength and colour. The yellow onion is the most commonly known variety; it has pale golden skin, greenish-white flesh and a strong taste. Red onions are an attractive, milder alternative to the yellow onion with their shiny purple skin and red-tinged flesh. Shallots are a sub-species of onion; they are small and boast a delicate flavour integral to French cooking. Spring onions are immature onions pulled before the bulb is fully formed, and can be recognised by their long green leaves. Like red onions, they are fairly mild and often used raw in salads. When chopped, onions produce a volatile, sulphur-rich oil that mak     > Orange One of the best-known citrus fruits, oranges aren't necessarily orange - some varieties are yellow or dotted with red. Types fall into one of two categories - sweet or bitter. Sweet varieties of orange include the Navel orange, which is named after the navel-like bulge at one end, which contains a tiny, baby fruit. They are seedless, easy to peel, and have a juicy, sweet flesh. Valencia have smooth, thin skins, with very few pips, and are particularly juicy. The skins of blood oranges are tinged with red, and the flesh ranges from golden to a deep ruby - they are juicy and aromatic. The most well-known bitter orange is the Seville, only around for a few weeks in January. They are too sour to eat raw, but are great for marmalades or cooking with, and have a rough skin.     > Oregano Closely related to marjoram, of which it is the wild equivalent, oregano has a coarser, more robust flavour with a hint of thyme, and a warm aroma. Oregano goes particularly well with tomatoes, aubergine and lamb and is generally added just at the end of cooking, so that it retains its pungency.     > Pak Choi This member of the cabbage family has a number of different names, including bok choy, horse's ear, Chinese celery cabbage and white mustard cabbage. Its structure looks like a squat celery, with either white or very pale green short, chunky stalks and glossy, deep green leaves. The texture of both leaves and stalks is crisp, and the flavour is somewhere between mild cabbage and spinach. If very young it can be eaten raw in salads, but is best when briefly cooked.     > Pancetta Pancetta is Italian cured pork belly - the equivalent of streaky bacon. It has a deep, strong, slightly salty flavour, is fairly fatty and comes either smoked or unsmoked. You can buy pancetta either as straight rashers (which tend to be smoked), as round slices cut from a roll (which tend to be unsmoked), or diced. If you need diced pancetta, it's cheaper to buy rashers and cut them yourself, although the cubes won't be as thick if you do this.     > Papaya Native to tropical America, papayas are a large fruit also known as paw-paws. They have vibrant pinky-orange flesh and a sweet, juicy flavour similar to peach. Though their grey shiny seeds are edible, they tend to be discarded. The skin of papaya contains the enzyme papain, which is used as a meat tenderiser and also in the manufacture of chewing gum and toothpaste.     > Paprika A spice that's central to Hungarian cuisine, paprika is made by drying a particular type of sweet pepper, then grinding them to a fine, rich red powder. Its flavour varies from mild to pretty robust, but it's never as hot as chilli or cayenne - unlike those fiery spices, its main purpose is to add flavour and colour, more than heat. Paprika is also used in Austrian, Spanish, Indian and Moroccan food.     > Parmesan Parmesan is a straw-coloured hard cheese with a natural yellow rind and rich, fruity flavour. It is made from skimmed or partially skimmed cow's milk. Italy's 'Parmigiano Reggiano' is the original parmesan, although similar versions can now be found from Argentina, Australia and the USA. The original Italian version remains superior however, boasting a ripe yellow interior, granular texture and unbeatable flavour. This is partly due to a longer maturing time of around two years, rather than the minimum 12 months required. Authentic Italian parmesan has 'Parmigiano Reggiano' stamped on the rind.     > Parsley One of the most ubiquitous herbs in British cookery, parsley is also popular in European and Middle Eastern food. The traditional British choice is curly parsley, but flat leaved (Continental) parsley is also widely available. The flavour is fresh and grassy, and works well with most other ingredients.     > Parsnip The fact that the parsnip is a member of the carrot family comes as no surprise - it looks just like one, aside from its creamy white colour. It has an earthy but sweet flavour and is great used in hearty winter roasts, soups and stews.     > Peas A type of legume, peas grow inside long, plump pods. As is the case with all types of legume, their sugars start to turn to starch as shortly after they're picked, so they are best eaten just-picked. Frozen peas are put on ice very soon after being picked (within three hours) and the flavour can be superior to that of fresh peas harvested a couple of days previously.     > Peach Sweet, juicy and fragrant, peaches are one of the most beautiful fruit around. Around the size of a tennis ball, they are covered with a velvety down, and most commonly have a red-blushed yellow skin and golden yellow flesh, apart from white peaches, which have a pink-blushed cream skin and pinky white flesh. It's possible to find flatish, disc-shaped varieties of peach, but the most common type is spherical, with a little peak (known as a 'beak') at one end. Just like nectarines, they come in either clingstone or freestone varieties - the name indicates how easily the stone is freed from the flesh.     > Pear Like apples, to which they are related, pears come in thousands of varieties, of which only a small fraction are sold in the UK. Their fine, slightly granular flesh is much more fragile than apples and, unlike most fruit, they improve in flavour and texture after they're picked. Most pears are wider at the bottom than they are at the top, though a few varieties are more spherical in shape. They're not as brightly coloured as apples, most having skins that range from dull bronze through to soft green, though you can also find red varieties such as Red William.     > Pecan Related to the walnut, pecans are native to America, and grow enclosed in a glossy, browny-red oval shell. The kernel inside shares the walnut's trademark grooved surface but has a slightly more even, oval shape. Its skin is a warmer, lighter brown, and the nut itself is creamier in colour. Sweet and rich, the pecan's distinct flavour and texture is the result of its high levels of monosaturated oil - in fact, it's the fattiest of all nuts. It goes well in both savoury and sweet dishes, most famously pecan pie, a classic recipe from the American south.     > Pepper Sometimes called bell peppers or capsicums, these sweet, mild peppers come in variety of colours, and are related to chillies. Whatever colour they are, they're all essentially the same variety, but have been allowed to ripen to different degrees; green are the youngest and sharpest, followed by yellow, orange and then red, which are the sweetest. You can also find longer, pointed examples, sometimes called Romano, which are sweeter still, as well as black peppers, which have a flavour similar to the green variety - when they're cooked they turn green, so it's best to use them raw if you want to keep their striking colour.     > Pineapple With its tuft of spiky, dusty green leaves and cross-hatched, golden orange skin, the pineapple has an unmistakable appearance. A single pineapple is, in fact, a collection of multiple diamond-shaped fruits, each one the fruit of an individual blossom. Grown in the tropics, their juicy yellow flesh is sweet with an acidic tang and very fragrant. There are hundreds of varieties, ranging from those small enough to feed just one person, up to quite substantial sizes. Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelin which breaks down protein, making it great in marinades or to tenderise meat or fish; but the same enzyme, in its raw state, prevents gelatine from setting, so don't, for example, try to make jellies with the raw fruit (though cooked is fine, as heat destroys the enzyme).     > Plum The juiciest fruit in the stone fruit family, plums come in many different varieties, some sweet, some slightly more tart. All plums however have certain characteristics in common, with smooth, richly coloured skins and a hard central stone. Plums vary in hue from deep purple to red, yellow and green. The cloudy bloom on their skin is natural and isn't an indication of poor quality. All sweet dessert plums can be used for cooking, too.     > Pork One of the most versatile types of meat, pork is economical, tender if cooked correctly, and oozing with flavour. It is often thought of as a particularly fatty type of meat but modern breeding, rearing and butchering has today made pork a low-fat , healthy meat. Furthermore, the fat it does contain is less saturated than that found in other meats. Pork is high in protein, an excellent source of iron, zinc and B vitamins and tastes wonderful too - so get some pork on your fork.     > Prawn There are thousands of different species of prawn, but tiger, king and North Atlantic are the most commonly sold in the UK. They are fished in both the ocean and fresh water, and are farmed as well as wild. Most of them have a narrow, tapering body, under which the tail is curled, and long, whiskery antennae. The body is encased in a brittle shell, and all types have ten legs. When raw, they are bluey-grey or, in the case of the smaller varieties, almost translucent. When cooked, the shells turn pink and the sweet, meaty flesh turns white tinged with pink; brief cooking is essential, otherwise the flesh will become tough. As with other types of crustacea, prawns fished in cold waters tend to be more flavourful than those from warm waters. Although anatomically incorrect, the part of the prawn eaten, the meaty body, is referred to as the tail. The very small shellfish referred to as shrimps are prawns, too - the term shrimp just indicates their diminuitive size.     > Pomegranate Now mainly grown in America, Spain, the Middle East and India, pomegranates originated in Iran. They have a round shape, like an apple, with a hard, shiny skin blushed with red or yellow. Inside, scores of edible little white seeds are held in jewel-like, ruby-coloured sacs filled with sweet, juicy flesh. The sacs themselves are packed in a bitter, pale yellow pith. Pomegranates have always been highly prized for their flavour, but their recent emergence as a highly nutritious superfood, packed with antioxidant vitamins, has made them even more popular. The skin and the pith should not be eaten.     > Potato The world's favourite root vegetable, the potato comes in innumerable varieties. A member of the nightshade family, like tomatoes and aubergines, it originated in South America and has been grown in Europe since the 16th century. Shapes vary from small ('finger') potatoes like Anya to large, round types like the King Edward. Most have pale brown skins and cream or yellow flesh, but some speciality varieties are differently coloured, like the Purple Peruvian. 'Waxy' potatoes such as Charlotte are great used in salads, while 'floury' potatoes such as Maris Piper are ideal for mash and baking.     > Prosciutto Prosciutto is sweet, delicate ham intended to be eaten raw. The word 'prosciutto' is the Italian for ham, but is widely used to describe seasoned, cured, air-dried ham. True prosciutto comes from Italy, but versions are now produced elsewhere. 'Prosciutto cotto' is cooked and 'prosciutto crudo' is raw (although safe and ready to eat thanks to the curing process). Italian prosciuttos are labeled according to their city or province of origin. The most famous is 'prosciutto di Parma' or Parma ham, which is salted and air-dried for 8 to 24 months.     > Pumpkin Pumpkins are the most famous of all the winter squashes, and are most associated with Halloween lanterns. Inside the hard orange or yellow skin, the bright orange flesh is sweet and honied. They are a particularly good source of fibre, as well as a range of vitamins and minerals.     > Purple Sprouting Broccoli This untidy-looking, colourful cousin of broccoli can be used in much the same way. Leafier and deeper in colour than calabrese, it adds vibrancy and crunch to vegetable dishes.     > Quail Originally native to the Middle East, quail are now found across Europe. It's a small bird, so one will serve one person as a starter, and you'll need two as a main course. It has a fairly high proportion of lean, meaty flesh to bone, and a delicate flavour.     > Quince The two different shapes - apple and pear in which quinces grow are an obvious clue to the fruits to which they are related. When ripe, they are very fragrant, with a smooth, golden yellow skin, but their hard, bitter flesh means that they are used almost exclusively for cooking, rather than eating raw. Once cooked, the flesh develops a deeper flavour and turns a golden pink. They contain a high level of pectin, which makes them great for making jellies, jams and other preserves, such as the Spanish quince paste, membrillo, which is often served with cheese. They are also good in chutneys, pies and tarts.     > Quinoa Tiny, bead-shaped, with a slightly bitter flavour and firm texture, quinoa may not be a household name just yet, but it is set for a starry future - as far as grains go. The Incas have known it all along, for thousands of years regarding it as the 'mother grain' as they grew it high up in the Andes. Unlike wheat or rice, Quinoa is a complete protein - containing all eight of the essential amino acids. It has been recognised by the United Nations as a supercrop for its health benefits: packed with dietary fibre, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. It is also gluten free and easy to digest. The facts suggest it is close to a perfect ingredient as you can get.     > Radicchio An Italian relative of chicory, radicchio is a forced crop and has distinctive red and white leaves. The exact nature of its colouring depends upon how much light it has been exposed to when growing - if none at all, the contrast between the white ribs and the deep red leaves will be very strong. If it has seen some light, the white and red will be softened with patches of green or copper. Shaped like a small cabbage, it's mainly used in salads, and its bitter flavour contrasts well with milder leaves such as rocket. The leaves themselves are tender but the heads are sturdy enough to be cut and grilled.     > Radish The root of a member of the mustard family, radishes have a peppery flavour and a crisp, crunchy texture. Among the most popular varieties are the small, cherry-sized common variety which has a red skin and white flesh (the French Breakfast radish is a variation on this type, and has an elongated shape with a deep pink skin that fades to white at the roots). You can also find black radishes, popular in eastern Europe, which are more strongly flavoured, as well as large white mooli or diakon radishes, which are shaped like carrots. They are popular in Asian cookery and have a very mild flavour. Radishes are rich is folic acid and potassium and are a good source of vitamin B6, magnesium, riboflavin, and calcium.     > Raspberry A member of the rose family, raspberries have a wonderfully intense, sweet taste, and many consider them to be the finest flavoured of all the berries. Raspberries grow well in cool, damp climates, and the red varieties, such as Heritage and Malling Jewel, are the most commonly sold, though you can also find black, yellow and golden types. They are an essential ingredient in the classic English dessert, Summer pudding, and their flavour combines well with that of other berries.     > Redcurrant These shiny little berries grow low on bushes, hanging from the branches like rows of miniature gems. Their flavour is a little tart but they're still sweet enough to be eaten raw, so long as they're sprinkled with plenty of sugar. They have a high vitamin C content, and go well with both other berries and fruits, such as raspberries, strawberries and melon, as well as goose, venison and lamb (hence the familiar lamb accompaniment, redcurrant jelly). They can also be frosted with egg white and caster sugar and used as a decoration for puddings or cocktails.     > Rhubarb Botanically, rhubarb is a vegetable (it's related to sorrel and dock) but its thick, fleshy stalks are treated as a fruit, despite their tart flavour. Rhubarb grows in two crops. The first, which arrives early in the year, is forced, grown under pots, particularly in what's known as the 'rhubarb triangle' around Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford. Its stalks are watermelon pink, with pale lime green leaves, and it is the more tender and delicately flavoured of the two. The second, called maincrop rhubarb, is grown outdoors, and arrives in spring. Its stalks are a deeper red, tinged with green, and its leaves a brighter green. It has a more intense flavour and a more robust texture than forced. All rhubarb is too tart to be eaten raw, so should be cooked with plenty of sugar. It goes well with both ginger and strawberries.     > Rocket Rocket is a very 'English' leaf, and has been used in salads since Elizabethan times. It has a strong, peppery flavour, and the leaves have a slight 'bite' to them. If you see 'rucola' or 'arugula' for sale or on a restaurant menu - it's the same thing.     > Rosemary Rosemary's intense, fragrant aroma has traditionally been paired with lamb, chicken and game, but it's also suited to fish and bean dishes. Its shrub has light blue or pink flowers and dark green, needle-like leaves that are silver on the underside. Originally from the Mediterranean, rosemary is most extensively used in French, Spanish and Italian cooking. Rosemary was prized by the Greeks for being good for the brain, and is also known as the herb sacred to friendship.     > Runner Bean Runner beans have been growing in South America for over 2,000 years, and are a popular garden vegetable in Britain too. Stronger in flavour and coarser in texture than green beans, they are also much longer and have attractive purple beans inside the pods.     > Saffron The stigma of a type of crocus, saffron threads have a pungent and distinctive aroma and flavour - slightly bitter, a little musty, and with a suggestion of something floral. It's a labour-intensive crop, which means that saffron commands a high price; each crocus produces just three stigmas, which are hand-picked and then dried, and it takes thousands of stigmas to make just one ounce of the spice. Happily, the flavour is better if you use just a little - too much, and it tastes too bitter. The main saffron-growing countries are India, Iran, Spain, Greece and Italy, although it was once grown in Saffron Waldon, Essex, hence the town's name.     > Sage Popular in both Italian and British cookery, sage has long, grey-green leaves with a slightly furry surface. Its aroma is pungent and it has a strong, slightly minty, musky taste. Traditionally, it's used to flavour sausages and as a stuffing for fatty meats such as pork and goose. A little goes a long way - and it's never used raw.     > Salami Salami are a family of coarse, dry, boldly seasoned sausages. The intense flavour of salami arises from the long curing process, during which the sausage matures in its skin. This process also means that salami are safe and ready to eat, despite being uncooked. Traditional salami combines a mixture of minced beef, pork, wine, salt and various herbs and spices. The term 'salami' is Italian, but varieties of cured sausage can be found around the world (often named after the region or country of origin). Salami varies in size, shape, seasoning and curing process; well known examples include pepperoni, Spanish chorizo and French garlic sausage.     > Salmon With its delicate, sweet flesh and wide availability, salmon is one of the most popular fish. The widespread farming of salmon means there is a wide variety in the quality and flavour of the meat. Wild salmon, particularly that from Scottish or Irish rivers, is considered superior.     > Salsify A root vegetable belonging to the dandelion family, salsify is also known as the oyster plant because of its oystery taste when cooked. The root is similar in appearance to a long, thin parsnip, with creamy white flesh and a thick skin. In the same way as many root vegetables, salsify can be boiled, mashed or used in soups and stews.     > Salt Salt is one of the most widely used ingredients in the world, both as a flavouring during cooking and a condiment at the table, as well as a preservative for fish, meat, cheese and butter. It has no aroma but a strong flavour, and brings out the flavour of both sweet and savoury dishes. It is an essential trace element - the human body needs around 5g a day. (The recipes on this site show salt content in grams, to help you decide what to eat.) You can also make spiced salt by adding your own choice of spice or seeds to the salt mill.     > Samphire Though there are two types of samphire - marsh and rock - only marsh samphire is widely available. Marsh samphire has vibrant green stalks, similar to baby asparagus, with a distinctively crisp and salty taste. It can be used raw in salad, though it tends to be very salty so it is more often boiled or steamed for a few minutes. Rock samphire has a rather unpleasant smell and flavour. Occasionally you may also find jars of pickled samphire in gourmet shops.     > Sardine Sardines are named after the island of Sardinia, where they were once found in abundance. Found in shoals throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean, sardines have a silver skin and a rich-flavoured flesh that is dark in colour. A very healthy oily fish, older sardines are known as pilchards. Tinned sardines are also common, and while they lack the subtlety of taste of the fresh fish, they are a useful storecupboard ingredient.     > Shallot Related to the onion (as opposed to being a younger version of it), shallots grow in clusters at the leaf base. Most varieties are smaller than onions, have finer layers and contain less water. The flavour of a shallot is much milder and sweeter than that of an onion, so if a recipe specifies shallots, substituting onions won't give the same results. Their lower water content means they need to be cooked more gently than onions.     > Sorrel Sorrel has a sharp, lemony flavour - the name derives from the French for 'sour'. Highly regarded in France, where the leaves are used in soups and sauces, sorrel can also be served with fish and egg dishes. Only the younger leaves, available in the springtime, should be used in salads. In the summer, sorrel is put to tastier use when made into sauce or soup.     > Soy Sauce An Asian condiment and ingredient that comes in a variety of of varieties ranging from light to dark, and thick to light. It is made from soya beans and involves a lengthy process that can take years: soya beans are cleaned and soaked, then steamed, mixed with a yeast culture and wheat flour before being fermented for up to two years and then filtered and bottled.     > Spinach Used in almost every cuisine across the world, spinach is an enormously popular green vegetable. The leaves can be either flat or slightly ruffled, and are a bright green when young, deepening to a more intense colour when older. The bitter flavour is distinctive - you either love it or hate it - and particularly complements dairy products and eggs. The milder, young leaves can be eaten raw in a salad, while the older ones are usually cooked (spinach has one of the shortest cooking times of all vegetables). It reduces very dramatically during cooking; a 450g bag will be just enough for two people.     > Spring Onion Also known as scallions or green onions, spring onions are in fact very young onions, harvested before the bulb has had a chance to swell. Both the long, slender green tops and the small white bulb are edible, and are good either raw or cooked. They have a similar flavour to onions, but are much milder.     > Star Anise Star anise is one of the central spices in Chinese cooking. It has a strong anise flavour, with a liquorice-like aroma. The dominant flavour in Chinese five-spice powder, star anise is also used to flavour alcoholic drinks such as pastis. The whole spice is an attractive eight-pointed star, but star anise is more often found ground to a powder.     > Strawberry Once available in Britain for just a brief period during the summer, strawberries are now a year-round fruit, thanks to imports from warmer climates. However, the varieties grown for export tend to be chosen for their ability to withstand transportation, rather than for their texture or flavour, which often results in a less tender berry with an unremarkable taste. The fact that strawberries intended for export are picked before they're properly ripe, means that their flavour is further impaired; strawberries don't ripen after being picked. To enjoy strawberries at their fragrant, juicy and flavourful best it's worth holding out for the British season - if you want to eat them super-ripe, pick-your-own is best.     > Sugar The granular sweetener we use to make cakes and sweeten cups of tea originates from two sources: the sugar-cane, grown in the tropics; and sugar beet, grown mainly in warmer climates. There are several different types of sugar which add a range of textures, tints and flavours to cooking.     > Swede A member of the cabbage family, the swede is often confused with the turnip, though they look quite different. It's also known as yellow turnip, Swedish turnip and Russian turnip and, in America, rutabaga. In Scotland, where it is known as neeps, swede is the traditional accompaniment to haggis on Burns night. Swede has a round shape and a purple-green skin, and the flesh is yellowy-orange, with a sweet, earthy flavour. It disintegrates fairly easily if overcooked, so always keep to cooking times.     > Sweet Potato Sweet potatoes have a creamy texture and a sweet-spicy flavour that makes them ideal for savoury dishes. There are two types, one with bright orange flesh, the other with pale cream flesh. Sweet potatoes are native to the tropical Americas and are sometimes referred to as 'yams' in the USA. These tubers are rich in fibre, vitamins A, C and B6, and an excellent source of carbohydrates. The orange-fleshed variety are also rich in betacarotene. Sweet potatoes have traditionally been baked, roasted or mashed, but they can also be added to risotto, pasta or curry.     > Sweetcorn Also known as corn on the cob, sweetcorn is composed of rows of tightly packed golden yellow kernels, growing along a tough central core. When ripe, the kernels are sweet and juicy, and are best cooked simply, with a little butter. Like peas, the natural sugars in the kernels turn to starch quite quickly, which makes the kernels tougher and less sweet, so it should be eaten as fresh as possible.     > Swiss Chard Also known as just plain chard, swiss chard has large, fleshy but tender deep green leaves and thick, crisp stalks. Although they're unrelated, chard is similar to spinach, but with a stronger, more assertive (some think, bitter) flavour. Different types of chard have different coloured stalks and ribs - some are white, some are a golden orange and some are red (called ruby or rhubarb chard) - there's even rainbow chard. There's very little difference in taste, but ruby and rhubarb chard can have a slightly stronger flavour.     > Tamarind