Glossary
The delicious. magazine glossary lists all recipe ingredients and where they may be obtained.
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- 0 flour is an Italian flour grade. It is less finely ground than 00 flour.
From selected gourmet food stores. Substitute with strong (baker’s)
plain flour.
- 00 or doppio-zero flour is a super-fine Italian flour grade that is traditionally
used for making pasta. From selected gourmet food stores. Substitute with
all-purpose plain flour.
- A netting tool is a plastic roller used for making pastry lattices. From
kitchenware stores.
- Agar-agar is a gelatinous substance made from seaweed and used as a setting
or thickening agent. From health-food stores.
- Aged balsamic vinegar is aged for a minimum of 5 years and sometimes up
to 50 years. From gourmet food stores.
- Aioli is garlic mayonnaise. From gourmet food stores.
- Allspice berries taste like a combination of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.
From supermarkets. Also available ground.
- Anchovies (fresh) are available seasonally from fishmongers. Substitute
with butterflied sardines cut in half.
- Arrowroot is a starch used as a thickening agent mainly in sweet dishes.
From supermarkets.
- Asafoetida is a strongly flavoured gum resin used extensively in Indian
cooking. From Middle Eastern, Indian and spice stores.
- Asian mixed herbs are from selected greengrocers and Asian supermarkets.
If unavailable, substitute with common basil and mint.
- Asian red shallots or eschalots are more pungent than golden eschalots.
From Asian supermarkets.
- Baby Asian salad leaves are from Asian supermarkets and some selected supermarkets.
- Baby capsicum is from farmers’ markets and selected supermarkets.
- Baked ricotta is from delicatessens.
- Barberries are a sour, dried fruit from Middle Eastern stores.
- Barley flakes are from health food stores.
- Bay leaves are from supermarkets.
- Beetroot relish is from greengrocers and delicatessens.
- Beurre bosc pears are from greengrocers and supermarkets.
- Black glutinous or sticky rice is so-called because the dark layer of bran
is left intact. From Asian supermarkets.
- Black mustard seeds are more piquant than the generally bitter white mustard
seeds. From supermarkets and spice stores.
- Black olive tapenade (a paste) is from supermarkets and delicatessens.
- Black pudding is a sausage made from pigs’ blood. From selected delicatessens
and butchers.
- Black sesame seeds are from major and Asian supermarkets.
- Blade mace is the rust-coloured fibrous coating on whole nutmeg. It has
a less intense flavour the nutmeg itself. From spice stores. Substitute with
a lesser quantity of nutmeg.
- Blini pans are small pancake pans. From selected kitchenware stores.
- Block shortcrust pastry and block puff pastry are from supermarkets.
- Blood orange juice is available in Tetra packs from gourmet food stores.
- Blood oranges (fresh) have varying amounts of red pigment in the skin and
flesh. From specialist greengrocers from July to September. Substitute with
regular oranges.
- Blue Vinny is a British blue cheese made from cows’ milk. It is not
available in Australia. Substitute with your favourite mild blue cheese.
- Boerewors are spicy South African sausages. From specialist butchers.
- Bouillon powder is stock powder or cubes. From supermarkets.
- Bouquet garni is a bunch of herbs (usually parsley, thyme and bay leaves)
tied with string and used to flavour soups and stews. Make your own, or buy
in ready-made sachets at supermarkets or spice stores.
- Bramley apples are an English variety, unavailable in Australia. Substitute
with Granny Smith.
- Buckweat noodles are from Asian supermarkets.
- Buffalo mozzarella is stretched curd cheese made from water buffalo milk.
From selected delicatessens. Substitute one ball of buffalo mozzarella with
three balls of bocconcini.
- Cabernet sauvignon vinegar is from gourmet food stores. Substitute with
red wine vinegar.
- Cajun spice is from supermarkets.
- Calasparra rice is from Spain’s Murcia region and is the favourite
for making paella. From Spanish delicatessens. Substitute with arborio or
short-grain rice.
- Candied citron peel (also sold as cedro) is from gourmet food stores.
- Cape gooseberries are available seasonally from selected fruit markets.
- Carnaroli rice is Italian short-grain rice used for risotto. Available from
gourmet food stores.
- Cassis (or creme de cassis) is sweet blackcurrant liqueur. From selected
bottle shops.
- Cavalo nero is black cabbage. From selected greengrocers.
- Cedro is candied citron peel. From gourmet food stores.
- Ceps (fresh), aka porcini, are a type of mushroom unavailable in Australia.
Substitute with dried ceps or fresh field mushrooms.
- Champagne vinegar is from gourmet food stores. Substitute with white wine
vinegar.
- Chardonnay vinegar is from gourmet food stores. Substitute with white wine
vinegar.
- Chestnuts (fresh) are from greengrocers. Substitute with vacuum-packed chestnuts.
- Chicken tenderloins are the small strip of meat under the breast. From supermarkets.
Substitute small corn-fed breasts, cut into strips.
- Chicory essence is a coffee-flavoured extract. From supermarkets.
- Chilli bean sauce is from Asian supermarkets.
- Chilli jam is from Asian supermarkets.
- Chilli oil is from Asian and gourmet food stores.
- Chilli paste in soybean oil is from Asian supermarkets.
- Chinese black vinegar is from Asian supermarkets.
- Chinese mushrooms (dried) are from Asian and selected supermarkets.
- Chinese red dates are from Asian supermarkets.
- Chinese (shaohsing) rice wine is from Asian and selected supermarkets.
- Chinese roast duck is from Asian butchers.
- Chinese soup herbs are from Asian supermarkets.
- Chorizo are spicy pork sausages available fresh, dried or semi-dried. From
Spanish delicatessens and selected butchers.
- Cinnamon sugar is from supermarkets.
- Clotted cream is available from specialist cheese shops and selected supermarkets.
Substitute with double cream.
- Coeur a la crème moulds are heart-shaped ceramic with small holes
in the base. From kitchenware stores.
- Coffee essence is from supermarkets.
- Corella pears are from greengrocers.
- Coriander noodles (fresh) are from pasta stores.
- Cornichons are small, pickled cucumbers from gourmet food stores.
- Cox’s apples. Substitute with Golden Delicious.
- Cracked wheat (burgul) is whole wheat that has been partially boiled, cracked
and dried. From supermarkets.
- Crystallised violets are from gourmet food stores.
- Cumin seeds are from supermarkets and spice stores.
- Curd cheese is from specialist cheese stores and selected delicatessens.
Substitute fromage frais or full-fat ricotta.
- Curry leaves are from a small tropical tree and are common in Southern Indian
Cooking. Available fresh from specialist greengrocers or dried from supermarkets.
- Daikon is a type of large white radish with a sweet, fresh flavour. From
Asian supermarkets.
- Dashi granules are dried Japanese stock. From Asian supermarkets.
- Drambuie is whisky-based liqueur flavoured with herbs. From bottle shops.
- Dry marsala is a Sicilian fortified wine. From bottle shops.
- Dry-cured bacon is from specialist butchers.
- Duck eggs are from poultry stores. Substitute with hens’ eggs.
- Duck is from poultry stores and selected butchers.
- Dukkah is a spice, nut and seed blend from Middle Eastern and gourmet food
stores.
- Eau de vie is French for ‘water of life’ and is a colourless,
potent brandy or spirit distilled from fermented fruit juice. From selected
bottle shops.
- Edible gold leaf can be either thin flakes or sheets of gold of very high
purity. From specialised stationery stores.
- Edible rice paper (for making confectionery) is made from the rice paper
plant or other plants, not from rice. From selected kitchenware stores and
some supermarkets.
- Edible rose petals are from Middle Eastern stores.
- Edible silver leaf is available from stationery stores.
- Elderflowers are in season from November to December. Elderflower cordial
is from The Essential Ingredient.
- Enoki or golden needle mushrooms are from selected greengrocers.
- Ficelle is a long, thin French bread shape about half the size of a baguette.
From bakeries.
- Fish stock (fresh) is from selected delicatessens and fishmongers
- Flying fish roe is from Asian supermarkets and selected fishmongers.
- Fontina is an Italian cheese from delicatessens. Substitute with a melting
cheese such as a gruyere, Taleggio or gouda.
- Four-cheese ravioli is from pasta stores and Italian delicatessens.
- Framboise (creme de) is a sweet raspberry liqueur. From selected bottle
shops.
- Fried Asian shallots are from Asian and selected supermarkets.
- Fromage blanc is soft, unripened fresh cheese. From specialty cheese suppliers.
- Fungi (dried) are from Asian supermarkets.
- Galangal is a flavoursome root used extensively in Asian cooking. From major
and Asian supermarkets. Substitute with ginger.
- Gelatine leaves are from gourmet food stores. Always check the setting directions
on the packet as the required degree of firmness varies.
- Ghee is clarified butter, extensively used in Indian cooking. It can be
heated to higher temperatures than regular butter without burning. From supermarkets.
- Gluten-free pasta is from health food stores and supermarkets.
- Glycerine is added to some icings to improve their consistency. From chemists
and supermarkets.
- Goats’ cheese ravioli are from selected delicatessens and pasta stores.
- Golden caster sugar is from gourmet food stores. Substitute with caster
sugar.
- Gong bao is a Szechuan-style chicken seasoning mix. From Asian supermarkets.
- Gorgonzola is an Italian blue-vein cows’ milk cheese. From delicatessens
and supermarkets.
- Gorgonzola piccante is a piquant Italian blue cheese. From delicatessens.
- Grape must is unfermented grape juice. From gourmet food stores.
- Grapeseed oil is a good-quality, neutral vegetable oil pressed from grape
seeds. From supermarkets.
- Green mango chutney is made from under-ripe mangoes. From Indian shops and
selected delicatessens.
- Green olive tapenade (paste) is from supermarkets and delicatessens.
- Green tea noodles are from Asian supermarkets.
- Halva is a sweet of Turkish origin made from ground sesame seeds and honey,
then flavoured (such as with chocolate, vanilla or pistachio). From delicatessens.
- Harissa is a hot Tunisian paste made from dried chillies and spices. From
Middle Eastern and gourmet food stores.
- Hazelnut oil is from gourmet food stores.
- Honeycomb is from health food and sweet stores.
- Horseradish root (fresh) is from greengrocers. Substitute bottled horseradish.
- Italian lentils are from gourmet food stores. Substitute with Puy lentils.
- Jamon is Spanish cured ham. From Spanish delicatessens. Substitute with
good-quality cured ham or prosciutto.
- Jellied stock is available gourmet food stores.
- Junket is a dessert made from sweetened milk curdled with rennet. Junket
(rennet) tablets are from supermarkets.
- Jus is well-reduced stock (usually chicken, beef or veal). From gourmet
food stores.
- Kaffir lime leaves (fresh or frozen) are from Asian supermarkets and selected
greengrocers.
- Ketjap manis is a sweet Indonesian soy sauce. From Asian and selected supermarkets.
- Kirsch is a white brandy distilled from cherries. From bottle shops.
- Kolonji is the Indian word for nigella seeds. Look for nigella seeds at
spice stores.
- Koshihikari is Japanese short-grain “sticky” rice (also sold
as sushi rice). From supermarkets. It holds together well to allow easier
eating with chopsticks, although it is not to be confused with the glutinous
sticky rice used most notably in Thai cooking. Substitute with medium-grain
white rice.
- Lamb or beef jus and stock are from selected gourmet stores.
- Lamb’s lettuce or mache is from selected greengrocers.
- Lap cheong is a Chinese smoked pork sausage flavoured with star anise. From
Chinese butchers and Chinese supermarkets.
- Lapsang souchong is smoky black tea leaves. From major supermarkets.
- Lavender seeds (edible) are from garden stores or by mail order. Use unsprayed
or organic seeds.
- Lemon curd is available from gourmet food stores.
- Lemon-flavoured olive oil is from gourmet food stores. Substitute with extra
virgin olive oil.
- Lemon myrtle is a native Australian leaf used to flavour sweet and savoury
dishes. From supermarkets and spice stores.
- Light muscovado sugar is a pale brown sugar from supermarkets. Substitute
with brown sugar.
- Liquid glucose is from health food stores and selected supermarkets.
- Macadamia nut oil is from gourmet food stores and selected supermarkets.
- Malay curry powder is a spice mix used in Malaysian cuisine. From spice
stores. Substitute with mild curry powder.
- Malibu is a sweet, coconut-flavoured white rum. From bottle shops.
- Manchego is a hard sheep’s milk cheese from specialist cheese stores
and Spanish delicatessens.
- Mandarin liqueur is a sweet liqueur made from distilled mandarins. From
selected bottle shops.
- Marigold bouillon powder is a brand-name vegetable stock powder. From supermarkets
and health food stores.
- Marron are large freshwater crayfish from Western Australia. Substitute
with prawns, scallops, lobster, yabbies or crayfish.
- Marrons glacés are candied chestnuts. From gourmet food stores.
- Marzipan is a firm, sweet almond paste. From supermarkets.
- Mini-loaf pans are from selected kitchenware stores. Substitute with muffin
pans.
- Mirin is a delicate, sweet Japanese rice wine. From major supermarkets and
Asian food stores.
- Moscato passito is a sweet Italian wine unavailable in Australia. Substitute
with sweet marsala or vin santo.
- Muscatel grapes are sold fresh or dry. Substitute with fresh seedless red
globe grapes or dried raisins.
- Mushroom paté is from selected delicatessens and gourmet food stores.
- Mustard fruits are dried fruits preserved in sweet mustard syrup. From Italian
delicatessens and gourmet food stores.
- Naan is an Indian flatbread traditionally baked in a tandoori oven. From
Indian stores and supermarkets.
- Niçoise olives are small black olives. From delicatessens and some
supermarkets.
- Nori sheets are thin layers of seaweed used in Japanese cooking. From selected
supermarkets and Asian food stores.
- Ocean trout roe is fish eggs. From gourmet food stores.
- Onion marmalade is slow-cooked, caramelised onion paste. From gourmet food
stores.
- Orange blossom water is from gourmet food stores and selected supermarkets.
- Orange flower is from gourmet food stores and selected supermarkets.
- Organic soy sauce is from health food stores.
- Ox-heart (beefsteak) tomatoes are a large type of tomato. Substitute with
vine-ripened tomatoes.
- Palm sugar comes from many different types of palm tree and varies in colour
and consistency. From major and Asian supermarkets.
- Pancetta (flat) is Italian salt-cured bacon. From delicatessens. Substitute
with streaky bacon.
- Panch phora is an Indian spice mix that includes cumin, fenugreek and fennel.
From spice stores.
- Panettone is traditional Italian cake. From Italian delicatessens, gourmet
food stores, selected supermarkets and greengrocers (especially at Easter
and Christmas). Substitute with fruit brioche.
- Parmigiano-Reggiano is the finest Italian parmesan cheese. From delicatessens.
Substitute with regular parmesan.
- Pea eggplants are a small, seedy variety used in Thai and Indonesian cooking.
From Asian supermarkets and greengrocers.
- Peri peri sauce is a Portuguese hot chilli sauce. Available in gourmet food
stores.
- Persian (or marinated) feta is from selected delicatessens.
- Pheasant breasts are from selected game butchers and specialty suppliers.
- Pickled ginger is the traditional accompaniment to sushi. From Asian and
selected supermarkets.
- Pimentón (smoked sweet paprika) is from selected delicatessens, supermarkets
and spice stores.
- Pin-boned fish have all the small bones removed from the fillets. Ask your
fishmonger to do this for you.
- Pink peppercorns are sold in jars of brine at supermarkets.
- Pomegranates are large round fruit with thick reddish skin. Available seasonally
from greengrocers.
- Ponzu is a Japanese citrus soy sauce. From Asian supermarkets.
- Porcini mushrooms (dried) are from selected supermarkets, greengrocers and
gourmet food stores.
- Preserved lemons are lemons that have been salt-preserved. Used extensively
in Moroccan cooking. From gourmet food stores.
- Prosecco is a sparkling Italian wine. From selected bottle shops. Substitute
with any dry sparkling wine.
- Puff pastry is sometimes available from selected French patisseries. It
will be made with butter and will improve the quality of your dish.
- Pumpkin ravioli (fresh) are from pasta stores.
- Pumpkin seed oil is from health food stores.
- Purple or purple Congo potatoes are sweet and bright purple when cooked.
Substitute with kipfler or other waxy potatoes.
- Puy lentils are a superior variety from Le Puy in France. From gourmet food
stores and selected supermarkets.
- Quail eggs (fresh) are from selected poultry suppliers, delicatessens and
Asian supermarkets.
- Quince paste is from gourmet food stores and selected supermarkets.
- Raita is a minted yoghurt and cucumber side dish served with Indian food.
From Indian takeaways.
- Ras el hanout is a Moroccan spice blend. From Middle Eastern stores.
- Raspberry vinegar is from selected gourmet food stores.
- Ready-to-roll icing is from supermarkets.
- Red witlof is from greengrocers. Substitute with standard (white/yellow)
witlof.
- Red-bean paste is from Asian supermarkets.
- Rice flour is made from pulverised rice and often used as a thickening agent.
From supermarkets.
- Rice paper wrappers, for making fresh and fried spring rolls, are from major
supermarkets and Asian supermarkets.
- Risoni is rice-grain shaped pasta. From supermarkets.
- Roast capsicum is from supermarkets and delicatessens.
- Rolled turkey breasts are from supermarkets and delicatessens.
- Rosebuds (dried) are from Middle Eastern stores.
- Rose petal jam is made from rose petals simmered in sugar, water and lemon
juice. From Middle Eastern stores.
- Rose petals (dried) are used in sweet dishes in France and the Middle East.
From Middle Eastern stores.
- Rose syrup is a boiled mixture of rose petals, sugar and water. From Middle
Eastern stores.
- Rosewater is a musky flavouring made by distilling rose petals. From Middle
Eastern stores and major supermarkets.
- Ruby chard is available seasonally from supermarkets.
- Rye flakes are from health food stores.
- Sake is Japanese rice wine. From bottle shops and Asian supermarkets. Substitute
with mirin (for cooking).
- Salmon roe is fish eggs. From delicatessens and gourmet food stores.
- Salted capers are from gourmet food stores.
- Sambal oelek is a hot Indonesian chilli seasoning. From Asian grocers.
- Sauternes is sweet white wine, named for the French region that produces
excellent examples. From bottle shops.
- Scallops (dried) are from Asian supermarkets.
- Seafood marinara mix is a combination of raw (fresh) seafood. From fishmongers
and the seafood section of some supermarkets.
- Seasoned flour is plain flour seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Seasoned rice vinegar is from Asian and selected supermarkets.
- Semi-dried or dessert figs are from selected gourmet food stores.
- Shaohsing (Chinese) rice wine is from Asian supermarkets. Substitute with
dry sherry.
- Shaved raw beef is from Asian supermarkets.
- Sherry vinegar is from gourmet food stores.
- Shrimp (dried) are from Asian and selected supermarkets.
- Shrimp paste is from Asian and selected supermarkets.
- Silver dragees for cake decorating are from supermarkets.
- Slivered pistachios are from Middle Eastern and gourmet food stores.
- Small sugar plums are from supermarkets.
- Smoked mozzarella (scamorza) is from selected delicatessens and specialist
cheese shops.
- Soba noodles are long, thin Japanese buckwheat noodles. From Asian stores
and major supermarkets.
- Spanish piquillo peppers are preserved Spanish small capsicum. From Spanish
delicatessens.
- Spanish sherry is from selected bottle shops. Substitute with good-quality
sherry or dry white wine.
- Spatchocks (small chickens) are from game butchers and specialty poultry
suppliers.
- Squid ink linguine is pasta coloured black with squid ink. From gourmet
food and pasta stores.
- Stem ginger in syrup is from major and Asian supermarkets.
- Sturia caviar is French farmed sturgeon roe. From gourmet food stores.
- Sugar cane (fresh) is from Asian food stores and some greengrocers.
- Sumac is dried, ground berries used as a spice. It tastes lemony, and is
used extensively in North African cooking. From supermarkets.
- Sundried tomato paste is from supermarkets.
- Sweet butter puff pastry is from supermarkets. Substitute with plain butter
puff pastry.
- Szechuan pepper and peppercorns are from Asian supermarkets.
- Tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds. From supermarkets and health food
stores.
- Taleggio is an Italian cheese from delicatessens. Substitute with any good
melting cheese, such as gruyere.
- Tamari is a wheat-free soy sauce. From supermarkets and health food stores.
- Tamarind concentrate is sweet-sour concentrated tamarind juice. From Asian
supermarkets.
- Tarragon vinegar is from selected gourmet food stores.
- Tat soi is an Asian green leaf with a peppery flavour. From greengrocers
and Asian supermarkets.
- Thai basil is from Asian and selected supermarkets, and greengrocers. Substitute
with common basil.
- Tofu puffs are packaged deep-fried tofu cubes. From Asian supermarkets.
- Tomato kasundi is a hot Indian tomato relish. From gourmet food stores.
- Tomato passata (or sugo) is sieved tomatoes. From supermarkets and delicatessens.
- Truffle oil is from gourmet food stores.
- Truffles (fresh) are from gourmet food stores. Substitute with truffle oil.
- Undyed smoked haddock fillets are not readily available in Australia. Substitute
with smoked cod.
- Unsweetened chestnut puree is from selected delicatessens.
- Vanilla beans are from gourmet food stores and major supermarkets.
- Vanilla sugar is from supermarkets.
- Verjuice is unripe grape juice, used in similar ways to lemon juice or vinegar.
From gourmet food stores. Substitute with white wine.
- Vienna almonds are caramel-coated almonds. From supermarkets.
- Vietnamese mint is from selected greengrocers and Asian supermarkets.
- Vin santo is an Italian wine available either sweet or dry. From selected
bottle shops. Substitute with good-quality marsala or dessert wine.
- Vine leaves (preserved) are from supermarkets.
- Vine-ripened cherry tomatoes are from greengrocers.
- Vino cotto is a condiment made from cooked grape must, or figs. Available
from Italian grocers or gourmet delicatessens. Substitute with balsamic vinegar.
- Vol-au-vent puff pastry cases are from major supermarkets.
- Wakame is a type of edible seaweed sold dried. From Asian supermarkets and
some health food stores.
- Walnut oil is from gourmet food stores. Substitute with extra virgin olive
oil.
- Wasabi is pungent Japanese horseradish, traditionally served with sushi.
Available as powder or paste from major and Asian supermarkets. When in season,
it is also available fresh from good greengrocers.
- Washed rind cheeses are from specialist cheese stores.
- Wattleseeds of edible varieties are roasted and ground before use as a flavouring
in cooking. From specialist spice stores.
- White miso paste is from Asian supermarkets and some health food stores.
- Wild mushrooms are from gourmet food stores and selected delicatessens.
- Wonton skins are available at Asian supermarkets.
- Yabbies can be ordered from fishmongers.
- Yellow rock sugar is a dark yellow-coloured sugar sold in boxes. From Asian
supermarkets.
- Yuzu juice is from citrons and is used in Japanese cooking. Substitute with
lime juice.
- Zahtar, aka za’atar, is a Middle Eastern spice blend of thyme leaves,
sumac, sesame seeds and salt. From spice and Middle Eastern stores.
- Zucchini flowers are from selected green grocers in summer.