Describing the Cooking Process (Step-by-Step)
The speaker explains the core cooking process, detailing each step sequentially. This involves using transition words (first, then, next, after that, finally) and precise cooking verbs like 'sauté,' 'boil,' 'simmer,' 'fry,' and 'stir.'
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
boil
To boil means to heat a liquid until it reaches its boiling point and bubbles vigorously. In cooking, it's used for pasta or vegetables, like 'boil water for pasta' to prepare it quickly.
rolling boil
A rolling boil is a strong, continuous boil where bubbles keep coming up rapidly without stopping. It's important for cooking pasta evenly so it doesn't stick.
sauté
To sauté means to quickly cook food in a small amount of hot oil or fat over high heat, often stirring. It's common for garlic or onions to release flavors, like 'sauté vegetables' before adding sauce.
fragrant
Fragrant describes a pleasant, strong smell, especially from food. In cooking, it means the ingredients are ready when they smell good, like 'the garlic is fragrant after sautéing'.
translucent
Translucent means allowing light to pass through but not completely clear, like semi-see-through. For onions, it means they're cooked until soft and slightly clear, not raw.
al dente
Al dente is an Italian term meaning 'to the tooth' – pasta that's cooked firm but not hard, with a slight bite. It's the ideal texture for pasta, usually after 8-10 minutes of boiling.
drain
To drain means to remove liquid from food, like pouring pasta water out through a colander. In recipes, it's key after boiling to avoid soggy dishes.
simmer
To simmer means to cook food gently in liquid just below boiling, with small bubbles. It's used to blend flavors without boiling away, like 'simmer the sauce for a few minutes'.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
First, you need to boil a pot of salted water for the pasta. Make sure it's a rolling boil.
This sentence uses 'first' to start a sequence of steps, common in recipes. 'Boil' is a cooking verb, and 'make sure' adds a tip for success. Useful for giving instructions clearly, like in cooking or DIY guides.
Next, while the water is heating up, you can start on the sauce.
Here, 'next' shows the following step, and 'while' connects actions happening at the same time for efficiency. It's practical for multi-tasking in recipes, teaching how to use time clauses in instructions.
Sauté some minced garlic and chopped onions in olive oil until they're fragrant and translucent.
This demonstrates a precise cooking action with 'sauté' and 'until' for timing. 'Minced' and 'chopped' describe preparation. Great for intermediate learners to practice imperative sentences in recipes.
Once the water is boiling, add your pasta and cook it according to the package directions, usually 8-10 minutes, until it's al dente.
'Once' introduces a condition for the next action, with 'until' for duration. 'According to' means following instructions. This pattern is useful for step-by-step processes, including time and texture descriptions.
After that, drain the pasta, but save a little bit of the pasta water.
'After that' transitions to the next step, and 'but' contrasts actions (drain but save). It's helpful for explaining reasons in sequences, common in cooking to avoid waste.
Finally, combine the drained pasta with your sautéed garlic and onions, add your favorite tomato sauce, and if it's too thick, stir in a splash of that reserved pasta water.
'Finally' ends the sequence, using imperatives like 'combine', 'add', and 'stir'. The conditional 'if it's too thick' adds flexibility. Ideal for wrapping up instructions and troubleshooting in recipes.
Simmer everything together for a few minutes and you're good to go!
'Simmer' is a key verb, and 'you're good to go' is an idiomatic expression meaning 'it's ready to use or eat'. This casual ending makes instructions friendly, useful in everyday conversations about food.