News
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Try more episodes of 6 Minute English:
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Every country seems to have its own version of dumplings! Neil and Beth discuss this delicious food and teach you some useful vocabulary.
What is suet made from?
a) Wheatb) Potato or,c) Animal fat
Listen to the programme to hear the answer.
hits the spot(idiom) is exactly what you needed or wanted; gives total satisfaction
staple foodbasic and important type of food that is regularly eaten by a large portion of the population
yum yum!exclamation used to say that food tastes or smells very good
dig in!used to invite someone to start eating and encourage them to eat as much as they want
comfort foodfood that makes you feel happier because it tastes good to eat, or because it reminds you of home
tummy(informal) stomach
TRANSCRIPT
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
NeilHello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.
BethAnd I’m Beth.
NeilIn China they’re crescent shaped and filled with pork and cabbage, in Nepal they’re called momos and are fried with buffalo meat. In Ireland they’re soaked in Guinness gravy, and Italians fill them with spinach and call them gnocchi. They can be steamed or fried and are found all over the world. I’m talking, of course, about dumplings.
BethDumplings are a group of dishes where a filling is wrapped inside pieces of cooked dough. They’re basically dough envelopes with a filling inside. Fillings can be anything from meat and fish to vegetables, tofu or cheese. And the dough is usually based on a starchy grain like wheat, rice, corn or potato. In fact, the English word, ‘dumpling’, comes from a 17th century adjective, dump, meaning ‘dough-like’.
NeilThe really amazing thing about dumplings is that they’re found all over the world. Over the centuries, different countries and regions have experimented with flavours and fillings to create something unique. Wherever in the world you are there’s probably a special kind of dumpling for you!
BethIn this programme, we’ll be sampling a dumpling from the West African country of Ghana. And, as usual, we’ll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well.
NeilGreat! But first I have a question for you, Beth. Probably the most famous British dumplings, suet dumplings, are cooked on top of a chicken or beef stew. They’re made from suet… but what exactly is that? Is suet:
a) wheat?b) potato? or,c) animal fat?
BethHmmm, I think suet is made from animal fat.
NeilOK, Beth, we’ll find out if that’s the correct answer later in the programme. The origins of dumplings are a mystery. Historians think the dish is very old, but no-one knows for sure when or where the first dumpling was cooked. One theory puts the birthplace of the dumpling along the Silk Road, linking China with Central Asia, and Turkey.
BethOne way or another, the dumpling journeyed through the Middle East and across Africa to Ghana, where today it’s a favourite way of adding carbohydrates to a dish, as well as soaking up sauce and juices. Kafui Adzah is a businesswoman and fan of the Ghanian dumpling called, kenkey.
NeilHere she introduces kenkey to Ruth Alexander, presenter of BBC World Service programme, The Food Chain:
Kafui AdzahI love kenkey. In fact I had kenkey this afternoon!
Ruth AlexanderYou’ve had some this afternoon?
Kafui AdzahYes.
Ruth AlexanderAh, lovely. And it hits the spot?
Kafui AdzahAbsolutely, and… the Ga-Adangbe is one of the tribes in Ghana and kenkey is their staple food, even though it’s eaten across the whole country.
Ruth AlexanderHow is it then eaten?
Kafui AdzahNow we have to eat kenkey with what we call shito – chilli sauce. OK. But we also have the black sauce… it's like with shrimps, fish, and all sort of proteins in it. And then... Yum Yum! You go at it! You dig in!
Ruth AlexanderIs this really satisfying comfort food?
Kafui AdzahIt is very satisfying, in fact kenkey is loved by most people who do manual work because it fills the tummy and it takes you almost a whole day before you feel hungry again.
BethKafui says eating kenkey really hits the spot. If something hits the spot, it’s exactly what you wanted and totally satisfies you.
NeilKenkey dumplings are made from maize sourdough and eaten across Ghana. For some tribes, kenkey is their staple food – a basic and important type of food that is regularly eaten by a large portion of the population. In Britain for example, bread and eggs are staple foods.
BethKenkey takes time to make - the maize needs to be soaked in water for a week. But when they’re ready and served with a hot chilli sauce, Kafui uses two phrases to show it’s time to eat. Yum yum! is used to say that food tastes or smells very good, and dig in! is another exclamation meaning: don’t wait, start eating and eat as much as you like.
NeilFor Ghanaians, kenkey is comfort food, something which is enjoyable to eat and makes you feel happier. And what’s more, it fills your tummy or stomach.
BethWhatever type you eat and wherever in the world you eat them, dumplings are a great way to spread a little love, including in Britain!
NeilAh yes, it looks like we’re back to my earlier question. I asked you what the traditional British suet dumpling is made from. Beth guessed it was animal fat, which was… the correct answer! Suet dumplings aren’t the healthiest, but for some Brits they’re certainly comfort food - food that makes you feel happier because it tastes good, or because it reminds you of home.
BethOK, let's recap the rest of the vocabulary we've learned in this programme, starting with the idiom hits the spot, meaning that something is satisfying and exactly what you wanted.
NeilA staple food is a basic and important type of food that is regularly eaten by a large portion of the population.
BethThe exclamation yum yum! is used to say that food tastes or smells delicious.
NeilIf you say dig in! you’re inviting someone to start eating as much as they want.
BethAnd finally, tummy is an informal word for stomach. Once again our six minutes are up, but to us again next time for more trending topics and useful vocabulary, here at 6 Minute English. Goodbye for now!
NeilBye!
Have you ever been embarrassed to go to the doctor?
Have you ever phoned up a company and had your call held in a queue? Could AI make this less painful?
Is making new ‘mum friends’ the positive experience it’s often described as?
Are DNA ancestry tests a reliable way to trace your ancestry?
What do babies need to learn to do to be able to talk?
How can we stay healthy in old age?
Are the stereotypes about older and younger sisters true?
What is acne and how can it affect someone's confidence?
Why is it so important to get a good night's sleep?
How is divorce talked about in different countries?
Technology is always changing! Or is it...?
Did Taylor Swift move the Earth?
What makes us like the flavours we like?
Would you find it different to adapt to a new food culture?
How do farmers in the driest place on Earth manage to grow crops? With this solution!
Should we stop under 14s having phones?
Why do we need to reduce our salt intake?
Would you like to be a chocolate maker, like Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka?
Warning! This episode might make you very hungry...
What are young people's thoughts on climate change?
Do you your childhood birthday cakes?
What's really happening in our brain when we fall in love?
Could AI reduce the need for animal testing?
Why is it better to read from a book than a screen?
What happens when you put the kids in charge of the school?
Learn to speak to yourself in the way that toddlers do!
How can literacy change people's lives?
How can buildings made from wood help our mental health?
Could our name have painful baggage?
Could E-rickshaws give us cleaner air?
Is it OK to be older parents?
How was bubble tea invented?
Is it always negative to keep a secret?
Could bitter foods be better for your health?
What do you talk about while having dinner?
Is it OK to eat unhealthy food during pregnancy?
Do you love to dance?
Are nudges good or bad?
Could sitting be damaging to our health?
Could it be best to be the underdog?
Learn about the people who are making it easier for disabled musicians and music fans to perform and see live music
What makes a library a library?
Period poverty affects over 500 million people worldwide. How can a volunteer project help?
Plastics can be difficult to recycle. Could a recently discovered enzyme help?
Food is fuel for our brains. So, what should we be eating?
Having a baby is exhausting! What do mothers need to eat after giving birth?
Hear how a project in the Netherlands is helping in the fight against loneliness
Is AI going to take away your job?
Why is the language used on menus important?
Is it ever OK to be greedy?
Are we addicted to sugar?
Are you a dog or a cat person?
For a better experience please enable Javascript in your browser
