Cooking & Markets

1. ਸਬਜ਼ੀ ਕੱਟੋ

   Sabzi katto

   Cut the vegetables

   Usage

   Instructing someone to cut the vegetables while cooking

   Grammar Note

   "ਕੱਟੋ" is the polite imperative of "ਕੱਟਣਾ" (to cut). "ਕੱਟ" is the casual form.

2. ਤੰਦੂਰ ਗਰਮ ਕਰੋ

   Tandoor garam karo

   Heat up the tandoor (clay oven)

   Usage

   Preparing the traditional clay oven for cooking

   Grammar Note

   "ਗਰਮ ਕਰੋ" is a compound predicate: adjective + "ਕਰਨਾ" (to do/make). Means "make hot".

3. ਦਾਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਸਾਲਾ ਪਾਓ

   Daal vich masaalaa paao

   Add spices to the lentil dal

   Usage

   Instruction to add spices when making dal (lentil soup)

   Grammar Note

   "ਵਿੱਚ" is a postposition meaning "in/into". It attaches to the oblique form of nouns.

4. ਆਟਾ ਗੁੰਨ੍ਹੋ

   Aataa gunnho

   Knead the dough

   Usage

   Instruction for making roti, naan, or other flatbreads

   Grammar Note

   "ਆਟਾ" is the basic flour for making "ਰੋਟੀ" (chapati), the staple bread of Punjabi cuisine.

5. ਸਰ੍ਹੋਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਗ ਬਣਾਓ

   Sarrhon daa saag banaao

   Make sarson da saag (mustard greens dish)

   Usage

   Instruction to prepare the traditional Punjabi dish sarson da saag

   Grammar Note

   "ਸਰ੍ਹੋਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਗ" is an iconic Punjabi dish. "ਦਾ" is the masculine possessive postposition (like "of").

6. ਮੱਖਣ ਪਾਓ

   Makhan paao

   Add butter

   Usage

   Adding butter to cooking or to roti

   Grammar Note

   Punjabi cuisine is famous for "ਮੱਖਣ" (fresh white butter). It symbolizes the region's dairy culture.

7. ਪਾਣੀ ਉਬਾਲੋ

   Paani ubaalo

   Boil the water

   Usage

   Instruction to boil water for tea or cooking

   Grammar Note

   "ਉਬਾਲੋ" is the imperative of "ਉਬਾਲਣਾ" (to boil transitive). Contrast with "ਉਬਲਣਾ" (to boil intransitive).

8. ਚੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ 'ਤੇ ਰੱਖੋ

   Chullhe 'te rakkho

   Put it on the stove

   Usage

   Instructing to place a pot or ingredient on the stove

   Grammar Note

   Nouns before postpositions take oblique form: "ਚੁੱਲ੍ਹਾ" (stove) → "ਚੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ" (on/to the stove).

9. ਲੂਣ ਕਿੰਨਾ ਪਾਉਣਾ ਹੈ?

   Loon kinnaa paaunaa hai?

   How much salt should I add?

   Usage

   Asking about the amount of salt to add when cooking

   Grammar Note

   "ਪਾਉਣਾ ਹੈ" expresses obligation or instruction. Infinitive + "ਹੈ" = "needs to be done".

10. ਚੰਗੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਹਿਲਾਓ

    Changi tarhaan hilaao

    Stir it well

    Usage

    Instruction to stir or mix thoroughly while cooking

    Grammar Note

    "ਚੰਗੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ" is an adverbial phrase meaning "in a good way/properly". "ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ" means manner/way.

11. ਲਸਣ

    Lasan

    Garlic

    Usage

    Garlic — also useful when asking for a dish without it

12. ਪਿਆਜ਼

    Piaaz

    Onion

    Usage

    Onion; many people avoid it for religious reasons, so "without onion" is a common request

13. ਮਿਰਚ

    Mirach

    Chili

    Usage

    Alone it means chili; "haree mirach" is green chili and "kaalee mirach" is black pepper

14. ਹਰਾ ਧਨੀਆ

    Haraa dhaneeaa

    Fresh coriander / cilantro

    Usage

    Fresh cilantro; "dhaneeaa" alone can also mean the dried coriander seed spice

15. ਅਦਰਕ

    Adrak

    Ginger

    Usage

    Ginger, essential in chai and in slow-cooked dishes

16. ਮਸਾਲਾ

    Masaalaa

    Spice mix

    Usage

    A blend of ground spices — it means seasoning in general, not chili heat

17. ਦਾਲ

    Daal

    Lentils (dal)

    Usage

    Means both the lentils themselves and the cooked lentil dish

18. ਸਬਜ਼ੀ

    Sabzee

    Vegetable

    Usage

    Means both raw vegetables and a cooked vegetable curry; on a menu it is the latter

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