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I was once told that if you want to be a real Chef, you should not let anyone buy the ingredients of your creations for you. Because the plate is your canvas, your paints will be your ingredients, your knives will be your brushes, and those who will buy your works of art will be your guests. And if there is a golden rule when cooking, it is that the ingredients must be fresh and of good quality, that’s where the local market comes in, and the ritual begins: see, smell, touch and taste! Or so you thought, until you run into a barrier: language.

Spanish has become an increasingly common language and present in everyone’s life, whether you find yourself in a market with Latinos, or you’re living in a Spanish-speaking country for a while. The food in Spanish sometimes has names that may sound or look similar to English, but other times they won’t resemble it at all, or their pronunciation will change to almost become a new word.

 If you work in a restaurant, it’s important to know the names of common foods in both English and Spanish. This way, you can communicate with your customers and coworkers more effectively. But fear not, we’ve brought for you a few lists of food in Spanish, so you won’t freeze up again thinking “how do you say carrot in Spanish?” the next time you find yourself shopping or at the restaurant.

Now, if you’re ready to know things like what’s comino in Español, here are some essential food terms to know:

Meats

When you are shopping or preparing a recipe, you create this mental list that you cross off. Today will be the same and for our first food list in Spanish we will start with meats, that almost fundamental part of any dish, especially in Latin cuisine where you can’t have arroz con pollo without pollo (in case you were wondering what’s chicken in Spanish, this would be it).

Red Meats/Carnes Rojas

SpanishEnglish
ResBeef
VacaCow
BueyOx
CaballoHorse
Cabra / ChivoGoat
Cerdo (solomillo)Pork (sirloin)
Cordero (adulto)Lamb (adult)
OvejoSheep
PatoDuck
TerneraVeal
ToroBull

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White Meats/Carnes Blancas

SpanishEnglish
Cerdo (lomo)Pork (loin)
CodornizQuail
ConejoRabbit
Cordero (joven)Lamb (young)
MariscosSeafood
PavoTurkey
PescadoFish
PolloChicken

Charcuterie/Charcutería

SpanishEnglish
JamónHam
ChorizoHard pork sausage
FuetCatalan sausage
SalchichónSalami-type sausage
MortadelaMortadella
SalchichaSausage
MorcillaBlood sausage
Panceta, tocino, tocinetaBacon

Sauces

I love food in Spanish, English, and any other language you can think of. Something I don’t love is a dish that could have been perfect and wasn’t, and a poorly prepared sauce can ruin any dish. On the other hand, if it is a sauce that is made with the right thickness, color, aroma and flavor, that service will be on a level of gods. If you are reading recipes in Spanish language, and you don’t want to fail when preparing your sauces, take note:

SpanishEnglish
Salsa fríaCold sauce
Salsa calienteHot / Warm sauce
Salsa oscuraBrown sauce
Salsa blancaBlond / White sauce
VinagretaVinaigrette
AlemanaAllemande / German
Roug / boloñesaBolognese
YogurYogurt
BechamelBéchamel
BarbacoaBarbecue
HolandesaHollandaise
VeloutéVelouté
EspañolaEspagnole
TomateTomato
MayonesaMayonnaise
A la pimientaPepper
QuesoCheese
PestoPesto
PicanteHot / Spicy
Kétchup, cátchup o cátsupKetchup
MostazaMustard
SoyaSoy
InglesaWorcestershire

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Ingredients

Although most chefs and cooks like to elaborate the ingredients that help them prepare their recipes, there are some that not only come from nature, but also come already manufactured. They are of high quality and make the job easier, resulting in significant time savings. So, without a doubt, like this Spanish food vocab, they go straight to the checklist of every restaurant.

SpanishEnglish
AguaWater
HuevosEggs
SalSalt
Azúcar (blanca y morena)Sugar (White, Brown)
MielHoney
Mantequilla (con y sin sal)Butter (salted, unsalted)
Nata / Crema de lecheCream
Gelificantes (agar agar, cmc)Gelling agent
Aceite de… maíz, oliva, canola, soyaCorn, olive, canola, soybean… Oil
Vinagre de… manzana, vino, alcoholApple cider, wine, alcohol… Vinegar
Humo líquidoLiquid smoke
Pasta de tomateTomato paste
Harina (con y sin leudante)Leavening / Non-leavening flour
Fécula de maízCorn starch
VinosWines
QuesosCheeses
LecheMilk
Frutos secosDried fruit
MermeladasJams
Trufa (negra y blanca)Truffle (black and white)
Fresco / De temporadaFresh / Seasonal
Granos y cerealesGrains and cereals
Ajonjolí / SésamoSesame
ArrozRice
ArvejasPeas
AvenaOats
CebadaBarley
CentenoRye
FororoFororo
Frijol blancoWhite Beans
Frijol negroBlack beans
Frijol ojos NegrosBlack-eyed peas
Frijol rojoRed bean
GarbanzosChickpeas
GirasolSunflower seed
GuisantePea
LentejasLentils
LinazaFlaxseed
Maíz amarilloYellow corn
Maíz blancoWhite corn
ManíPeanut
SojaSoybeans
TrigoWheat
QuinchonchoChinchoncho

Fruits & Vegetables

Since humans have been human, there have always been discussions about the differences in the classification between vegetables and fruits (don’t get me started on tomatoes). The truth of the matter is that they are the standard-bearers of the contours and are responsible for 80% of the flavor they bring to the final result of the recipes. If you want to know the name of this food in Spanish, they are:

SpanishEnglish
FrutaFruit
Verdura, hortalizaVegetable
TubérculoTuber
AjíChili
AjoGarlic
CilantroCilantro
HongosMushrooms
LechugaLettuce
CebollaOnion
CebolletaChives
PimentónPepper
CerezaCherry
TomateTomato
TamarindoTamarind
AlbaricoqueApricot
FresaStrawberry
MangoMango
DuraznoPeach
MelónMelon
PeraPear
Lechosa / papayaMilk fruit / Papaya
Limón, limaLemmon, Lime
Banana / CamburBanana
PiñaPineapple
ApioCelery
ZanahoriaCarrot
PapaPotato
YucaCassava

Spices

Recipes in Spanish and English share something, that ace up their sleeve… Spices. They give that nuance, that unexpected touch that surprises the taste buds. Now, you may be wondering: How do you say spices in Spanish? The answer is “Especias” (never “Especies”, which means Species). But if you’re looking for something more specific, don’t miss this list:

SpanishEnglish
AzafránSaffron
CacaoCocoa
CanelaCinnamon
CardamomoCardamom
Clavos de olorCloves
CominoCumin
CúrcumaTurmeric
CurryCurry
JengibreGinger
LaurelBay leaf
Nuez moscadaNutmeg
Orégano (entero, molido, en polvo)Oregano (whole, ground, powder)
Pimienta (roja, negra, rosada, blanca, verde)(Red, Black, Pink, White, Green) Pepper
Paprika (picante, dulce, ahumado)Paprika (spicy, sweet, smoked)
AlbahacaBasil
HierbabuenaPeppermint
MentaMint
RomeroRosemary
EneldoDill
EstragónTarragon
SalviaSage
TomilloThyme
PerejilParsley
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Being able to communicate with your customers and coworkers is essential in the restaurant business, whether you work in the front or back of the house. By learning some key food terms in Spanish, you’ll be one step closer to being bilingual and an important part of the team. Plus, don’t forget to impress your boss next time they ask you how to say “carrot” in Spanish!

 

 

 

 

 

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