Cooking & Recipes Glossary: T

tablespoon: A spoon used as a measuring unit in cooking; equal to about half a fluid ounce or three teaspoons.

tahini: Sesame paste.

tai: Red sea bream, a popular fish to eat raw. Has a very mild, delicate taste. Red snapper is often used in its place in the United States.

tamale: A corn husk stuffed with corn dough and savory fillings, then steamed.

tamari: A type of soy sauce that’s a byproduct of making miso.

tapioca: A starchy, granular substance prepared from the root of the cassava plant; used to make puddings and thicken soups.

taro: A starchy tuber vegetable much like a potato.

tart: A round, open-topped dessert with a nutty crust, usually about 10 to 14 inches in diameter.

teaspoon: A spoon used as a measuring unit in cooking; equal to about 1/3 of a tablespoon.

teeth: The metal points on the blade of a serrated knife.

teff: A grass seed that has a sweet, nutty flavor; often used as a gluten-free substitute for wheat.

tempeh: A traditional Indonesian soy food made from soybeans, grains, and a mold culture that is fermented and pressed into a block or cake.

tempura: A Japanese dish that consists of vegetables or seafood dipped in an egg batter and deep-fried.

tenderloin: The tenderest part of a loin of meat, located on either side of the backbone.

tequila: A Mexican liquor distilled from the heart of the agave or maguey plant.

terrine: A casserole of a meat or vegetable paste-like mixture; the dish in which this casserole is cooked.

tofu: Soybean curd. High in protein and low in fat, tofu is faintly nutty and custardlike.

tongs: A device with two long arms hinged together; used for grabbing or lifting objects

tortellini: Stuffed pasta shaped like fat rings.

trivet: A short-legged stand for holding hot pots, pans, or dishes at the table during a meal.

truss: To tie meat or poultry with string and/or skewers to maintain its shape during roasting.

tubular pasta: Another name for macaroni; different types of compact, shaped pastas.

tzatziki: A Greek yogurt and cucumber dip.