Lobster is a seafood delicacy served both in fine dining establishments and in classic backyard cookouts, demonstrating the diversity of this particular crustacean dish. Served boiled or steamed within their shell, lobsters are often caught and cooked within the same day in order to maintain their edibility as much as possible. Like most other forms of seafood, if lobster is ...

Nutritional yeast, otherwise referred to as “nooch”, is a somewhat popular addition to many dishes owing to its vegan nature as well as the ease of using it. With a cheesy and nutty flavor, nutritional yeast is often used to flavor popcorn or vegan dishes that require a distinct savory dairy product flavor without a dairy-like texture. Apart from its ...

The term peanut refers to the edible seed produced by a certain species of legume crop, specifically cultivated and harvested for the very purpose. Being one of the most commonly purchased nut products, peanuts are a mainstay in many pantries as a standalone snack, blended into a spread, or even used as a topping. Because of their relatively small size, ...

The term Grits refers to an oatmeal-like dish popular in the southern states of America. Produced from ground and mashed corn that has been dried beforehand, grits are known for being relatively cheap to purchase and easy to make, oftentimes even more so than oatmeal itself. Much like oatmeal as well, grits can be seasoned with a variety of different ...

Popularized by the world-wide phenomenon of boba milk tea, boba pearls (also known as tapioca pearls) are steamed or boiled balls of tapioca starch, a glutinous mixture produced from the cassava plant1.  With a chewy texture and otherwise slightly sweet yet neutral flavor, boba is primarily used in desserts that require a textural addition. If not shaped into balls, tapioca ...

The term truffle in a culinary sense refers to the outgrowth of a certain taxonomic subgroup of fungal species called Ascomycota. Truffle is highly regarded as a luxurious and extravagant addition to any dish it is found in, of which are far too many to list. Truffles present an extremely unique and specific flavor that is difficult to describe without ...

The term lentil refers to a variety of differently colored seeds that are actually simple variations of the same botanical species. Popular throughout most of the world, lentils are most utilized in Indian cuisine, wherein it acts as a staple much like bread or rice. Lentils are cooked in a plethora of ways, from mashing and stewing to forming the ...

Sesame seeds, fittingly, refer to the seed pods produced by the sesame, a flowering African plant cultivated for its oil and oilseeds dating back to over three thousand years ago. With a unique and subtle nutty flavor, sesame seeds are either pressed in order to make use of their oil or are added whole to various dishes and seasonings1. Because ...

Kale is a close genetic cousin of the world-widely cultivated cabbage. With a green and leafy appearance much like cabbage itself, kale recently underwent a cultural renaissance as various health blogs and chefs began using it for its impressive nutritional value1. Much like cabbage, the vast majority of kale is made up of water, and as such it is quite ...

Apple sauce is a blended or mashed sauce fittingly made of apples and several additives that may contribute to their shelf-life. Popular and relatively cheap throughout much of the western world, apple sauce is often purchased in family-size containers at local grocery chains and markets. With a pureed texture and a tart-sweet taste, apple sauce is often packaged and advertised ...