Describe a famous food item – IELTS Cue Card

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Sample Answer 1

Food has become a lifeline, a common connection for everybody on the Indian subcontinent, which is blessed with diversity in terms of people, culture, and traditions. Delhi is a melting pot of diverse ethnicities and races, which adds to the city’s gastronomic diversity. Delhi is full of gastronomic wonders, from Chandni Chowk to Majnu ka Tilla. One famous cuisine which originated in Delhi is butter chicken.

There is a fascinating tale about the origins of one of the world’s most delicious foods. It began in the 1950s in the Moti Mahal Restaurant in Daryaganj, a district on the outskirts of the Walled City. The chefs at this restaurant, known for its Tandoori Chicken, accidentally mixed the sauce, which consisted of butter, tomato, and chicken fluids, with tandoori chicken pieces, and created the world’s famous butter chicken.

Chicken is marinated for several hours in lemon juice, yogurt, Kashmiri red chili, salt, garam masala, ginger paste, and garlic paste. The marinated chicken is cooked in a tandoor (traditional clay oven) but can be grilled, roasted, or pan-fried. It is served in a mild curry sauce that includes butter. The sauce is a tomato, garlic, and ginger-based sauce that is simmered until smooth and much of the water has evaporated. There are many variations in the composition and spicing of the sauce, which is sieved to be velvety smooth. It includes cardamom, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, coriander, pepper, garam masala, and fenugreek. Cashew paste is used as a thickener, finally garnished with coriander.

This meal is served with rice or naan and can be found in practically every non-vegetarian restaurant and Dhaba today. It has become popular due to its combination of Mughlai cuisine and flavourful Indian curry that can be relished with any side dish. Not only restaurants but people prepare and serve this dish on festive occasions and family gatherings and relish its mouth-watering taste.

Sample Answer 2

Every nation has its own food culture and history. Any occasion is incomplete without food dishes to celebrate with. The cuisine in Dubai still feels, looks, smells and tastes exotic. It is a city of diverse flavours, ingredients, and spices. Here, I would like to talk about one such food, one of Dubai’s most popular signature desserts, Kunafa. It is popularly known as the queen of Arabic desserts. Kunafa is a dessert made with shredded filo pastry soaked in syrup and layered with lots of cheese. With the essence of rose-scented syrup and chopped pistachios sprinkled on the top, it’s one of Dubai’s traditional & famous foods and a popular favourite of everyone in the city. The preparation of this incredible Middle Eastern dessert varies by region. However, it is always soaked in sugar syrup and topped with nuts. Kunafa is a favourite local dessert usually prepared and served during celebrations and festive occasions like Ramadan, signifying good times. Due to its scrumptious taste, almost everyone is a fan of this dessert. Kunafa is famous for several reasons. Firstly, the dessert is typically layered with loads and loads of cheese. Secondly, Kunafa is topped with loads of blanched pistachios. As a result, just the sight of the crunchy, golden, honey-glazed, cheesy delight satisfies those with a sweet tooth.

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Vocabulary

1. Signature dish

• Meaning: a food item that identifies an individual chef or a restaurant.
  Eg: Chocolate Cheesecake is the signature dish at the New Bakery. 

2. Sprinkle 

• Meaning: cover (an object or surface) with tiny drops or particles of a substance. 
  Eg: She sprinkled some chocolate chips in the chocolate Milkshake. 

3. Signify

• Meaning: Be an indication of 
  Eg: My sister and I gifted our grandmother a beautiful watch to signify our love for her. 

4. Scrumptious 

• Meaning: (of food) extremely tasty, delicious 
  Eg: The new restaurant down the street serves the most scrumptious Patties. 

5. Sweet tooth

• Meaning: a great liking for sweet-tasting foods 
  Eg: The chocolate cake has been specially baked for those with a sweet tooth. 

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