A hot, thin, spicy orangy red sauce made from vinegar and red chilli peppers.

A Mexican corn pancake folded with a filling and fried until crisp. The shells can be found raw, still to be fried or ready- made and need just a little heating.

Perenial green, aromatic herb with a flavour that is both minty and licorice like. There are two variants of tarragon: French and Russian tarragon. The latter is more bland while the former more distinctive and flavoursome. French dried tarragon together with fresh Russian tarragon make an excellent combination for dishes. In South Africa, the Russian variety is usually available.

An aromatic herb with tiny brownish-green leaves. It is available fresh or dried. There are many varieties of thyme which include wild (from Mediterranean regions), lemon and variegated thyme.

This fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. They are available fresh, canned and puréed. There are many varieties that range in size and flavour. Including plum, baby plum, sun-dried, cherry and vine-ripened tomatoes.

Ox, calf and lamb tongues are available fresh, canned or salted (usually lamb's). They make excellent cold meats.

A bread originally made in Mexico, but can be found in many other coutries today. It is a thin, flat bread made with cornmeal, from white corn called "Masa". Tortillas are cooked on a griddle and are quite soft in texture. If they're cooked for longer they brown and go crisp, another way of serving them. Although Masa is not readily or commercially available in South Africa, a mixture of mealie meal, corn flour and cake flour can be use to make tortillas.

The stomach of a cow, pig or sheep used as food. It is usually sold specially prepared or cleaned for cooking. Although it is sold blanched, it needs long and slow cooking to become tender.

Fresh water fish with a delicate flavour. Trout is available, fresh or frozen.

Bright yellow to deep gold spice often used in curry. Turmeric has a more bitter taste than saffron. The powder is obtained from the dried root of a plant of the ginger family.