ch 10
Al dente
"firm to the bite"
mushrooms
shiitake, oyster, enoki, cremini, portobello
Ways to prevent flavor loss
1. Cook for shortest amount of time, 2. Use boiling salted water, 3. use just enough water to cover to minimize leeching. 4. steam veggies whenever appropriate
What makes fiber firmer? (texture)
1.acids- when added to cooking veggies, extend cooking time 2.sugars- strengthens cell structure. mainly used with fruit
What makes fiber softer? (texture)
1.heat-longer cooking=softer veggies 2.alkalis-destroys vitamins but also makes unpleasantly mushy
Anthoxanthins
a type of white or pale yellow pigment in vegetables
Colors for green veggies, acids and alkalis
acids are enemies turn them olive green alkalis make them mushy
Colors for red veggies, acids and alkalis
acids turn them brighter and alkalis turn them blue or blue-green
Other tender-fruited vegetables
avocado, eggplant, sweet and hot peppers, tomato
Seeds and pods
beans, peas, okra,
Roots and tuber
beet, carrot, celery root, parsnip, radish, tunip
Cabbage family
cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi
Standards of quality in cooked vegetables
color, appearance on plate, texture, flavor, seasonings, sauces, vegetables combinations
Pigment
compounds that give vegetables their color
Batch cooking
cooking method, dividing food into batches and cooking them one at a time, as needed, in order to cook them as close as possible to serving time
Gourd family
cucumber, winter and summer squash, pumpkin, chayote
what gives vegetables shape and firmness? (texture)
fiber(pectins and cellulose)
Stalks, stems, and shoots
globe artichoke, asparagus, celery, fennel, fiddlehead ferns
Six factors responsible for most nutrients loss
high temp, long cooking, leaching, alkalis, plant enzymes, oxygen
dry starchy foods (texture)
legumes and macaroni products must be cooked enough water for the granules to absorb and soften.
Colors for orange veggies, acids and alkalis
neither affects them much. longer cooking dulls color
Onion family
onion, scallion, leek, garlic, shallot,
Blanch-and-chill
partially cook, chill, and finish cook foods as needed in order to reduce the amount of time required to cook completely to order
moist vegetables (texture)
potatoes, have enough moisture but must be cooked to soften
Chlorophyll
present in all green plants
Anthocyanins
red or purple pigments in vegetables and fruits
Sieve size
size of individuals pieces, usually of canned vegetables
Leafy greens
spinach, beet greens, lettuces, endive, swiss chard, kale
What ways does cooking affect vegetables?
texture, flavor, color, nutrients
Colors for white veggies, acids and alkalis
white in acid and yellow in alkaline water
Flavonoids
white pigments in vegetables
Caotenoids
yellow and orange pigments