How to Cook in English: Cooking Vocabulary

Summary

In this engaging cooking lesson, the host demonstrates how to make a simple yet delicious vegetarian carrot soup, sharing essential English cooking vocabulary and idioms along the way. From prepping vegetables and using different cooking techniques to adding spices and flavors, the video encourages improvisation in the kitchen. The host introduces key phrases like 'to chop,' 'to dice,' 'to saute,' and idioms such as 'to butter someone up' and 'to roll the dice.' Viewers are also encouraged to practice English and cooking simultaneously, with a free PDF available for further learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video teaches how to cook in English, using cooking terminology and phrases to help learn the language.
• 😀 The recipe is a vegetarian carrot soup, which can be modified to suit different preferences.
• 😀 Key ingredients for the soup include onion, potatoes, carrots, leek, and fat options like olive oil and butter.
• 😀 Cooking essentials include tools such as a chopping knife, cleaver, paring knife, and peeler.
• 😀 The importance of four key elements in cooking: heat, fat, acid, and salt, is emphasized.
• 😀 Various verbs and actions related to cooking are introduced, such as 'chop,' 'dice,' 'saute,' and 'add.'
• 😀 Idioms and phrases are woven into the cooking instructions, such as 'play it by ear' and 'take things with a pinch of salt.'
• 😀 The video encourages improvisation in cooking, rather than following a strict recipe, stressing creativity and adaptation.
• 😀 Cooking tips include tasting the dish regularly to make adjustments, like adding acid or fat for texture.
• 😀 Practical advice is given on ingredient substitution and making use of whatever is available in your kitchen.
• 😀 At the end, the video promotes continuous practice in both cooking and language learning, offering a free PDF for further study.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the video?

The main goal of the video is to teach viewers how to cook a simple, tasty vegetarian soup while learning essential English vocabulary and idioms related to cooking.

How long does the soup take to prepare and cook?

The soup takes about 20 to 30 minutes to prepare and cook.

What are the basic ingredients for the soup?

The basic ingredients for the soup are onion, potatoes, carrots, leek, and fat (olive oil or butter), with additional optional ingredients like beans or chickpeas.

What are some essential cooking verbs introduced in the video?

Some essential cooking verbs introduced in the video include 'chop', 'dice', 'saute', 'fry', 'add', 'toss', 'stir', and 'ladle out'.

What does 'to play it by ear' mean in the context of the video?

'To play it by ear' means to improvise or to wing it without following a strict recipe, relying on experience and intuition.

What idioms related to cooking are mentioned in the video?

Some idioms related to cooking mentioned in the video include 'to take something with a pinch of salt', 'to butter somebody up', and 'the best thing since sliced bread'.

What is the significance of 'a pinch of salt' in the video?

'A pinch of salt' is used as an idiom meaning to not take things too seriously or to be skeptical about something.

How does the presenter suggest you approach cooking?

The presenter suggests approaching cooking with flexibility, experimenting with available ingredients, and focusing on taste rather than perfection.

What should you be doing while cooking to ensure the best results?

While cooking, you should continuously taste the food to adjust the flavors and make modifications as needed. The presenter compares this to practicing English.

What is the key takeaway about learning English from this video?

The key takeaway is that learning English, like cooking, requires practice, experimentation, and continuous improvement.