Latest / Learn Spanish with Fexingo / Spanish Cooking Basics - Seasoning & Salt
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to another episode of Learn Spanish with Fexingo. Luna: Hey everyone! I am so ready for this one because my cooking skills are... well, let's just say they need a lot of help. Lucas: That is why we are here, Luna. To turn that chaos into something delicious. Luna: Exactly. Last week we talked about washing and drying clothes, which was very necessary but not exactly fun. Lucas: True. But today? Today is about flavor. We are staying in the kitchen, but moving from laundry to seasoning. Luna: Oh, yes. Because usually when I cook, I just throw everything in and hope for the best. Lucas: I know that feeling. It is called 'hoping'. But in Spanish, there are specific ways to ask for seasoning. Luna: Like what? Like saying 'more salt'? Lucas: Well, yes, but let us be precise. The first phrase is: Añadir sal. Luna: Añadir sal. Lucas: Add salt. Let me say it slowly: Añadir sal.... Añadir sal. Luna: Añadir sal. That sounds like adding salt. Lucas: Exactly. It is a polite way to ask someone to put salt on the table or in the dish. Luna: Okay, I can do that. Add salt. Simple. Lucas: But sometimes you want more than just salt. You want to adjust the whole flavor profile. Luna: Yes! When I make soup, I never know if it needs more spice or more herbs. Lucas: Then you use the next phrase: Sazonar al gusto. Luna: Sazonar al gusto. Lucas: Season to taste. Let me repeat: Sazonar al gusto.... Sazonar al gusto. Luna: Sazonar al gusto. Oh, I love that one. It means you decide how much you like it. Lucas: Right. It gives you control. If you are at a restaurant, the chef might ask if you want to season to taste. Luna: Or if you are cooking together, you tell your partner to season to taste. Lucas: Precisely. But before you season, you must check the flavor. Luna: Oh, right. Tasting is key. What is the phrase for that? Lucas: Probar la salsa. Luna: Probar la salsa. Lucas: Taste the sauce. Let me say it slowly: Probar la salsa.... Probar la salsa. Luna: Probar la salsa. It feels like I am testing a secret recipe. Lucas: It is important. You cannot fix it if you do not taste it first. Luna: I have burned many things by not tasting them enough. Lucas: We will get better. Now, what if you want pepper instead of salt? Luna: Pimienta? Is it Poner pimienta? Lucas: You guessed it. Poner pimienta. Luna: Poner pimienta. Lucas: Put pepper. Slowly: Poner pimienta.... Poner pimienta. Luna: Poner pimienta. Okay, I have salt, pepper, and now I need something fresh. Lucas: Ah, lemon. In Spanish cuisine, lemon is very common. The phrase is: Echar un toque de limón. Luna: Echar un toque de limón. Lucas: Squeeze a touch of lemon. Let me repeat: Echar un toque de limón.... Echar un toque de limón. Luna: Echar un toque de limón. That sounds so fancy. Like I am a chef. Lucas: You are becoming one. Let us review all five phrases quickly. Luna: Ready. Lucas: First: Añadir sal. Luna: Añadir sal. Lucas: Second: Sazonar al gusto. Luna: Sazonar al gusto. Lucas: Third: Probar la salsa. Luna: Probar la salsa. Lucas: Fourth: Poner pimienta. Luna: Poner pimienta. Lucas: And fifth: Echar un toque de limón. Luna: Echar un toque de limón. Lucas: Perfect. These are the tools you need to make any dish shine. Luna: I feel confident. Well, mostly confident. Lucas: Before we go, I want to mention something important about our show. Luna: Sure. Lucas: We deliberately don't run ads on these episodes. It keeps the learning clean and focused. Luna: Yeah, it really does feel different without interruptions. Lucas: If you want to support that choice, the link is buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: Thanks for supporting the ad-free mission. Lucas: Now, let us imagine you are making a simple pasta sauce. Luna: Okay, I am stirring the pot. Lucas: You taste it. What do you say? Luna: Probar la salsa... hmm, it needs more flavor. Lucas: So you ask your partner: ¿Puedes añadir sal? Luna: Sí, claro. Ahora sazonar al gusto con las hierbas. Lucas: Good. And finish it off? Luna: Echar un toque de limón. Lucas: Delicious. You are using the phrases naturally. Luna: It is easier than I thought. Just remember the verbs: añadir, poner, echar. Lucas: Exactly. They all mean to add or put, depending on the context. Luna: And probar is always for checking. Lucas: Always. Practice these tonight. Make a simple dish and speak out loud. Luna: I will try. Hopefully, I do not burn the kitchen down. Lucas: We will be there with you. Every step of the way. Luna: Thanks, Lucas. Thanks everyone for listening. Lucas: See you next time.