Cooking & Markets

1. Podería ensinarme a facer polbo á feira?

   Could you teach me how to make pulpo a feira?

   Usage

   Use to ask a local or a cooking teacher to show you the famous octopus dish

   Grammar Note

   "Polbo" is octopus (not Spanish "pulpo"). The dish name "polbo á feira" means fair-style octopus. "Ensinar" means to teach or to show

2. Que especias se usan neste prato?

   What spices are used in this dish?

   Usage

   Use to ask which spices go into a dish

   Grammar Note

   "Se usan" is the passive-se construction. "Neste" is the contraction en + este

3. Como se fai o caldo galego?

   How is caldo galego made?

   Usage

   Use to ask how the traditional Galician broth is made

   Grammar Note

   "Fai" is the third person of facer (not Spanish "hace"). "Galego" is the Galician spelling, not Spanish "gallego"

4. Onde podo mercar ingredientes frescos?

   Where can I buy fresh ingredients?

   Usage

   Use to find fresh produce at a market or shop

   Grammar Note

   "Mercar" is the natural verb for buying (comprar is also understood). "Frescos" agrees with the plural noun

5. Prefiro cociñar sen glute.

   I prefer to cook gluten-free.

   Usage

   Use to say you cook or eat without gluten

   Grammar Note

   "Sen" means "without"; the same pattern works for "sen leite", "sen azucre" and so on

6. Como se chama este condimento?

   What is this seasoning called?

   Usage

   Use to ask the name of an unfamiliar seasoning

   Grammar Note

   "Chamarse" means to be called. After an interrogative the pronoun "se" goes before the verb

7. Cal é a receita da empanada galega?

   What is the recipe for Galician empanada?

   Usage

   Use to ask for the recipe of the typical Galician pie

   Grammar Note

   "Da" is de + a. "Galega" is the feminine form agreeing with "empanada"

8. Pode amosarme como se corta o peixe?

   Can you show me how to cut the fish?

   Usage

   Use in a cooking class or at a market to see how fish is cut

   Grammar Note

   "Amosar" means to show (mostrar also works). The x in "peixe" is pronounced /ʃ/

9. Gústame moito cociñar pratos galegos.

   I love cooking Galician dishes.

   Usage

   Casual remark in conversation about enjoying cooking

   Grammar Note

   In "gústame" the pronoun attaches to the verb without a hyphen. "Moito" is an adverb here and does not change

10. Os produtos de Galicia son moi bos para cociñar.

    Galician products are very good for cooking.

    Usage

    Casual way to praise local ingredients

    Grammar Note

    "Moi" goes before adjectives, "moito" with verbs and nouns. "Bos" is the masculine plural of "bo"

11. o sal

    Salt

    Usage

    Ask for salt, or say "sen sal" to ask for none

12. o azucre

    Sugar

    Usage

    Ask for sugar, or say "sen azucre" to ask for none

13. a pementa negra

    Black pepper

    Usage

    Ask for black pepper; "pementa" here means the peppercorn spice

14. o aceite

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    General word for cooking oil; olive oil is "aceite de oliva"

15. o vinagre

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Word for vinegar, e.g. when asking for dressing for a salad

16. a manteiga

    Butter

    Usage

    Word for butter, for example when asking for some with bread

17. o queixo

    Cheese

    Usage

    Word for cheese; Galicia is known for "queixo de tetilla"

18. o mel

    Honey

    Usage

    Word for honey; "mel" is masculine

19. o allo

    Garlic

    Usage

    Word for garlic; spelled differently from Spanish "ajo"

20. a cebola

    Onion

    Usage

    Word for onion; written with a single l, not ll

21. o ovo

    Egg

    Usage

    Word for egg; the plural is "ovos"

22. a fariña

    Flour

    Usage

    Word for flour; "fariña" is feminine

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