Daily Reading Practice · Beginner passage
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Today, my grandmother teaches me how to cook plov, our favourite Uzbek dishdish (noun)A type of food prepared in a certain way.≈ Synonym: meal🇺🇿UZ: taom🇷🇺RU: блюдо.
“First, wash the rice carefully,” she says. “Don't skipskip (verb)To not do something you usually do.≈ Synonym: miss🇺🇿UZ: o'tkazib yubormoq🇷🇺RU: пропускать this step — it's important.” “OK,” I say, washing the rice in a bowl.
“Now, cut the onions and carrots into thin pieces,” she continues. “Be careful with the knifeknife (noun)A tool with a sharp edge for cutting.≈ Synonym: —🇺🇿UZ: pichoq🇷🇺RU: нож!” I cut the vegetables slowly. “Like this?” I ask.
“Yes, perfect! Now heatheat (verb)To make something warm or hot.≈ Synonym: warm up🇺🇿UZ: qizdirmoq🇷🇺RU: нагревать some oiloil (noun)A thick liquid used for cooking.≈ Synonym: —🇺🇿UZ: yog'🇷🇺RU: масло in a big potpot (noun)A deep round container for cooking.≈ Synonym: —🇺🇿UZ: qozon🇷🇺RU: кастрюля.” I turn on the stove and heat the oil.
“Add the onions first,” she says. “Fryfry (verb)To cook food in hot oil.≈ Synonym: —🇺🇿UZ: qovurmoq🇷🇺RU: жарить them until they are goldengolden (adj)Having a nice yellow-brown colour, like gold.≈ Synonym: —🇺🇿UZ: oltin rangli🇷🇺RU: золотистый. Then add the meat and cook it well.” The kitchen smells wonderful already!
“Now add the carrots, and stirstir (verb)To mix food with a spoon, moving it around.≈ Synonym: mix🇺🇿UZ: aralashtirmoq🇷🇺RU: перемешивать everything together. After that, add water and let it cook for twenty minutes.”
“Don't forget the spices!” she reminds me. “Add salt, cumincumin (noun)A spice with a strong flavour, often used in plov.≈ Synonym: —🇺🇿UZ: zira🇷🇺RU: зира, and a little pepper.”
Finally, she says, “Add the rice on top. Don't stir it now — just covercover (verb)To put something on top to close or protect it.≈ Synonym: —🇺🇿UZ: yopmoq🇷🇺RU: накрывать the pot and wait.” We wait patientlypatiently (adv)In a patient way, without getting angry while waiting.≈ Synonym: calmly🇺🇿UZ: sabr bilan🇷🇺RU: терпеливо, and the smell fillsfill (verb)To make something full.≈ Synonym: —🇺🇿UZ: to'ldirmoq🇷🇺RU: наполнять the whole house.
“Tastetaste (verb)To try food to see how it is.≈ Synonym: try🇺🇿UZ: tatib ko'rmoq🇷🇺RU: пробовать it,” she says finally. “Is it good?” I taste the plov. “It's delicious, Grandma! Thank you for teaching me.” “You're welcome,” she smiles. “Now you can cook plov for your own family one day.”