sauté

Definition

To cook food quickly in a shallow pan with a small amount of fat over high heat, achieving that coveted golden-brown crust while keeping the inside tender. It's the cooking technique that makes everything better and is legally required for at least one step in every French recipe. The culinary equivalent of a quick sprint rather than a marathon.

Example Usage

The recipe said to sauté the vegetables, which was chef-speak for 'make them sizzle in butter until they look Instagram-worthy.'

Source: Wiktionary via Free Dictionary API

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