Cookbook:International Food Terms
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The following international food terms may be useful when reading about food and recipes from different countries.
See also:
| US | Canada | UK | Australia |
| Dairy, Eggs & Meat | |||
| whole milk | homogenized or 3% milk | full fat milk | full-cream milk |
| skim or fatfree or nonfat milk | skimmed milk, skim milk, or 1% milk | skimmed milk | skim milk |
| 2% milk | 2% milk | semi-skimmed milk | Light or Lite milk |
| large egg | large egg | medium egg | 67gm |
| ground meat | ground or minced meat | mince or minced meat | mince |
| Produce/Vegetables | |||
| scallion | green onion | spring onion | spring onion |
| zucchini | zucchini | courgette | zucchini |
| squash | squash | marrow or squash - marrow specifically refers to a large green elongated squash with white flesh | squash |
| eggplant | eggplant | aubergine | eggplant |
| garbanzo or chickpea | chickpea | chickpea | chickpea |
| navy beans | haricots | haricot beans | navy beans |
| spinach | spinach | spinach | English spinach |
| chard | chard | silverbeet or chard ? | silverbeet or spinach |
| bell peppers | bell peppers/peppers | peppers | capsicum |
| Prepared Foods | |||
| pickle | pickle (gherkin refers specifically to a 'dwarf' pickle) | gherkin | gherkin |
| chutney | ???? | chutney | Chutney |
| bouillon | stock cube | stock cube | stock cube |
| fries | French fries, fries, or chips, depending on region. | chips | chips or French fries (Note) |
| chips | chips or potato chips | crisps | chips |
| crisps | apple crisp or apple crumble | apple crumble | apple crumble |
| ketchup or catsup | ketchup | tomato ketchup or tomato sauce | tomato sauce |
| Baking and Baked Goods | |||
| bread flour | bread flour | strong flour | bread flour |
| all-purpose flour | all-purpose flour | plain flour | plain flour |
| self-rising flour | ???? | self-raising flour | self-raising flour |
| cornstarch | cornstarch | cornflour | corn flour (note) |
| golden raisins | sultanas | sultanas | sultanas |
| cane syrup | ???? | golden syrup/light treacle | Golden Syrup |
| molasses | molasses | black treacle | molasses or treacle |
| powdered or confectioners sugar | icing or confectionery sugar | icing sugar | icing sugar |
| superfine sugar | ???? | caster sugar | caster sugar |
| popover | Yorkshire pudding | Yorkshire pudding | ???? |
| a raisin-studded pudding | ???? | spotted dick | ???? |
| Drinks | |||
| lemonade | lemonade | old-fashioned or cloudy lemonade | traditional lemonade |
| soda, soda pop, coke, or soft drink | pop | soft drink or fizzy drink | soft drink or lolly water |
| clear lemon soda (e.g Sprite) | lemon or lemon-lime drink | lemonade | lemonade |
| fruit drink concentrate | fruit concentrate | squash | cordial |
| Sweets | |||
| dessert | dessert | pudding | pudding |
| pudding | pudding | creamy dessert | pudding |
| Jell-o, Jello, or jello | Jell-o, Jello, or jello | jelly | jelly |
| cookie | cookie (unless referring to tea biscuits, for example) | biscuit | biscuit |
| graham cracker | Graham cracker or digestive biscuit (Note) | digestive biscuit (Note) | digestive biscuit |
| Techniques | |||
| broiling | grilling | grilling | grilling |
Digestive Biscuits and Graham Crackers
[edit | edit source]These two items are fairly different, but are used similarly (e.g. to make crumb crusts for a cheesecake). Graham crackers are sweeter, and are available in different flavors, e.g. cinnamon, chocolate. Digestive biscuits are richer, and while slightly sweet, are often used eaten with cheese. They are also available coated on one side with milk or dark chocolate.
Chips and French Fries (Australia)
[edit | edit source]In Australia, the term "chips" is generally used, but the term "French fries" is used to describe very finely cut chips (about 1/5" across.)
Cornflour (Australia)
[edit | edit source]In Australia (and New Zealand?), cornflour is frequently made from wheat. FSANZ regulations require such cornflour to declare that it contains wheat and gluten, and it is usually described as wheaten cornflour. There are some brands of cornflour that are made from maize, however.