1. How to read & follow a recipe in
English - Imperative Form
A recipe usually follows this format:
- Ingredients
- Instructions
- Directions
- Advice/Tips
- Suggestions
2. 10 Common Imperative Verbs for Recipe Cooking & Food Preparation
- sauté
- simmer
- drain
- garnish
- ground
- dice
- peel
- crush
- divide
- grate
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Grammar Point!
We use the Imperative Form in Recipes to Give Instructions, Directions, Advice, Suggestions,Tips.
In this post you can :
1. Practise & Review grammar (Imperative Form for Cooking)
2. Learn new vocabulary related to cooking such as:
-Imperative Verbs for Cooking & Preparation Method
-Names & Types of Ingredients for Cooking: Category
-Chicken Parts, Vegetables, Herbs & Spices, Fruit
3. Cooking Abbreviations (short forms) for Weights / Measurements
4. Adjectives for Food Taste & Texture
5. Step-by- Step recipe
Vocabulary Check!
*In English, many verbs in the past form & -ing form are used as -ed / -ing adjectives
e.g. (excited / exciting)
Pls note that we've included different word groups - adjective (adj.), noun etc.
e.g. simmer (verb) , *simmered (adjective)
2.1) Imperative Verbs for Cooking - Recipe
Cooking Verbs Meaning :
sauté = cook in oil over heat till slightly brown; sauté (adj.)
simmer = cook in liquid below boiling point; simmered (adj.)
drain = pour away; drained (adj.)
garnish = decorate the food; garnish (noun)
ground = to make into small pieces or powder; ground (adj.)
dice = cut into small squares; diced (adj.)
peel = to remove skin; peeled (adj.)
crush = to press hard till broken; crushed (adj.)
divide = to separate into parts; divided (adj.)
grate = to cut into small pieces using a food grater; grated (adj)
Tip!
Don't worry too much about the vocabulary at this point. We will be looking at more examples of recipe imperative verbs.
2.3. Name of Recipe: San Marino Chicken Fideo Soup
(Suggestion)
When is the best time & how to serve this dish
Light and flavourful, this soup is perfect for lunch. Or as a light dinner.
Have it with a fresh garden salad and crusty bread.
(Tip)
What you can do if you do not have Fideo in your kitchen
Note:
Fideo is a short cut spaghetti noodle.
It's similar to angel hair or thin spaghetti.
(You can use alternate noodles broken into 1” pieces if you can't find Fideo)
2.4. Cooking Ingredients List:
(Look out for the "-ed adjectives" )
- 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 Tbsp fresh thyme, crushed
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1” cubes
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- 8 cup low-sodium chicken stock, divided
- 1 cup Fideo noodles, cooked and drained
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp ground or freshly grated nutmeg
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to taste
2.5. Kitchen & Cooking Abbreviations (short forms) - Weights & Measurements
tsp =teaspoon
tbsp =tablespoon
lb =pound
c. =cup
2.6. Nouns - Names & Types of Ingredients Vocabulary - Word List
Category : Chicken Parts, Vegetables, Herbs & Spices, Fruit, Oil, Cheese
i. Chicken Parts:
1.*boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2. chicken thighs 3. chicken stock =made by boiling chicken in water & to add flavour to food. 4. excess fat =extra fat
5. fat=substance under animal skin to store energy & keep warm
Vocabulary Check!
'suffix' meaning= letters added to the end of a word to form a new word (e.g. from noun to adjective)
-suffix '-less' means 'without'
e.g.
1.boneless = bone + less (without bone)
2.skinless = skin+ less (without skin)
You can see more examples of suffixes below...
ii. Vegetables: 6. sweet onions 7. celery stalks iii. Herbs & Spices:
8. ground & freshly grated nutmeg
9. thyme
10. parsley
iv. Fruit:
11. lemon zest = skin of lemon, lime, orange -used to flavour food
12. lemon juice
v. Oil:
13. extra-virgin olive oil
= high quality oil - made by crushing fruit, not by heating or chemicals
vi. Cheese:
14. freshly grated Parmesan
Grammar Check!
*Let the soup simmer for 5 minutes (Imperative form)
Check this out at the link (bottom of page)
>How to form the Imperative Using "let" with me, us, him, her, it, them.
2.7. (Adjectives) - Food Taste & Texture Vocabulary Word List
Adjective / Meaning:
light = not heavy, small
*flavourful = full of flavour
*crusty = hard, outer layer (bread)
appetising = make you want to eat
*mushy = very soft, no firm shape
al dente = cooked till still firm when bitten
*optional = you can choose to do it if you want to
Vocabulary Check!
Look at the following words as Nouns & Adjectives:
NOUN ADJECTIVE -SUFFIX
-flavour flavourful -ful
-mush mushy -y
-crust crusty -y
-option optional -al
3. Part A - San Marino Chicken Fideo Soup Recipe
Cooking Tips!
How To Get A Better Tasting Soup
TIP 1
For best results, cook the Fideo separately so that:
- You won't get excess starch from the noodle in the soup.
- Prevents the noodles from becoming too soft and mushy.
- You'll have more appetising leftovers the next day.
TIP 2
Cooking the Fideo in chicken stock gives it more flavour.
You can use economical boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.
But be sure to trim and remove any excess fat first.
Part B - Step-by-Step Recipe
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Serves: 4
Optional Garnish:
Fresh parsley and thyme
(Look out for the Cooking Imperative Verbs - Recipe)
Directions:
1.
Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat in a large stockpot or Dutch oven.
Add onion and sauté 2 minutes until just beginning to soften.
Add carrots, celery (including leaves) and thyme.
Sauté 4 minutes.
2.
Add chicken, salt, pepper and 4 cups chicken stock.
Partially cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
3.
While soup is simmering, cook Fideo (according to package directions in remaining broth until al dente.)
Reserve 2 cups of cooking liquid before draining pasta.
Drain pasta and transfer to a medium bowl and toss with remaining olive oil.
Cover and set aside.
4. *Dutch oven = a deep pot with a lid usually made of clay or iron, to cook food in an oven, on a cooker or fire.
Just before serving, add Fideo to *Dutch oven
Stir and remove from heat.
5.
Add lemon zest, lemon juice, nutmeg.
If soup is too thick, add a little bit of the reserved cooking liquid to desired consistency.
6.
To serve, divide Fideo among individual serving bowls and top with hot soup.
Add freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
7.
Garnish with additional fresh cracked pepper and parsley and thyme if desired.
Serve with hot crusty bread and/or a crisp, garden salad for a light and delicious meal.
6. Let's test your memory!
Fill in the blanks with the correct words:
drain simmer sauté peel decorate the food ground dice
i. cook in oil over heat till slightly brown = .....................
ii. cook in liquid below boiling point = .....................
iii. drain / drained = .....................
iv. garnish = .....................
v. to make into small pieces or powder = .....................
vi. cut into small squares = .....................
- Example Sentence: .............. the mushrooms and bell peppers.
vii. to remove skin = .....................
- Example Sentence : He's ........... garlic.
Well done, you!
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Check our Imperative Form posts:
Imperative Verbs for Giving Directions, Caution, Warning
Imperative Verb + Infinitive 'to' - Advice, Instructions & Suggestions