Ever been confused by Portuguese Cooking/Baking Vocabulary and measurements? I often have problems with these. Here is an example. Then this post is for you! Today, we’re going over an extensive list. But first, let’s decipher the measurements!
Measuring Guide:
- xícara = tea cup in Brazil, in other words = 240 ml unless otherwise stated.
- chávena = tea cup in Portugal, in other words = 250ml unless otherwise stated.
- 1 colher de sopa = “1 soup spoon” = 1 table spoon = 15 ml
- 1 colher de chá = 1 tea spoon = 5 ml
- 1 colher de sobremesa = 1 “dessert spoon” = 10 ml
- 1 colher de café = 1 coffee spoon = 2 ml
- 1 dl = one decilitre = 100 ml
- rasa = “flat” meaning level or at/to level
- prato fundo nivelado = deep plate to level = 200 g
- q.b. = quanto baste = literally “as much is enough” = meaning = “to taste”
- 1 pitada de = a pinch of
- um fio de = a drizzle of / a trickle of / a dash of.
Other relevant cooking vocabulary
- dentes de alho = “teeth” of garlic (garlic cloves)
- ralado = shredded / crumbs (queijo ralado = shredded cheese / pão ralado = bread crumbs)
- moído = ground or minced
- lamidados = laminated
- congelados = frozen
- frescos = depends on context. It can refer to fresh produce, like fresh herbs for example, but if it’s regarding a liquid, then it means cold (água fresca = cold water).
- rodelas = round slices (e.g. pineapple slices = rodelas de ananás / sliced olives = azeitonas em rodelas)
- fatias = slices
- fatiado = sliced
- picado = finely chopped or diced
- casca = shell or peel
- posta = a cut piece / or slice of meat or fish
- lombos = loins
- costeletas = chops
- lume = fire/heat source in this case
- lume brando = low heat
Verbs
- cozinhar = to cook
- cozer = to bake
- ferver = to boil and/or bring to a boil
- fervilhar = to simmer
- assar = to roast in the oven or on the grill / to broil
- grelhar = to grill
- fritar = to fry
- escalfar = to poach
- estufar = to stew in the oven
- guisar = to stew
- refogar = to brown / to braise
- saltear = to sauté
- aquecer = to warm up / to heat up
- arrefecer = to cool down
- mexer = to stir
- misturar = to mix
- bater = to beat or to whisk
- amassar = to knead
- estender a massa = to roll out pastry
- descascar = to peel / to shell
- dissolver = to dissolve
- deitar = to pour (in this context)
- juntar / adicionar = to add
- retirar = remove
- pôr / colocar = to put or to place
- escorrer = to drain or to strain
- macerar = to macerate
- esmagar = to squash or to crush
- reduzir a puré = to puree or to mash
- picar = to chop very finely or to dice
- fatiar = to slice
- cortar = to cut
- lavar = to wash
- preparar = to prepare
- torrar = to toast
- espalhar = to spread
- salpicar = to splash or sometimes to drizzle
There you have it: Portuguese Cooking / Baking Vocabulary list. Now you’ll never be confused again. If you would like to read and laugh a little about my measuring cups rant, please click here.
Video Lesson – Improve your Portuguese Comprehension
Watch the following comprehensible input lesson at the bakery to improve your comprehension!
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