sweating

Definition

Gently cooking vegetables over low heat until they release moisture and soften without browning, building flavor foundations for soups and sauces. The aromatic slow dance that makes your kitchen smell amazing.

Example Usage

Sweat the shallots in butter until they're translucent and fragrant, about five minutes.

Origin

Descriptive culinary term referring to the visible moisture released by vegetables during gentle cooking

Fun Fact

The key to proper sweating is low heat and patience—crank up the temperature and you're sautéing or frying, which creates entirely different flavors.

Source: Fundamental culinary technique terminology

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