Ingredients
Ingredient guides, substitutions, and notes — organized and easy to search.
Hot Dogs
Juicy, smoky, and satisfying, hot dogs are the quintessential comfort food, offering a savory snap with every bite.
Hot Sauce
A fiery blend of chilies, vinegar, and spices, hot sauce brings a bold kick to any dish. Its vibrant hue and tangy aroma promise an explosion of flavor.
Hummus
A creamy, dreamy blend of chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic, hummus is a Middle Eastern delight that dances on your palate with every velvety spoonful.
Iceberg Lettuce
Iceberg lettuce is a crisp, pale green lettuce known for its tightly packed leaves and refreshing crunch. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor and is often used as a base for salads.
Imitation Crab Meat
Imitation crab meat is a seafood product crafted primarily from surimi, a paste made from white fish such as pollock or escolar. Its origin traces back to Japan, where it was developed as an affordable alternative to real crab. This product offers a mild, slightly sweet flavor reminiscent of real crab, though less complex. Its texture is smooth and tender, designed to mimic the flakiness of actual crab meat. In cooking, imitation crab meat holds its shape well and absorbs surrounding flavors, making it versatile for a variety of dishes. It is commonly used in sushi, salads, and seafood cocktails, where its neutral taste allows it to blend seamlessly with other ingredients.
Imitation Crab Sticks
Imitation crab sticks offer a mild, sweet flavor reminiscent of real crab, with a delicate, flaky texture that's surprisingly satisfying. Crafted from surimi, a versatile fish paste, these sticks are a budget-friendly seafood option that brings the taste of the ocean to your table.
Instant Ramen Noodles
Those iconic, quick-cooking noodles that come to life in a swirl of hot water, offering a symphony of salty, savory comfort with every slurp.
Instant Rice
Instant rice is a pre-cooked grain that promises convenience without sacrificing the comforting aroma and fluffy texture of freshly made rice. With just a quick rinse, a splash of water, and a moment in the microwave, it transforms into a soft, pillowy side that’s ready to soak up the flavors of your favorite dishes.
Instant Yeast
A fine, fast-acting yeast that brings bread dough to life with a whisper of magic. It dissolves quickly into your flour, releasing airy bubbles that transform simple ingredients into golden, crusty loaves.
Italian Dressing
A tangy, herby blend of olive oil, red wine vinegar, and a medley of aromatic herbs like oregano, basil, and garlic. This zesty dressing brings a burst of flavor to any dish.
Italian Flat-Leaf Parsley
Italian flat-leaf parsley, known scientifically as Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum, is a popular culinary herb distinguished by its vibrant green, flat leaves. Originating from the Mediterranean region, it has been a staple in Italian and European cuisines for centuries. Its flavor is robust and slightly peppery, with a fresh, grassy aroma that enhances a variety of dishes without overpowering them. Unlike its curly-leaf counterpart, flat-leaf parsley boasts a more assertive taste and a tender yet sturdy texture that withstands cooking well. In culinary applications, it maintains its color and flavor when used fresh or cooked, making it ideal for both garnishing and integrating into recipes where it can infuse dishes with its distinctive taste.
Italian Pepperoni
Italian pepperoni is a type of cured sausage that is beloved in Italian-American cuisine. Originating from southern Italy, it has been adapted and popularized in the United States. Its flavor profile is characterized by a bold spiciness, with hints of garlic and fennel, offering a robust and savory taste. The texture is firm yet slightly chewy, with a satisfying snap when bitten into. In cooking, Italian pepperoni is versatile; it can be sliced thin for pizzas, diced for pasta dishes, or enjoyed on its own as an appetizer. Its high fat content allows it to render flavorful oils when cooked, enhancing the dishes it is included in.
Italian Sausage Links
Savory and aromatic, Italian sausage links are a flavorful staple in many dishes. With their perfectly seasoned pork encased in a natural casing, they offer a juicy and robust taste that's both comforting and invigorating.
Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs
Golden and fragrant, Italian seasoned breadcrumbs are a delightful blend of toasted breadcrumbs and classic Italian herbs like parsley, oregano, and basil. Their savory aroma and crunchy texture add a rustic charm to any dish.
Italian Seasoning
A fragrant blend of dried herbs commonly used in Italian cuisine, typically including basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram.
Jasmine Rice
A fragrant long-grain rice with a delicate floral aroma and soft, slightly sticky texture when cooked, hailing from Thailand.
Jerk Seasoning
Jerk seasoning is a fiery blend of spices with a complex flavor profile that combines smoky heat with earthy notes of allspice and thyme. Its aroma is robust and aromatic, hinting at hints of citrus and garlic. The texture is a fine powder that clings well to meats, creating a flavorful crust when grilled. Originating from Jamaica, this seasoning is a cornerstone of Caribbean cuisine, prized for its ability to transform simple dishes into bold, flavorful feasts.
Kale
Kale is a leafy green vegetable known for its nutritional benefits, including high levels of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as antioxidants. Its sturdy leaves have a slightly bitter, earthy flavor.
Kefir
Kefir is a fermented milk drink that originated in the Caucasus Mountains, where it has been consumed for centuries. It is made by inoculating cow, goat, or sheep milk with kefir grains, a combination of bacteria and yeast. The resulting beverage has a tangy, slightly sour flavor with a refreshing effervescence. Its texture is creamy and smooth, akin to drinkable yogurt, though often less thick. In cooking, kefir behaves similarly to yogurt; it can add a tangy depth to dishes, tenderize proteins when used in marinades, and contribute to the rise of baked goods due to its acidity. Its live cultures also make it a probiotic powerhouse, beneficial for gut health.
Ketchup
A tangy, sweet, and slightly smoky condiment that brings a burst of flavor to countless dishes. Its vibrant red hue and smooth texture make it a pantry staple for many.
Kewpie Mayonnaise
Kewpie Mayonnaise is a Japanese brand of mayonnaise that stands out for its unique formulation and flavor profile. Originating from Japan in the early 20th century, it is made with rice vinegar, egg yolks, and soybean oil, giving it a distinctive tangy and slightly sweet taste compared to Western mayonnaise. The texture is notably smoother and creamier, making it exceptionally easy to spread and blend into dishes. Its emulsification is more stable, meaning it holds up well in both hot and cold dishes without breaking down. This mayonnaise is prized for its ability to enhance the flavor of foods without overwhelming them, making it a staple in Japanese cuisine and increasingly popular worldwide.
Kimchi
Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish made primarily from fermented vegetables, most commonly napa cabbage and Korean radishes. Originating in Korea, it has become a staple in Korean cuisine, with a history dating back centuries. The flavor profile of kimchi is complex, featuring a tangy, spicy, and slightly sour taste due to the fermentation process, often enhanced by the addition of chili pepper, garlic, ginger, and jeotgal (fermented seafood). Its texture is crunchy yet softened by fermentation, offering a satisfying mouthfeel. In cooking, kimchi adds depth of flavor and a unique tanginess to dishes. It can be used fresh or cooked, and its fermentation qualities allow it to improve with age, developing even richer flavors over time.
Kiwi
The kiwi, scientifically known as Actinidia deliciosa, is a small, fuzzy, brown fruit originating from China, though it is most commonly associated with New Zealand, where it was first commercially cultivated. Its vibrant green flesh is dotted with tiny black seeds and is both juicy and tender, offering a unique flavor profile that is simultaneously sweet and tangy with a hint of tropical complexity. The texture is smooth and soft, yet with a slight firmness that holds up well in both fresh and cooked preparations. In cooking, kiwis are versatile: they can be eaten raw, blended into smoothies, or used as a garnish. They also contain an enzyme called actinidin, which can tenderize meat when used in marinades but may interfere with gelatin setting in desserts.
Kosher Salt
Kosher salt is a coarse-grained salt commonly used in cooking and koshering meats. Its larger flakes dissolve easily, providing even seasoning without clumping.