Food Glossary

A glossary of natural food, culinary terms and their definitions, that are used in this blog.

Agave Nectar – a low glycemic, liquid sweetener harvested from the agave plant; used in many raw food recipes.

Aloe Vera – is a succulent plant with thick green leaves that surround the gel and is used to make a healing juice.

Apple Cider Vinegar [raw, unfiltered] – a highly acidic, nutrient rich vinegar made from apples with beneficial healing qualities.

Au Poirve – a technique made famous by the French is borrowed and used to coat vegetables or mushrooms with cracked peppercorns.

Bisque – a thick, creamy soup make from pureed vegetables.

Cacao Nibs and Powder – the nibs are small broken bits of the nutrient-rich, antioxidant cacao bean. The powder is the ground form of the nibs or whole bean. Cacao is rich in magnesium, contains small amounts of caffeine and other natural chemical compounds.

Capers – are small edible flower buds, the fruit from a thorny, trailing shrub that grows like a weed throughout the Mediterranean.

Carob Powder – is made from the ground seeds and pods of the Carob tree; used as a substitute for chocolate/cacao.

Carpaccio – thinly sliced raw food, mainly served as an appetizer.

Chiffonade – is a cutting technique that you can use to cut up any flat leafy food, herbs like basil, leafy greens like spinach.

Coconut – the fibrous husky fruit of the coconut palm, containing white flesh surrounding a partially fluid-filled central cavity.

Coconut Oil – slow to oxidize and rarely goes rancid, it is the most stable of all oils.

Coconut Water – is one of the highest sources of electrolytes, extremely nutritious, contains no fat or cholesterol, and is low in calories. It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother’s milk and is identical to human blood plasma. It’s a natural miracle water!

Coulis – pureed or release juice of fruits or vegetables [typically], used as a soup base or sauce.

Flax Seeds – are the seeds of the flax plant, which contain several essential nutrients including calcium, iron, niacin, phosphorous, vitamin E, and are also a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Flaxseed Oil – is derived from the seeds of the flax plant and is considered to be nature’s richest source of omega-3 fatty acids and also contains omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, as well as other vitamins and minerals.

Gazpacho – a cold Spanish vegetables soup make with raw vegetables.

Hemp Seeds – highly nutritious seeds, a great source of protein and essential fatty acids. These seeds are collected from the Cannabis sativa plant that is free of any psychoactive properties, it’s legal.

Himalayan Crystal Salt

Kudzu – also known as kuzu, is an edible vegetable in the same family as beans and peas, is of Asian origin, and is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Lotus Root – the underwater rhizome of the lotus plant.

Lucuma [loo-ku-mah] – a sweet edible fruit of the Lucuma tree, native to the highlands of South America, it is very low in sugar and makes an excellent sweetener alternative.

Maca – derived from an herbaceous plant native to the mountainous regions of South America. It’s known to increase energy and endurance, and has high concentrations of proteins and is rich in essential minerals, especially selenium, calcium, magnesium, and iron, and also fatty acids.

Madeleines – a small, teacake formed in an oval mold that gives it a scallop-like shape.

Meyer Lemons – a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, its taste is sweeter than a true lemon, which has more tartness.

Nori [raw, unroasted] – a highly nutritious red algae containing calcium, iron, and other vitamins and minerals. It is shredded, dried and pressed and made into paper-thin sheets.

Orange Blossom Water – fragrant water made with distilled water that contains the essential oils of the orange blossom. It adds a hint of citrus scent to recipes; a little goes a long way.

Parfait – alternating layers of a thick cream or pudding and a fruit puree or fruits.

Rose Water – fragrant water made with distilled water that contains the essence of rose, adds a unique flavor to recipes.

Sorbet – a frozen dairy-free dessert usually made from fresh pureed fruit.

Spirulina – an aquatic blue-green algae, rich in proteins, and one of the few natural plant sources of vitamin B-12.

Vinaigrette – an oil and vinegar, or lemon juice, sauce usually used on salads greens or other vegetables. It may contain any combination of herbs and spices, shallots, onions, mustard, etc.

Wheatgrass – a plant grass grown from wheat berry seeds. It is generally pressed into a nutritious and powerful juice, which helps cleanse and detoxify the body.

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