Latest / Learn French with Fexingo / French Cooking Basics: Sear & Deglaze
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn French with Fexingo. Luna: Hey everyone. We are back at the stove. Lucas: We have covered chopping, peeling, whisking, and kneading dough. Luna: Right. But today we actually start cooking the food. Lucas: Yes. The heat is on. We need to sear the meat first. Luna: Oh, I love that part. The sizzling sound. Lucas: So let’s learn the phrase for that action. Luna: I am ready. What do we say? Lucas: It is saisir la viande. Luna: Saisir la viande. Lucas: Good. It means to sear the meat. Luna: Okay. Saisir la viande. Lucas: Let me say it slowly again. Lucas: Saisir.... La viande. Luna: Saisir.... La viande. Lucas: Together now. Luna: Saisir la viande. Lucas: Perfect. That is our first phrase. Luna: I can imagine putting the steak in the hot pan. Lucas: Exactly. You hear the crackle. But be careful. Luna: Oof. Hot oil does not play around. Lucas: Right. So once the meat is browned, we take it out. Luna: And leave the brown bits in the pan. Lucas: Those bits are flavor gold. Luna: They really are. So what happens next? Lucas: We add wine or broth to the empty pan. Luna: To lift those bits up. Lucas: Yes. This process has a specific name. Luna: I think I heard this word before. Lucas: It is déglacer la poêle. Luna: Déglacer la poêle. Lucas: That means to deglaze the pan. Luna: Déglacer la poêle. Lucas: Let’s break it down slowly. Lucas: Déglacer.... La poêle. Luna: Déglacer.... La poêle. Lucas: Very good. Say it together. Luna: Déglacer la poêle. Lucas: Excellent. Now you use a wooden spoon. Luna: To scrape the bottom clean. Lucas: Yes. You need to frotter le fond. Luna: Frotter le fond. Lucas: This means to rub the bottom. Luna: Frotter le fond. Lucas: Let’s try it slowly. Lucas: Frotter.... Le fond. Luna: Frotter.... Le fond. Lucas: Nice. Together. Luna: Frotter le fond. Lucas: You did it. Now the liquid is full of flavor. Luna: It smells amazing already. Lucas: But it is still too thin. Luna: Like water. Not like a sauce. Lucas: So we let it cook down. Luna: Until it gets thick and rich. Lucas: Correct. We faire réduire la sauce. Luna: Faire réduire la sauce. Lucas: This means to reduce the sauce. Luna: Faire réduire la sauce. Lucas: Let’s say it slowly. Lucas: Faire.... Réduire.... La sauce. Luna: Faire.... Réduire.... La sauce. Lucas: Beautiful. All together now. Luna: Faire réduire la sauce. Lucas: There we go. Four phrases. Luna: Let’s review them quickly. Lucas: First, saisir la viande. Luna: To sear the meat. Lucas: Second, déglacer la poêle. Luna: To deglaze the pan. Lucas: Third, frotter le fond. Luna: To rub the bottom. Lucas: And fourth, faire réduire la sauce. Luna: To reduce the sauce. Lucas: Great work. Let’s put it in a scene. Luna: I love scenes. Make it dramatic. Lucas: Okay. The kitchen is quiet. Luna: The pan is smoking slightly. Lucas: I drop the steak in. Luna: I hiss a little. I saisir la viande. Lucas: Then I remove the meat. Luna: I pour in some red wine. Lucas: I déglacer la poêle immediately. Luna: The steam rises up. Lucas: I use my spoon. Luna: I frotter le fond carefully. Lucas: The liquid bubbles loudly. Luna: I wait for it to thicken. Lucas: Now I faire réduire la sauce. Luna: It looks perfect. Lucas: Just like that. Luna: I feel so professional right now. Lucas: You are sounding very professional. Luna: Let’s say the phrases one more time. Lucas: Ready? Start with the meat. Luna: Saisir la viande. Lucas: Next, the wine. Luna: Déglacer la poêle. Lucas: Then the spoon. Luna: Frotter le fond. Lucas: Finally, the finish. Luna: Faire réduire la sauce. Lucas: Wonderful repetition. Luna: My mouth feels tired but happy. Lucas: That is the sign of learning. Luna: Do you think we should eat now? Lucas: Probably. But maybe save the recipe for later. Luna: Deal. I need to practice these first. Lucas: Keep practicing until we chat again. Luna: See you soon. Lucas: Bye for now. Luna: Wait, I want to try one last sentence. Lucas: Go ahead. Luna: Je vais saisir la viande. Lucas: I am going to sear the meat. Luna: Then je vais déglacer la poêle. Lucas: Then I will deglaze the pan. Luna: Et je vais frotter le fond. Lucas: And I will rub the bottom. Luna: Finally, je vais faire réduire la sauce. Lucas: Finally, I will reduce the sauce. Luna: Wow. I made a whole story. Lucas: You really did. Luna: Thanks for guiding me. Lucas: Thanks for listening to Fexingo. Luna: Keep cooking and keep learning. Lucas: See you next time. Luna: Au revoir! Lucas: If Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with this language... Luna: You might know that listener support keeps this show ad-free. Lucas: It allows us to create these small, digestible episodes every week. Luna: If you want to help, you can visit buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo — that's F. E. X. I. N. G. O. Lucas: Even a small gesture helps us keep the kitchen open. Luna: Thanks for being part of our community. Lucas: Let’s get back to the sauce. Luna: The reduction needs more time. Lucas: Patience is key in the kitchen. Luna: And in learning French. Lucas: Exactly. One step at a time. Luna: We will see you in the next episode. Lucas: Don't forget to repeat saisir la viande. Luna: And déglacer la poêle. Lucas: Practice makes permanent. Luna: See you soon.