Spanish cuisine is celebrated worldwide for its bold flavours, vibrant ingredients, and rich culinary traditions. Whether you’re an aspiring chef or simply a food enthusiast, understanding essential Spanish cooking terms can enhance your cooking experience and deepen your appreciation for this remarkable cuisine. Here’s a helpful guide to some key Spanish culinary terms shared by Hello-Hello, the leading Spanish Language learning app developer for iOS and Android devices.

 

• Aceite – Aceite means oil, typically referring to olive oil, a cornerstone of Spanish cooking. Extra virgin olive oil (“aceite de oliva virgen extra”) is used extensively in dishes like gazpacho, paella, and ensalada (salad).

• Asar – Asar translates to roasting or baking. Many traditional Spanish dishes, such as cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig) and pimientos asados (roasted peppers), showcase this cooking method.

• Cocinar a fuego lento – This phrase means to cook over low heat, an essential technique in recipes like fabada asturiana (Asturian bean stew) or slow-cooked guisos (stews).

• Rehogar – Rehogar involves gently sautéing ingredients like onions, garlic, or tomatoes in olive oil to build a flavorful base for soups, stews, and sauces.

• Sofrito – Sofrito is a fundamental flavor base in Spanish cooking made from finely chopped onions, garlic, tomatoes, and sometimes peppers. It’s commonly used in dishes like paella and arroz caldoso.

• Brasear – Brasear refers to braising, a cooking method where ingredients are first seared and then slowly cooked in liquid. Braised meats and vegetables feature prominently in hearty Spanish dishes.

• Escabeche – Escabeche is both a technique and a dish. It involves marinating fish or meat in a tangy mixture of vinegar, oil, and spices, often served cold as a tapa.

• Plancha – A la plancha means “grilled” or “seared on a flat surface.” This method is popular for cooking seafood, such as gambas a la plancha (grilled shrimp), to retain their natural flavors.

• Empanar – Empanar means to bread or coat food in breadcrumbs before frying. This technique is used in dishes like croquetas (croquettes) or filetes empanados (breaded fillets).

• Hornear – Hornear translates to baking in an oven. Iconic Spanish desserts like tarta de Santiago (almond cake) and flan are baked to perfection.

• Majar – Majar involves crushing ingredients with a mortar and pestle to create pastes or marinades. This technique is essential for making mojo sauce, used in Canary Islands cuisine.

• Saltear – Saltear means sautéing over high heat. Dishes like setas salteadas (sautéed mushrooms) rely on this quick and flavorful technique.

• Adobo – Adobo is a marinade made with vinegar, garlic, paprika, and spices. It’s used to season meat and fish, enhancing their flavor before cooking.

• Rallar – Rallar translates to grating, often done with cheese, tomatoes, or chocolate. Grated ingredients are integral to Spanish dishes like pan con tomate (bread with tomato) or desserts.

• Cortar en rodajas – This term means to cut into slices. It’s a common step when preparing fresh fruits, chorizo, or vegetables.

• Ahumar – Ahumar means smoking, a technique used to impart smoky flavors to meats, cheeses, or paprika (“pimentón ahumado”).

• Batir – Batir means to whisk or beat. This term is crucial for creating light, airy textures in dishes like tortilla española or desserts like natillas.

• Desalar – Desalar is the process of removing salt, especially from cured or preserved fish like bacalao (salt cod) by soaking it in water.

• Flambear – Flambear refers to flambéing, often used in desserts or dishes requiring a dramatic touch with alcohol.

• Espolvorear – Espolvorear means to sprinkle, often done with powdered sugar, spices, or herbs to garnish a dish.

By learning these essential Spanish cooking terms, you’ll not only enhance your culinary skills but also gain deeper insight into the traditions and techniques that make Spanish cuisine so extraordinary. So, grab your apron, fire up the stove, and let these terms guide your next Spanish culinary adventure!  

Learn Spanish (Hello-Hello)

Check out the new version of our Spanish language learning app for iPhone and iPad. Learn Spanish with Hello-Hello offers a completely new and improved version of our app with animated videos, a redesigned interface and additional features! Follow our adorable characters on a fun journey to learn Spanish!

Seriously, this is now, by far, THE BEST language learning app available on iTunes 🙂

• Animated videos and comic strips.
• New games to practice reading and listening skills
• Cleaner and more friendly user interface
• Follow your course progress
• Take notes
• Receive notifications with lesson reminders. The more you practice, the more you learn!
• Receive notifications with new words to build your vocabulary

Check out the iTunes store Hello-Hello Spanish app here and the Android Play store