Xanthan Gum - Produced from the fermentation of corn sugar. It is most commonly used as a stabilizer, emulsifier and thickener in foods such as yogurt, sour cream and salad dressings.
Xoconostle - [Spanish] acidy, green prickly pear.
XXX; XXXX - Label symbols used for confectioners’ (powdered) sugar.
Yakitori - A Japanese dish of grilled skewered chicken. They may also include vegetables, chicken livers, or ginkgo nuts. They are first marinated in teriyaki sauce, a sweetened version of soy sauce with the addition of sake, honey and ginger.
Yam - Sweet root vegetable similar in appearance to the sweet potato, but with pointed ends and a subdued yellow-orange color; a darker variety called yampee or cush-cush grows in the Southern United States and Mexico and produces clusters of smaller, tastier yams; often candied; should be firm, unwithered and unblemished when purchased. The true yam, also called name, is not the same as a sweet potato (although since there are hundreds of species, some are similar). It is very bland and, when cooked, very, very dry.
Yautia - [Spanish] sweet potato
Yeast - A living organism used in the production of bread and beer. Yeast, in the environment of sugar, produces carbon dioxide and alcohol. This process is called fermentation. Bread yeast comes in dry granulated and fresh cakes. A new form of yeast, called instant yeast, has been developed which allows the user to mix the yeast directly into the flour without dissolving it first in water.
Yema - [Spanish] yolk.
Yerba - [Spanish] herb.
Yerba buena - [Spanish] good herb; wild mint; cilantro is an acceptable substitute.
Yogurt - A thick, custard-like, mildly acid preparation. Usually made by fermenting partly skim or skim milk with a special culture. Fruit of other flavorings may be added. In the Middle East it is served as a sauce with meat, fruit and vegetables.
Yorkshire pudding - A baked batter of flour, milk and eggs, commonly with the addition of meat juices.
Yuca - [Spanish] cassava; manioc; dark-skinned fleshy starchy root of a tropical plant used in many Hispanic dishes; soft white flesh; cooked and mashed for side dishes, sweetened and fried for desserts or cooked into soups and stews to serve as a thickener; can also be thinly sliced and fried into chips; it is the root from which tapioca is made.
Yucca - Plant native to Latin America and the Southwest; petals, fruit and root can all be eaten; root is also used as a thickener for soups and stews.
Zabaglione - An Italian custard made with egg yolks and wine or juices, which are beaten vigorously over hot water to form a rich, creamy dessert. The custard can then be poured into glasses and chilled to be
eaten later, or eaten warm with fresh fruit. Marsala is the most common
wine used, though any sweet wine such as Madeira, Champagne, or Sauterne may be used.
Zakuski - The Russian version of tapas involving a lot of food and vodka.
Zampone - A specialty of the town of Modena in northern Italy, this consists of a hollowed and stuffed pig trotter which is poached and served as a part of a traditional Bollito Misto.
Zanahoria - [Spanish] carrot.
Zartar Blend - From Lebanon. Find in Middle Eastern markets. A blend of zaatar (a marjoramlike herb), sumac bark and chick peas or sesame seeds. Common in foods from the Middle East.
Zarzamora - [Spanish] wild blackberry.
Zest - Grated rind of a citrus peel, used as a flavoring.
Zester - Small tool for scraping off zest.
Zingara - A sauce made with white wine, meat glaze, mushrooms, ham and tongue, finely chopped and peppered.
Zita - Wide tubular macaroni.
Zucca - [Italian] squash.
Zucchini -The fastest growing of the summer fruits, treated as a vegetable in our kitchens. Look for very firm specimens.
Zuccotto - This is an Italian form of Charlotte Royale. In this dessert, triangles of sponge cake are placed in a bowl to form a shell for the filling. The filling consists of stiffly whipped cream which is studded with toasted almonds, hazelnuts, chocolate chips and candied fruit. A final layer of cake is placed over this, and when well set, the dessert is inverted onto a platter to form a large dome, reminiscent of Florence Duomo.
Zunge - [German] tongue.
Zuppa - [Italian] soup.
Zuppa Inglese - A refrigerated dessert similar to the British favorite, trifle (Tipsy cake or Tipsy pudding). It is made with rum sprinkled slices of sponge cake layered with a rich custard or whipped cream (or both) and candied fruit or toasted almonds (or both).
Zwieback - A sweet, dry toast - also known as rusks.