Catalog / World Cuisine Cooking & Baking Cheat Sheet
World Cuisine Cooking & Baking Cheat Sheet
A culinary cheat sheet covering essential techniques, ingredients, and tips for various world cuisines. From basic preparations to specific regional specialties, this guide will assist you in your global cooking adventures.
French Cuisine
Basic Sauces
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Béchamel |
Milk-based sauce thickened with a white roux. Used in gratins and as a base for other sauces. |
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Velouté |
A light stock-based sauce, thickened with a roux. Can be made with chicken, veal, or fish stock. |
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Espagnole |
A fortified brown stock sauce, thickened with a brown roux and mirepoix. |
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Sauce Tomate |
Tomato-based sauce, flavored with aromatics. |
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Hollandaise |
An emulsion of egg yolk, melted butter, and lemon juice. Often served with eggs benedict or asparagus. |
Classic Dishes
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Boeuf Bourguignon: Beef stew braised in red wine, often with mushrooms, onions, and bacon. |
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Crème brûlée: Rich custard base topped with a hard caramel layer. |
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Soupe à l’oignon gratinée: French onion soup with caramelized onions and a cheese-topped crouton. |
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Coq au vin: Chicken braised in red wine, typically Burgundy. |
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Ratatouille: A vegetable stew originating from Nice, featuring tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers. |
Italian Cuisine
Pasta Types
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Spaghetti |
Long, thin, cylindrical pasta. Versatile and widely used. |
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Penne |
Cylindrical pasta with diagonally-cut ends. Good for holding sauces. |
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Fusilli |
Corkscrew or spiral-shaped pasta. |
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Farfalle |
Bow-tie or butterfly-shaped pasta. |
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Ravioli |
Stuffed pasta squares, typically filled with cheese, meat, or vegetables. |
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Gnocchi |
Small potato dumplings. |
Key Ingredients
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Olive Oil: A staple, used for cooking and finishing dishes. Extra virgin olive oil is preferred for its flavor. |
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Tomatoes: Used in sauces, salads, and as a base for many dishes. |
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Garlic: Essential for flavoring many Italian dishes. |
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Basil: A common herb used fresh or dried in sauces and as a garnish. |
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Parmesan Cheese: Hard, granular cheese used for grating and adding flavor. |
Popular Dishes
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Pizza Margherita: Simple pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil. |
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Lasagna: Layered pasta dish with meat sauce, béchamel, and cheese. |
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Risotto: Creamy rice dish cooked in broth. |
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Tiramisu: Coffee-flavored dessert with ladyfingers, mascarpone, and cocoa. |
Japanese Cuisine
Essential Ingredients
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Soy Sauce |
A fermented sauce made from soybeans, wheat, salt, and water. Used as a seasoning and dipping sauce. |
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Miso |
A fermented soybean paste, used in soups, marinades, and sauces. |
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Rice Vinegar |
Vinegar made from fermented rice, used in sushi rice and dressings. |
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Mirin |
A sweet rice wine, used for adding sweetness and glaze to dishes. |
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Dashi |
A broth made from kombu (kelp) and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes), used as a base for soups and sauces. |
Sushi Essentials
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Sushi Rice (Shari): Short-grain Japanese rice seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. |
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Nori: Dried seaweed sheets, used for wrapping sushi rolls. |
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Wasabi: Japanese horseradish, used as a condiment. |
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Gari: Pickled ginger, served as a palate cleanser. |
Popular Dishes
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Sushi: Rice combined with various ingredients such as seafood, vegetables, and egg. |
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Ramen: Noodle soup with broth, meat, vegetables, and toppings. |
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Tempura: Deep-fried seafood and vegetables. |
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Yakitori: Grilled chicken skewers. |
Mexican Cuisine
Chiles
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Jalapeño |
Commonly used fresh, pickled, or smoked (chipotle). |
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Serrano |
Smaller and hotter than jalapeños. |
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Ancho |
Dried poblano pepper, mild and fruity. |
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Guajillo |
Dried chile with a slightly fruity and smoky flavor. |
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Habanero |
Very hot chile with a fruity flavor. |
Basic Preparations
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Salsa Roja: Red sauce made from tomatoes, onions, garlic, and chiles. |
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Guacamole: Avocado-based dip with onions, cilantro, and lime juice. |
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Pico de Gallo: Fresh salsa with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and jalapeños. |
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Refried Beans: Cooked and mashed beans, often pinto or black beans. |
Popular Dishes
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Tacos: Tortillas filled with meat, vegetables, and salsa. |
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Enchiladas: Tortillas filled with meat or cheese, covered in sauce and baked. |
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Tamales: Corn husks filled with masa (corn dough) and fillings, steamed until cooked. |
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Mole: Complex sauce made from chiles, spices, and sometimes chocolate. |