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<> English Food Lexicon Last update 10 March 2008 My goal is to create a complete Mexican food lexicon. I have tried, probably unsuccessfully, to include only words and expressions used in Mexico. I'm sure I don't have them all because there are so many regional terms that don't make it into the dictionaries or the dozens of Mexican food lexicons on the web that I have searched. If you know words that should be included, or if you find errors, I'd sure like to hear from you. Rollybrook@hotmail.com The reason I undertook this project is that I have not been able to find a truly complete Mexican food lexicon -- there are several of them on the web, but each one comes up short. I hope you find this one useful. There are some links that take you to Doña Martha's cooking pages, and there are a few links that take you to other websites that will help to define concepts. Use your browser's back button to return here. If you want to print it, it will be 35+ pages. |
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Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Groups: Meat Fowl Fish and Seafood Dairy and Eggs |
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abadejo = haddock abulón
= abalone acelyas = chard, Swiss chard aceite
= oil aceite de cacahuates = peanut oil aceite de oliva = olive oil aceite vegetal = vegetable oil aceituna
= olive (Aceituna is not commonly used in Mexico except on labels
of imported olive producs) acelga
= Swiss chard achiote = the seed of the annato tree which is used to make a seasoning paste of the same name. acitrón = candied fruit made from shoots of the biznaga cactus used as a candy or ingredient in stuffings acocil
= small, fresh water crustacean acuyo = piper sanctum, plant with large leaves which has an anis-like flavor. More often called hoja santa in Mexico and "root beer plant' in the USA adobo = a seasoning paste, usually containing ground chiles, vinegar, garlic and spices that is used to coat meats, poultry and seafood prior to cooking or drying to preserve agridulce = sweet and sour agrio = sour agrio, ácido = bitter agua
= water agua de coco = coconut milk aguacate = avocado aguamiel = the sweet juice of the maguey plant, that when fermented produces pulque aguas
frescas = a genre of soft drinks made by infusing water with various
flavorings including tamarind, chía, and flor de jamaica aguayon
= sirloin aguja
= litterally "needle." A cut of chuck steak that is one of the
favorite al carbón (char-broiled) specialties of northern Mexico ahumado = smoked ahumar = to smoke foods ajedrea = savory ajo
= garlic ajonjolí
= sesame alcaravea = caraway al carbón = cooked over charcoal or wood coals alambre, brocheta = shish kabobs ala = wing of a bird, fin of a fish albahaca
= basil albardilla = batter albaricoque, chabacano = apricot albóndiga = meatball alcachofa = artichoke alcaparras = capers alegría
= a traditional sweet made of toasted
amaranth seeds and honey or syrup. albóndiga = meatball albóndigas = meatballs, also a meatball soup aleta = fin (of a fish) alioli = garlic mayonnaise almeja
= clam almendra
= almond almíbar
= syrup almuerzo = a midmorning meal that is often translated as lunch alubias = a dried white bean al vapor = steamed
amaranto =
amaranth, a grain sometimes used in making candies and moles; or the eatable
leaves from the plant of the same name anacardo, nuez de la India = cashew añadir = add ancho = dried poblano chile used in most red chile sauces anchoa, anchovete, bocón = anchovy añejo = aged anguila = eel anís
= aniseed annatto = small, dark red seed used by the Mayas to color and spice food antojito = appetizer antojitos mexicanos = any corn and tortilla-based dish apagar = to turn off aperitivo = appetizer or aperitif apio
= celery almorzar = to eat breakfast or lunch arándano -- see note under berries arándano rojo = cranberry (see note under berries) arenque = herring arenque ahumado = kipper arracheras
= skirt steak or fajitas
arroz
= rice asadero = a type of cheese asado = grilled, roasted asador = barbeque grill asar = to grill, to roast or braise ate = quince
atole
= a thick drink, dating from pre-Hispanic times, made with ground, dried
corn and water or milk, and seasonings; served hot or cold. atún = tuna avellana = filbert, hazelnut avena = oats ayocote = a large type of bean, also spelled ayecote azafrán
= saffron azafrancillo = a plant whose bulbs are used to color foods, and often used as a substitute for saffron azucar
= sugar azúcar blanca de granulado muy fino = caster sugar azúcar de arce = maple syrup azúcar glace = confectioners or icing sugar azucarera = sugar bowl
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abalone = abulón achieved = logrado acidic or sour = ácido, agrio acorn = bellota add = añadir agave = maguey allspice = pimienta de Jamaica, pimienta inglesa almonds = almendras aluminum foil = papel de aluminio amaranth = amaranto anchovy = anchoa, anchovete, bocón aniseed = anís ant eggs = escamoles appetizer = (drink) aperitivo apple = manzana apricot = chabacano, albaricoque to arrange = poner artichoke = alcachofa artichoke heart = corazone de alcachofa asparagus = espárrago avocado = aguacate |
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bacalao = cod bacalao salado = salt cod bagre = see catfish baja = low balché
= an alcoholic beverage made from bark of the balché tree and honey. bañar = (to bathe) to cover with sauce barbacoa = a beef or lamb dish that is slow-cooked with chiles; sometimes used to mean barbeque barra = loaf batido (de leche) = milkshake bechamel = bechamel sauce basa = a type of catfish native to the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam báscula
= scale batidora = mixer batidora
eléctrica = electric mixer batir = to whisk or beat as in to beat eggs baya = berry (see note under berries) bebida = drink, beverage bellota = acorn berenjena = eggplant berro = watercress berza, col, repollo = cabbage betabel
= beet biberón = baby's bottle birria = a barbacoa specialty of Jalisco made with lamb or goat bistec
= beefsteak bizcocho = biscuit, cupcake or cookie bizcochito redondo = cupcake biznaga
= a type of cactus, resembling a barrel cactus, from whose young stalks
acitrón, (candied cactus) which is used as a flavoring in stuffings
such as for chiles en nogada, is made blanco de Nilo = a fish from the perch family; usually farm-raised blanco de Pátzcuaro = a mild flavored fish from Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán, for which the town of the same name is justly famous. It is usually fried in an egg batter and is often served al mojo de ajo (with garlic sauce) blanquear
= to blanch bocadillo
= snack or finger food bocón = anchovy bolillo = French style, crusty bread rolls that is served with entrees and used for sandwiches. bollo, panecillo = biscuit, roll, bun, scone bonito = bonito tuna borracho = (drunk) sauces or beans made with pulque, beer or tequila borrego = lamb botana = snacks or appetizers, often taken with drinks in a bar which may be called a botana bote - jar botella de biberón = baby's bottle brasear,
asar = to braise brocheta, alambre = shish kabob brócoli, brécol = broccoli brotes de soja = bean sprouts (soyabean) budín
= pudding budin de elote = corn pudding buñuelo = a fritter made of fried wheat flour dough and flavored with sugar or a syrup or honey, and often anis and cinnamon burritos = a large flour tortilla wrapped around a filling, usually shredded meat or cheese and beans, often mixed with a chile sauce
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baby's bottle = tetera, biberón, botella de biberón bacon
= tocino to
bake
= hornear, cocer al horno baking dish = charola baking
powder = levadura (en polvo) banana
= plátano barbeque
= parrillada barbeque grill = asador barracuda = cuda basil
= albahaca bass = róbalo, lobina basting
= rociando batter
= albardilla to batter and fry = capear bay
leaf
= laurel bean = frijol; beans = frijoles - black = frijoles negros - green or string beans =
ejotes -
sprouts (soybean) = brotes de soja bechamel
sauce = béchamel beef = carne de res beef shank = cambareta beef steak = bistec beer = cerveza berries = bayas --- blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, and mulberries are sometimes called by a confusing overlapping of the same names = arándano, mora, zarzamora. Strawberries = fresas are not part of this confusion. beet = betabél bell pepper, green = chile pimienta marrón verde bell pepper, red = chile pimienta marrón roja bell pepper, yellow = chile pimienta marrón amarilla biscuit = bolo, bizcocho, panecillo bitter = amargo, áspero black
beans = frijoles negros blackberry = zarzamora (see note under berries) black pepper = pimiento negro blade
of a knife = hoja del cuchillo to blanch = blanquear, escaldar to
blend
= pasar por la licuadora blender = licuadora blueberry = mora azul (see note under berries) to boil = hervir boiling
point = punto
de ebullición bone
= hueso; fish bone = espina to bone (debone) = dehuesar boned
= dehuesado bonefish = macabi bonito tuna = bonito borage = borraja bottle
opener = destapador bowls = cuenco bran
= salvado brandy
= coñac brains = sesos Brazil nut = nuez del Brazil bread = pan breadcrumbs
= pan molido, pan rallado bread pudding = capirotada breakfast = desayuno breast (of chicken or turkey) = perchuga (de pollo o povo) brisket = pecho de res broad
beans = habas broccoli
= brócoli, brécol to brown = dorar browned
= dorado to
brush
= cepillar Brussel
sprouts = coles de Bruselas butter = mantequilla
b to butter = untar con mantequilla to burn =quemar burned, burnt = quemado burner (on a stove) = quemador
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caballa = mackerel cabra = goat cabrito = kid cabuche
= flower of the biznaga (barrel) cactus cacahuacentli
also spelled cacahuacintle and cacahuazintle = a type of corn with large
ears and round grains (resembling cacao beans) often used to make
tamales cernidos (strained tamales, meaning that the dough is strained
to make it extra fine and spongy) and pozole. cacahuate = peanut cacerola = casserole (food and cooking dish) café = coffee or a cafe café
de olla = Mexican style coffee made in a clay pot cafetera = coffee pot or coffee machine caguama = a large turtle; an extra large bottle of beer or any large item cajeta de Celaya = a thick paste confection made by simmering goat's milk and sugar calabacín
= zucchini squash calabaza
= pumpkin or summer squash calabaza en tacha = a pumpkin dessert traditionally served for The Day of the Dead calamar
= squid caldo
= soup or broth caliente = hot - to touch, to taste [and horny] callos de hacha = scallops calor = hot (weather) camarón
= shrimp camote = sweet potato; sweets which are made with sweet potatoes and fruit campechano
= various seafood cocktails caña del cordero = lamb shank canela
= cinnamon canelones = canneloni cangrejo = crab capa = layer capeado = egg white batter capear
= to cover food with batter and fry it. capirotada = a pudding of bread, fruit, nuts and syrup capulín
= a fruit resembling a wild cherry, used for medicinal and
ornamental purposes. caracol = snail caramelo
= caramel caramelo duro hecho con azúcar y mantequilla = butterscotch cardamomo = cardamom carne
= meat carne asada = broiled or grilled meat carne
de puerco = pork carne
de res = beef carne
molida = ground meat or hamburger carnero = mutton or lamb carnitas = deep fried or shredded pork carne picada = mince carne seca = jerky carta
= menu cáscara, peladura = rind, zest cáscaras = shells castaño = chestnut cazo = pan, saucepan cazón = dog fish, small shark cazuela, cacerola = casserole (food and cooking dish) cazuelitas
= are made
by pressing a thin layer of tortilla dough around the outside of a small
mold and then deep frying it to produce a crisp shallow corn cup. They
are filled with shredded meat and other taco fillings. cebiche, often spelled ceviche which see cebolla = onion cebollíta, cebolita, cebolla de verde = scallion cebollino, cebollana or chive = chive cecina, tasajo = dried beef or pork, jerky cedazo
= strainer or sieve cena
= supper centeno = rye cerdo
= pork, pig cerdo picado = minced pork cereal = cereal cereza = cherry cernidor
= sifter cernir
also tamizar = to sift cerveza
= beer ceviche
sometimes spelled cebiche chabacano, albaricoque = apricot Chalupas
= boat shaped fried tortilla dough topped with shredded meat, cheese and similar fillings. chamberete
= shank of beef chamberete
de carnero more commonly caña del cordero = lamb or mutton shank champiñón = mushroom; See also hongo champurrado = Mexican hot chocolate charales = a fish similar to smelts charola = baking dish chaya
= large-leafed vegetable used to flavor soups,
stews and, in some areas, to wrap tamales. chayote = a squash called Mirliton in the southern USA chía = a plant whose seeds have been used since pre-Hispanic times as in ingredient in drinks, cereals and tamales. chícharo
= pea chicharrones = fried pork skins, cracklings chicoria = chicory chicos = dried corn cooked with pork and chile sauce chicozapote = a small brown, sweet fruit from the chicle tree from which latex is made. chicozapote
= brown-skinned fruit with a mild flavor somewhat like that of a
pear. chilacayote
= gourd with edible flesh and seeds. chilaquiles = a casserole of corn tortilla chips, chile sauce and cheese; often sereved for breakfast chile -- see this website for a list of common chiles with pictures and descriptions. Also look at this one. -- con queso = cheese dip with mild chiles -- pimiento amarillo = yellow bell pepper -- pimiento rojo = red bell pepper -- pimiento verde = green bell pepper chiles in nogada = made with green chilies stuffed with ground meat and almonds and covered with walnut sauce chiles relleños = stuffed chiles, poblano chiles stuffed with cheese or meat and fried chimichangas = small deep fried burritos sometimes spelled chivichanga chilatole
= an atole flavored with ground broiled tomatoes and chiles. chilmole
= a flavoring paste from the Yucatan made with dried chiles that are dry
roasted on a comal until blackened, often with grain alcohol to enhance
the charring effect, and other spices. Also spelled chimole or chirmole chilocuil
= red maguey worms. second in popularity to the meocuil or white maguey
worm. chilorio
= a meat filling, popular in northern Mexico. Usually made with pork but
sometimes with beef, that is boiled, shredded, then fried with ground
chiles and other spices. chilpachol = a crab soup chipotle = smoked ripe jalapeno chile, very hot with a smoky flavor chirimoya
= a scaly, greenish-brown fruit that is white
inside with large seeds. Very sweet with a custard-like flavor and
grainy texture. chirmole See chilmole chivo = kid (young goat chocolate
= chocolate chongos = a sweet dessert made from curdled milk, eggs, sugar and cinnamon chorizo = spicy pork sausage choros = mussels chorote
= an atole served in the state of Tabasco, flavored with sugar and
chocolate. choucroute, chucrut, col picada en salmuera = sauerkraut chuleta = chop, cutlet chuleta de aguayon = sirloin steak chuleta de carnero = lamb chop chuleta de dos lomos = porterhouse steak chuleta de puerco = pork chop churro
= ciervo, venado = deer cilantro
= coriander ciruela
pasa = prune ciruela
= plum clara de huevo = egg white clavetear
= to decorate or adorn clavo
de olor = clove clemole = a kind of mole, sometimes used in the diminutive, clemolito cocada = a sticky sweet made with coconut cocer = to cook, boil or simmer cocina = kitchen cocinar = to cook cocinar a fuego lento = to simmer cochinita pibil = Yucatecan-style roast pork wrapped in banana leaves cocinero = cook, chef coco = coconut cóctel
= cocktail codillo
= elbow or knuckle. codorniz
= quail cogollo = heart (of cabbage, lettuce) col
= cabbage. See also repollo. col picada en salmuera = sauerkraut coladera
= colander, sieve or strainer colar = to strain coles de Bruselas = Brussel sprouts coliflor = cauliflower colonche
= an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting tunas
from the nopal cactus. colorín = edible, red flowers from the tree of the same name - coral tree in English comal
= a griddle made originally from clay, but now more usually from metal. comida = food; a meal, often referring to the principal one taken in the mid or late afternoon comida
chatarra, comida basura, porquerías comida del mar, mariscos = sea food comino = cumin comiso = packed lunch compota de fruitas = stewed fruit coñac = brandy conchas = scallops condimento = seasoning conejo
= rabbit confitar
= to crystallize, sweeten or cook fruit in syrup congelado = frozen congelador
= freezer conserva = food preserved in sealed, sterilized copos de avena = oats copos de maíz tostados, often "cornflakes" = cornflakes corazón = heart corazones de alcachofas = artichoke hearts cordero = lamb coriando = coriander, cilantro cortado en cuatro = quartered cortar
= to cut cortar en cuadritos = diced cortar en lonchas finas = thinly slice cortar en tiras = to cut into strips, shreds corunda = a pyramid shaped tamal which is a specialty of Michoacán corvina = sea bass costillas
= ribs costillas chuletas = rib steaks crema
= cream
-- agria = sour cream -- dulce = sweet cream -- para batir = whipping cream crema de cacahuate = peanut butter crema
tartaro = cream of tartar cremera
= creamer crepe
= crepes cuajar = to curdle cuajo = rennet cubrir = to cover cuchara
= spoon cuchara
de medir = measuring spoon cuchara de servir = serving spoon cuchara del azúcar = sugar spoon cuchara
para sopa = soup spoon cucharada = spoonful cucharadita, cucharilla = teaspoon cucharear
= to spoon, to ladle cucharón = ladle, large spoon cuenco = bowls cuchillo
= knife cuchillito = small knife cucuma
= tumeric cuda = barracuda cueta = eye of the round |