sautéed
Tossed in butter
Sautéed describes food that has been cooked quickly in a small amount of fat over high heat, typically in a shallow pan: sautéed mushrooms, sautéed spinach with garlic.
The technique keeps ingredients moving in the pan—the French word means "jumped." Past tense of sauté, but often functions as a standalone adjective on menus and in recipes.
Soft or sore
- caramelizedBrowned through sugar heating
- brownedCooked until darker
- goldenBright yellow, or precious
- wiltedLimp from dehydration
glazed · silky · softened · translucent · fragrant · coated · glistening · seasoned
Pungent culinary bulb
- onionsPungent layered cooking bulbs
- mushroomsSpore-bearing fruiting bodies
- peppersSeasons or bombards repeatedly
- shallotsMild clustered cooking bulbs
zucchini · spinach · shrimp · chicken · scallops · kale · asparagus · green beans
Shallow pan for frying
- olive oilFruit-pressed culinary fat
- butterSolid fat from cream
- spatulaFlat-bladed kitchen tool
- tossedThrew lightly
deglaze · quick-cooking · sear · flambé · wok · nonstick · shallow-fry · swirl
tender
Soft or sore
- caramelizedBrowned through sugar heating
- brownedCooked until darker
- goldenBright yellow, or precious
wilted · glazed · silky · softened · translucent · fragrant · coated · glistening · seasoned · blistered
garlic
Pungent culinary bulb
- onionsPungent layered cooking bulbs
- mushroomsSpore-bearing fruiting bodies
- peppersSeasons or bombards repeatedly
shallots · zucchini · spinach · shrimp · chicken · scallops · kale · asparagus · green beans · bok choy
skillet
Shallow pan for frying
tossed · deglaze · quick-cooking · sear · flambé · wok · nonstick · shallow-fry · swirl · flip
garlic
Pungent culinary bulb
herbs · thyme · rosemary · basil · oregano · parsley · sage · cumin · paprika · coriander
sizzling
Hissing from heat
bubbling · hot · smoking · fragrant · hissing · popping · browning · crisping