Glossary

Tamil : Thakkali
Hindi : Tamatar

Choose firm, well-shaped tomatoes. They should be free from blemishes, heavy for their size and give slightly to palm pressure. Ripe tomatoes should be stored at room temperature and used within a few days. They should never be refrigerated-cold temperatures make the flesh pulpy.

Tamil: Ellu
Hindi: Til

Sesame seeds, also called bennes or gingellies, are black or white and yield an oil that resists turning rancid. The oil is used extensively in India for cooking, soap manufacture, food, and medicine and as an adulterant for olive oil.

Tamil: Puzhi
Hindi: Imli

Also known as Indian date, the tamarind is the fruit of a tall shade tree native to Asia and northern Africa and widely grown in India. The large (about 5-inch-long) pods contain small seeds and a sour-sweet pulp that, when dried, becomes extremely sour. Tamarind pulp concentrate is popular as a flavoring in East Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines much like lemon juice is in Western culture. It’s used to season full-flavored foods such as chutneys, curry dishes and pickled fish. Additionally, tamarind is used to make a sweet syrup flavoring soft drinks. It’s also an integral ingredient in Worcestershire sauce. Tamarind can be found in East Indian and some Asian markets in various forms: jars of concentrated pulp with seeds; canned paste; whole pods dried into “bricks” or ground into powder. Tamarind syrup can be found in Dutch, Indonesian and East Indian markets.

Tamil: Manjal Podi
Telugu: Pasupu Podi
Hindi: Haldi powder

Used in cooking since 600 b.c., turmeric is the root of a tropical plant related to ginger. Though native to the Orient, this spice is now also cultivated in India and the Caribbean. It has a bitter, pungent flavor and an intense yellow-orange color. In Biblical times, turmeric was often used to make perfume, a comment on its rather exotic fragrance. Today it’s used mainly to add both flavor and color to food. Turmeric is very popular in East Indian cooking and is almost always used in curry preparations. It’s also a primary ingredient in mustard and is what gives American-style prepared mustard its bright yellow color. Powdered turmeric is widely available in supermarkets. As with all spices, it should be stored in a cool, dark place for no more than 6 months.

Tamil: thengai
Telugu: thenkaya
Hindi: nariyal

Tree (Cocos nucifera) of the palm family, one of the most important crops of the tropics. Its slender, leaning, ringed trunk rises from a swollen base and is topped by a graceful crown of giant, feathery leaves. The large ovoid or ellipsoid mature fruits have a thick, fibrous husk surrounding the familiar single-seeded nut. The nut contains a white and somewhat sweet meat, which is eaten raw; coconut oil is extracted from the meat. The nutritious liquid “milk” at the centre may be drunk directly from the nut. The husk provides coir, a fibre highly resistant to salt water that is used in the manufacture of ropes, mats, baskets, brushes, and brooms. The nutshells are used as containers and often decoratively carved.Coconut water can be used as an intravenous fluid

American: yogurt
Tamil: thayir
Telugu: perugu
Hindi: dahi

A custardlike food with a tart flavor, prepared from milk curdled by bacteria, especially Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.

Hindi: tej patta

Also called laurel leaf or bay laurel, this aromatic herb comes from the evergreen bay laurel tree, native to the Mediterranean. Early Greeks and Romans attributed magical properties to the laurel leaf and it has long been a symbol of honor, celebration and triumph, as in “winning your laurels.” The two main varieties of bay leaf are Turkish (which has 1- to 2-inch-long oval leaves) and Californian (with narrow, 2- to 3-inch-long leaves). The Turkish bay leaves have a more subtle flavor than do the California variety. Bay leaves are used to flavor soups, stews, vegetables and meats. They’re generally removed before serving. Overuse of this herb can make a dish bitter. Fresh bay leaves are seldom available in markets. Dried bay leaves, which have a fraction of the flavor of fresh, can be found in supermarkets. Store dried bay leaves airtight in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Tamil: tuvaram paruppu
Telugu : Kandhi pappu
Hindi: tuvar dal/ arhar dal

These lentils are yellow and sold split into two round halves. In some parts of India, yellow lentils are slightly oiled to increase shelf-life, more so when the lentils are exported. Therefore Indian shops outside India usually stock the oily variety of yellow lentil. They are very easy to digest and have a pleasant, subtle, nutty flavour. In India, the unoiled lentils are preferred, so if you do buy oily yellow lentils, soak them in hot water for a while and throw away the resulting cloudy water.