Cooking and recipes

Kitchen vocabulary, instructions and recipes

Goal: Follow and give cooking instructions: ingredients, quantities and steps.

Context

Listen to the dialogue. Tap the speaker to hear each line.

Chef

Hoy vamos a preparar ceviche peruano.

Today we are going to prepare Peruvian ceviche.

Estudiante

¿Qué ingredientes necesitamos?

What ingredients do we need?

Chef

Pescado fresco, limón, cebolla morada, cilantro y ají.

Fresh fish, lime, red onion, cilantro and chili.

Estudiante

¿En qué orden se agregan?

In what order are they added?

Chef

Primero corta el pescado en cubos pequeños. Luego mézclalo con el jugo de limón.

First cut the fish into small cubes. Then mix it with the lime juice.

Chef

Después agrega la cebolla y el cilantro, y deja reposar diez minutos.

Then add the onion and the cilantro, and let it rest for ten minutes.

Estudiante

¡Perfecto! ¿Se sirve frío?

Perfect! Is it served cold?

Chef

Sí, sírvelo frío con camote y maíz.

Yes, serve it cold with sweet potato and corn.

Practice the dialogue

Choose a role. You'll hear my line and then record yours, automatically, turn by turn.

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Vocabulary

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cocinar

Me gusta cocinar los domingos.

'El cocinero/la cocinera' = the cook.

to cook

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el ingrediente

Mezcla todos los ingredientes.

'Los ingredientes' plural.

the ingredient

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cortar

Corta la cebolla en trozos.

Command: corta, corte, corten.

to cut

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mezclar

Mezcla el arroz con los vegetales.

'Remover' = to stir.

to mix

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agregar

Agrega sal al gusto.

Synonyms: añadir, echar.

to add

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la receta

Esta receta es de mi abuela.

'Seguir una receta' = to follow a recipe.

the recipe

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el fuego

Cocina a fuego lento.

'A fuego lento' = on low heat.

the heat / fire

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hervir

Deja hervir el agua.

e→ie: hierve.

to boil

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freír

Fríe las papas hasta que estén doradas.

Past participle: frito/freído.

to fry

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el sabor

El ceviche tiene un sabor fresco.

'Sabroso' = tasty.

the flavor

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Grammar in 1 minute

Commands (tú): corta, mezcla, agrega

Cooking instructions use the tú command: corta, mezcla, agrega, deja, sirve. For -ar verbs the command is -a (corta); for -er/-ir it is -e (hierve, sirve). Direct pronouns attach: mézclalo, sírvelo.

Corta el pescado. Mézclalo con limón. Déjalo reposar.

Pronoun attaches and adds stress: mézclalo, sírvelo, déjalo.

First, then, finally: primero, luego, después

Sequence connectors: primero (first), luego/después (then), finalmente (finally), al final (at the end). They structure recipes and stories.

Primero corta el pescado. Luego agrega la cebolla. Finalmente, deja reposar.

'Después de + infinitive': después de cortar, mezcla.

Interactive practice

Each exercise is checked instantly. You need an account to save your progress.

What is the first step?

Listen and choose the correct option.

listening

What is the first step?

Cocina a fuego … durante veinte minutos.

Write the missing word or words.

writing

Cocina a fuego durante veinte minutos.

Accents optional: write "como estas" and it works.

matching

Connect each Spanish word with its English meaning.

reading

Write a cooking instruction: cut the onion, mix it with the…

Write your answer in Spanish.

writing

Write a cooking instruction: cut the onion, mix it with the eggs, and fry it.

Suggested answer: Corta la cebolla, mézclala con los huevos y fríela.

Primero corta el pescado en cubos pequeños.

Listen and repeat the sentence out loud.

speaking

Primero corta el pescado en cubos pequeños.

First cut the fish into small cubes.

Listen, pause and repeat out loud. Repeat 3 times until it sounds natural.

Great. Repeat tomorrow to lock it in.

Pronunciation trainer

Final quiz

Score 70% or more to unlock the next lesson. You can retake it as many times as you want; your best score is saved.