Glossary of terms

Pad See Ew is a Thai stir-fried wide rice noodle dish with soy sauce, egg and vegetables. A popular street food with a caramelised sweet-savoury flavour.

Pad Thai is stir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu, prawns, bean sprouts and peanuts. Thailand's national dish balancing sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavours.

Paella is an iconic Spanish dish from Valencia. Saffron-infused rice is cooked with seafood, chicken, or rabbit in a special wide pan called a paellera.

Pakora is a popular Indian dish in which pieces of vegetables, meat, or paneer are coated in a spiced chickpea flour batter and deep-fried. The most commonly used vegetables are onions, potatoes, cauliflower, spinach, and peppers. The chickpea flour batter known as besan gives pakoras their characteristic crispiness. Pakoras are served as a starter or snack with chutney or yogurt dip. They are beloved across South Asia and come in countless regional variations.

Palec is a traditional Czech smoked meat product shaped like a short, thick cylinder, resembling a human thumb, which is how it got its name. It is made from finely ground pork seasoned with spices and salt. The mixture is stuffed into casings and smoked, giving the product its characteristic flavor and golden color. Palec is classified as a cured salami and is eaten cold as part of a snack, on open-faced sandwiches, or as an addition to salads.

Palm oil is a vegetable fat obtained from the fruit of the oil palm tree. It is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world due to its high yield and versatile applications. At room temperature, it has a semi-solid consistency and an orange-red color in its unrefined state. It is used in the food industry for producing margarines, confections, baked goods, and processed foods. Palm oil contains both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and is rich in vitamins A and E. Its production raises environmental concerns due to deforestation.

Panang Curry is a thick Thai curry with less coconut milk, sweeter and milder than other curries. It is made with peanuts, kaffir lime leaves and meat.

Pancetta is an Italian cured meat made from pork belly that is salted and seasoned with spices, then aged for several weeks to months. Unlike American bacon, pancetta is not smoked but only salt-cured and seasoned with a mix of pepper, nutmeg, fennel, and other herbs. It is sold in two main forms: arrotolata (rolled) and stesa (flat). Pancetta is sliced thin and eaten raw or pan-fried and added to pasta dishes, salads, and sauces. It is a fundamental ingredient in Italian cuisine.

Paneer is a fresh Indian cheese similar to cottage cheese, used in many Indian dishes. The most famous is paneer butter masala in a creamy sauce.

Panettone is a traditional Italian festive bread originating from Milan, baked primarily during the Christmas season. It has a characteristic tall, dome-shaped form and a fluffy, slightly moist texture. The dough is enriched with butter, eggs, and sugar, and studded with candied fruit and raisins. Preparation requires long rising times, often overnight, which gives panettone its signature airiness. It is served as a dessert with sweet wine, whipped cream, or ice cream. Panettone has become a symbol of Italian Christmas.

Panini is an Italian grilled sandwich made with ciabatta or other Italian bread, filled with ham, cheese, and vegetables, pressed in a contact grill.

Panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb made from white bread without the crust. Unlike traditional breadcrumbs, panko has larger, irregular flaky pieces that create a significantly crispier and airier coating when fried. It is made through a special process in which bread is baked using electric current, producing an even texture without browned crust. Panko is used for coating fried dishes such as tonkatsu, shrimp tempura, or chicken cutlets. The resulting coating is lighter and less greasy than classic breadcrumbs.