Adzuki beans:

A sweet, reddish-brown bean, popular in Asian recipes.

Agar-agar:

A type of dried seaweed used to thicken liquids and to replace gelatin.

Aloo gobi:

A spicy dish using potatoes, cauliflower, and Indian spices.

Braising:

A cooking method that consists of browning a protein or vegetable and then simmering it in liquid to finish it.

Caponata:

A popular Italian dish made with eggplant and tomato.

Chorizo:

A spicy, Spanish sausage commonly made with pork.

Chutney:

A spicy, fruit-based condiment served in Indian cuisine.

Compote:

A dessert consisting of fresh fruit cooked to a syrup.

Coulis:

A sauce consisting of puréed vegetables or fruits.

Edamame:

Baby soybeans in the pod, often eaten as an appetizer.

Gauge pressure:

The point at which the cooker has achieved full pressure and from which the time in all pressure cooker recipes begin.

Gnocchi:

An Italian pasta shaped like a dumpling and usually made from potatoes.

Interlock:

Safety device in modern pressure cookers that prevents the lid from being opened while internal pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure.

Lemongrass:

A thick, lemon-scented grass often used in Thai cooking.

Maque choux:

A Cajun dish that includes corn and tomato.

Masala:

An Indian curry that often includes cardamom, coriander, pepper, fennel, and nutmeg.

Orzo:

A rice-shaped pasta.

Paella:

A Spanish rice dish seasoned with saffron.

Pilaf:

A cooking technique in which the rice is first sautéed and then simmered in stock.

Plantain:

A starchy, banana-like fruit.

Polenta:

An Italian porridge made from cornmeal.

Quinoa:

A tiny grain, similar to couscous, high in protein and nutrients.

Ratatouille:

A vegetable stew often consisting of tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, squash, and onions.

Relief valve:

A device that allows the release of steam from inside a pressure cooker.

Risotto:

An Italian dish prepared by slowly stirring hot stock into rice.

Sauté:

To fry briefly with a small amount of fat over high heat.

Seitan:

A meat substitute made from wheat gluten.

Succotash:

A vegetable stew made from tomatoes, lima beans, and corn.

Tempeh:

An Indonesian food made from fermented soybeans and fungus.

Tofu:

A cheese-like food made from soybeans.

TVP:

Texturized vegetable protein; a meat substitute, similar to ground beef, made from soybeans.