Explaining Preparation Steps (Pre-Cooking)
The speaker guides the listener through the initial preparation steps before actual cooking begins, such as washing vegetables, chopping ingredients, or marinating meat. This requires using specific verbs related to food preparation.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
prep
Short for 'preparation'; it means getting ingredients ready before cooking, like washing or cutting them. Use it in sentences like 'Do the prep first.'
thoroughly
Means completely or carefully; in cooking, it emphasizes doing something fully, like 'wash thoroughly' to remove all dirt.
chop
To cut food into small pieces with a knife; common in recipes, e.g., 'chop the onions' for quick cooking.
florets
Small flower-like pieces of broccoli or cauliflower; use when preparing vegetables, like 'cut broccoli into florets' for even cooking.
thawed
Means frozen food has been brought back to room temperature; important for safety, e.g., 'make sure the chicken is thawed before cooking.'
slice
To cut food into thin, flat pieces; useful for meat or veggies, like 'slice the chicken into strips' for stir-fries.
marinate
To soak food in a mixture of flavors before cooking to add taste; e.g., 'marinate the meat for 15 minutes' to tenderize it.
pinch
A very small amount you can hold between thumb and finger; used in recipes for spices, like 'a pinch of salt' to avoid over-seasoning.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
First, let's get the vegetables ready.
This uses 'first' to start a sequence of steps, common in instructions. It's useful for guiding someone through a process, like recipes, to show order.
Make sure to thoroughly wash all the vegetables under cold water.
Imperative form ('make sure to') gives advice or commands politely. 'Thoroughly' adds emphasis; use this in prep steps to stress cleanliness and safety.
Next, you'll want to chop the bell peppers and onions into one-inch pieces.
'Next' shows sequence after 'first'; 'you'll want to' softens instructions. Great for recipes to describe actions and sizes clearly.
Slice the chicken into thin strips.
Simple imperative for actions; 'into thin strips' specifies how. Use in cooking dialogues to explain cutting techniques precisely.
In a bowl, combine the chicken with a tablespoon of soy sauce, a teaspoon of grated ginger, and a pinch of cornstarch.
Uses prepositions ('in a bowl', 'with') and measurements for mixing. Helpful for marinade instructions; teaches combining ingredients accurately.
Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes while you finish the other prep.
'Let it' is passive for processes; 'while' shows simultaneous actions. Useful in recipes to manage time and multitask efficiently.
Once all your ingredients are prepped and the chicken has marinated, you're good to go.
'Once' introduces a condition for next steps; 'you're good to go' means ready to proceed. Common in instructions to signal completion.