cebolla
Tearful kitchen staple
Cebolla is Spanish for onion—the pungent bulb vegetable used in cooking worldwide.
In English contexts, it appears on menus, in recipes, and in areas with Spanish influence: The salsa needs more cebolla.
Like its English equivalent, cebolla can suggest something that makes you cry or has many layers.
Onion family plants
- bulbRounded storage organ
- layersStacked levels or coatings
- skinBody's outer layer
- paperyThin and dry-textured
root · sprout · shoot · sets · seedling · perennial · biennial · cultivation
Quick cooking in fat
- caramelizingHeating sugars until browned
- dicingCutting into cubes
- mincingAffectedly delicate in manner
- choppingCutting into pieces
frying · browning · sweating · roasting · grilling · simmering · braising · glazing
Appetizing, not sweet
- umamiFifth taste sensation
- pungentSharply strong-smelling
- sweetTasting of sugar
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
tangy · bitter · mild · caramelized · raw · mellow · rich · earthy
Sharp smell or taste
- sharpnessKeenness of edge, mind, or image
- zingVivid energy or sharpness
- bitePierce with teeth
- acridUnpleasantly sharp-smelling
sulfurous · piquant · eye-watering · fragrant · aromatic · whiff · scent · essence
Emotional tear release
- weepingShedding tears audibly
- stingingCausing sharp pain
- watery eyesExcess moisture in vision
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
burning · lacrimation · sulfur · enzymes · cutting · chopping · goggles · cold water
allium
Onion family plants
papery · root · sprout · shoot · sets · seedling · perennial · biennial · cultivation · harvest
sautéing
Quick cooking in fat
- caramelizingHeating sugars until browned
- dicingCutting into cubes
- mincingAffectedly delicate in manner
chopping · frying · browning · sweating · roasting · grilling · simmering · braising · glazing · sofrito
savory
Appetizing, not sweet
sharp · tangy · bitter · mild · caramelized · raw · mellow · rich · earthy · sulfurous
pungency
Sharp smell or taste
acrid · sulfurous · piquant · eye-watering · fragrant · aromatic · whiff · scent · essence · raw
crying
Emotional tear release
- weepingShedding tears audibly
- stingingCausing sharp pain
- watery eyesExcess moisture in vision
irritation · burning · lacrimation · sulfur · enzymes · cutting · chopping · goggles · cold water · sharp knife