al dente

Status
Not open for further replies.

ostap77

Key Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
What foods could I have al dente apart from pasta?
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Vegetables.
 

BobK

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 29, 2006
Location
Spencers Wood, near Reading, UK
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
I don't think 'al dente' collocates happily with any foodstuff other than pasta. Possibly an Italian recipe for cooking vegetables for a very short time might use the expression, or people might use it knowing that people will understand it in the pasta context; for example, I might say 'I like my Brussels sprouts al dente'.

b

PS Rover's got a shorter answer, which is probably right. ;-)
 
Last edited:

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I would only use it with pasta. Then again, I don't eat vegetables.
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
I would use it with pasta and rice generally. I would describe vegetables as "still slightly crunchy" or something similar. There is nothing worse than soft/overcooked Brussels sprouts!
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I didn't know there was anything worse than Brussel sprouts, period.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
I didn't know there was anything worse than Brussel sprouts, period.

Ah, well, I'm one of those weirdos who loves them! Steamed for about 4 minutes, no longer. Drizzled with a little butter or olive oil and fresh black pepper. Yum.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
Brussels Sprouts are a noble vegetable.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Ah, well, I'm one of those weirdos who loves them! Steamed for about 4 minutes, no longer. Drizzled with a little butter or olive oil and fresh black pepper. Yum.
You are not alone, ems. I have been known to harvest myself a generous portion of bruckles, bar all methods of access to my flat and boil (I'm a quick boiler rather than a steamer) them secretly. Then, at the right moment, liberally apply the pepper and butter and mmmmmmm! Fresh young broad beans are a close second, but clearly second.
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
How lovely for you all.
(Miss Manners says to say this instead of "You are out of your ever-loving minds.")

However, I'll still make you risotto, and you can have it al dente or mushy, as you choose, if you come to visit. Just don't expect those round green balls to be on the plate.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
How lovely for you all.
(Miss Manners says to say this instead of "You are out of your ever-loving minds.")

However, I'll still make you risotto, and you can have it al dente or mushy, as you choose, if you come to visit. Just don't expect those round green balls to be on the plate.

Thanks, al dente please.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
How lovely for you all.
(Miss Manners says to say this instead of "You are out of your ever-loving minds.")

However, I'll still make you risotto, and you can have it al dente or mushy, as you choose, if you come to visit. Just don't expect those round green balls to be on the plate.

I can honestly say I have never put Brussels sprouts in risotto! And I'll take my risotto and my pasta al dente please (but creamy risotto, not wet).

This thread is making me very hungry.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Just don't expect those round green balls to be on the plate.
I am well known in my part of town for my r.g.b. ;-)
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top