- Glossary
- Letter O
Culinary glossary of terms
The culinary glossary is a clear encyclopedia of cooking terms, techniques and ingredients that you will come across in recipes from home and world cuisines. It suits beginners who want to understand what a recipe asks for, as well as experienced cooks who need to check a particular method or the name of an ingredient.
Each entry comes with a plain explanation of how the term is used and what to watch out for while cooking, often with a practical tip right at the stove. Browse the entries alphabetically, or use the search when you are looking for a specific term.
Outlaw Roast - campfire-cooked Slovak feast
Outlaw roast is a Slovak dish of meat, potatoes, bacon and sausage roasted together over an open fire. Named after the bandits (živáne) of Slovak folklore.
View detail
Ovar - traditional Czech boiled pork
Ovar is a traditional Czech dish made from a pig's head, trotters, or other pork cuts that are slowly boiled in water with spices. The cooked meat is soft and juicy, served warm with mustard, horseradish, bread, and sometimes pickled cucumber. Ovar is a staple of Czech home cooking and is often prepared during traditional pig slaughtering feasts. The broth from cooking is used as a base for soups. The meat is also used in headcheese and other traditional charcuterie.
View detail
Oyster Mushroom - delicate edible fungus
Oyster mushroom is a popular edible fungus with a characteristic fan-shaped cap and delicate flavor reminiscent of seafood. It grows naturally on trunks of deciduous trees and is one of the most commonly cultivated mushrooms in the world. It has a tender texture and pleasantly sweet taste. Oyster mushrooms are excellent fried, braised, or grilled and work well in soups, sauces, risottos, and as a meat substitute.
View detail
Oyster sauce - an Asian kitchen essential
Oyster sauce is a thick dark sauce made from oyster extract, soy sauce, and sugar. This sauce originates from Chinese cuisine and is an indispensable ingredient in Asian cooking. Its rich umami flavor features a slightly sweet undertone. Used to season stir-fries, marinades, noodles, and vegetables, oyster sauce adds depth of flavor and a characteristic dark color to dishes.
View detail
Oysters - the ultimate luxury seafood
Oysters are marine bivalves with an irregular calcareous shell that have been consumed for thousands of years. They are among the most prized seafood and are most commonly served raw with lemon. Their flesh is delicate, juicy, and has a characteristic briny ocean flavor. Oysters are rich in zinc, iron, and vitamin B12. They are farmed in oyster beds worldwide, particularly in France, Ireland, and the USA.
View detailAd
Ad
