Cooking Dinner with a Recipe | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Cooking Dinner with a Recipe to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Dit recept lijkt eenvoudig genoeg voor het avondeten.

dit reh-SEPT laykt AYN-vow-dikh khuh-NOOKH voor ut AH-vont-AY-tun. This recipe looks simple enough for dinner.

Ik kan de groenten snijden terwijl jij water kookt.

ik kahn duh KHROON-tun SNY-dun tur-VILE yay WAH-tur KOHKT. I can chop the vegetables while you boil water.

Hoe lang moet de soep koken?

hoo lahng moot duh soop KOH-kun? How long should the soup cook?

Laat de soep koken tot de groenten zacht zijn.

laht duh soop KOH-kun toht duh KHROON-tun ZAHKHT zine. Let it cook until the vegetables are soft.

Zullen we de soep proeven voordat we meer zout toevoegen?

ZUH-lun vuh duh soop PROO-vun VOOR-daht vuh MAYR ZOWT TOOKH-voo-dun? Should we taste it before we add more salt?

Proef de soep eerst.

proof duh soop AYRST. Taste it first.

Daarna kunnen we de soep voorzichtig kruiden.

DAHR-nah KUN-nun vuh duh soop voor-ZIKH-tikh KROWD-un. Then we can season it carefully.

De soep smaakt nu beter.

duh soop SMAHKT nyoo BAY-tur. The soup tastes better now.

Volgende keer kunnen we meer kruiden toevoegen.

VOL-khun-duh kayr KUN-nun vuh MAYR KROWD-un TOOKH-voo-dun. Next time we can add more herbs.

Word by Word

Dit “Dit” means “this” and points to the recipe in “Dit recept”. Use it before the thing you are identifying, as in “Dit recept”. In this scene, it introduces the recipe being discussed.

recept “Recept” means “recipe” in “Dit recept”. It names the instructions for preparing the soup. A useful phrase from the dialogue is “Dit recept lijkt eenvoudig genoeg” when describing a recipe.

lijkt “Lijkt” means “looks” or “seems” in “Dit recept lijkt eenvoudig genoeg”. It presents an impression rather than a definite statement. Use it with a description, as in “lijkt eenvoudig genoeg”.

eenvoudig “Eenvoudig” means “simple” in the description of the recipe. It describes how easy the recipe appears in “lijkt eenvoudig genoeg”. In this scene, it reassures the other person that the recipe is manageable for dinner.

genoeg “Genoeg” means “enough” in “eenvoudig genoeg”. It shows that the recipe is simple to a sufficient degree for the stated purpose. The dialogue uses the pattern “eenvoudig genoeg voor het avondeten”.

voor “Voor” means “for” in “voor het avondeten”. It connects the recipe’s suitability with the occasion of dinner. This phrase is useful when saying that something is intended or suitable for an occasion.

het “Het” means “the” in “het avondeten”. It is the definite article used with the meal named in this phrase. The dialogue uses it in “voor het avondeten” to specify dinner.

avondeten “Avondeten” means “dinner” or “the evening meal” in “het avondeten”. It identifies the meal for which the recipe is being considered. Use it with “het”, as in “voor het avondeten”.

Ik “Ik” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Ik kan de groenten snijden”. It marks the person offering to do the chopping. In this scene, it introduces the speaker’s own cooking task.

kan “Kan” means “can” in “Ik kan de groenten snijden”. It expresses that the speaker is able or willing to take on that task, followed by “snijden”. A useful structure from the dialogue is “Ik kan ... snijden”.

de “De” means “the” in “de groenten” and “De soep”. It identifies specific vegetables and soup already understood in the cooking situation. Use it directly before these nouns, as shown in the dialogue.

groenten “Groenten” means “vegetables” in “de groenten”. They are the ingredients that one speaker offers to cut and that later become soft. The dialogue uses the phrase “de groenten snijden”.

snijden “Snijden” means “to chop” or “to cut” in “de groenten snijden”. It names the cooking action applied to the vegetables and follows “kan” in “Ik kan de groenten snijden”. In this scene, it describes the speaker’s assigned preparation task.

terwijl “Terwijl” means “while” and links two actions happening at the same time in “terwijl jij water kookt”. It introduces the other person’s simultaneous task. Use it before the clause describing that parallel action.

jij “Jij” means “you” in “terwijl jij water kookt”. It identifies the person responsible for boiling the water. In this scene, it contrasts that person’s task with the speaker’s chopping task.

water “Water” means “water” in “jij water kookt”. It is the thing being boiled for the cooking process. The dialogue uses it as the object in the phrase “water kookt”.

kookt “Kookt” means “boils” or “cooks” in “jij water kookt”. Here it describes the action that jij performs with the water. Use the exact phrase “jij water kookt” when referring to this task.

Hoe “Hoe” means “how” in “Hoe lang moet de soep koken?”. Together with “lang”, it asks about duration. In this scene, it begins a question about the cooking time.

lang “Lang” means “long” in “Hoe lang”. With “Hoe”, it asks how much time something requires. The dialogue uses it in “Hoe lang moet de soep koken?” to ask about cooking duration.

moet “Moet” expresses “must” or “should” in “moet de soep koken”. In the question, it asks how long the soup is required to cook. A useful structure from the dialogue is “moet ... koken”.

soep “Soep” means “soup” in the cooking scene. It is the dish that cooks, is tasted, and receives seasoning. The dialogue uses it in phrases such as “de soep koken” and “de soep proeven”.

koken “Koken” means “to cook” or “to boil” in “moet de soep koken” and “Laat de soep koken”. It describes the soup being cooked in the pot. In the dialogue, it follows “moet” and appears in the instruction “Laat de soep koken”.

Laat “Laat” begins the instruction “Laat de soep koken”, telling someone to let the soup continue cooking. It functions as the opening of a direct instruction in this scene. Use it with the thing that is to continue doing something, as in “Laat de soep koken”.

tot “Tot” means “until” in “tot de groenten zacht zijn”. It introduces the point at which the cooking should stop or be checked. The dialogue uses it to connect cooking with the condition that the vegetables are soft.

zacht “Zacht” means “soft” in “de groenten zacht zijn”. It describes the condition the vegetables should reach while cooking. In this scene, it is used as the result to wait for in “tot de groenten zacht zijn”.

zijn “Zijn” means “to be” in “de groenten zacht zijn”. It links the vegetables with their condition, “zacht”, in the clause introduced by “tot”. The dialogue uses it at the end of “tot de groenten zacht zijn”.

Zullen “Zullen” helps form the suggestion “Zullen we de soep proeven?”. Here it asks whether the two people should taste the soup. Use “Zullen we ...?” to propose a shared action, as in the dialogue.

we “We” means “we” in “Zullen we de soep proeven?”. It refers to both people cooking together. In this scene, it marks an action they may carry out jointly.

proeven “Proeven” means “to taste” in “de soep proeven”. It names the action of checking the soup’s flavor before adding more salt. In the dialogue, it follows “Zullen we” in the question “Zullen we de soep proeven?”.

voordat “Voordat” means “before” and connects tasting with adding salt in “voordat we meer zout toevoegen”. It places the tasting action earlier in the sequence. Use it before a clause that describes the later action.

meer “Meer” means “more” in “meer zout” and “meer kruiden”. It indicates an additional quantity of salt or herbs. The dialogue uses it before the ingredient being added.

zout “Zout” means “salt” in “meer zout toevoegen”. It is the seasoning the speakers consider adding after tasting the soup. In this scene, it appears as the object of “toevoegen”.

toevoegen “Toevoegen” means “to add” in “meer zout toevoegen” and “meer kruiden toevoegen”. It describes putting an additional ingredient into the soup. The dialogue uses it with the ingredient placed before it, such as “meer zout toevoegen”.

Proef “Proef” means “taste” in the direct instruction “Proef de soep eerst”. It tells the other person to check the soup’s flavor. In this scene, it is used as a short instruction before deciding how to season the soup.

eerst “Eerst” means “first” in “Proef de soep eerst”. It sets tasting as the action that should happen before further seasoning. The dialogue contrasts this order with “Daarna”.

Daarna “Daarna” means “then” or “afterwards” in “Daarna kunnen we de soep voorzichtig kruiden”. It introduces the action that follows tasting. In this scene, it marks the next step in the cooking sequence.

kunnen “Kunnen” means “can” or “are able to” in “kunnen we de soep voorzichtig kruiden”. It presents seasoning as the next possible action for the two speakers. The dialogue uses it in the structure “kunnen we ... kruiden”.

voorzichtig “Voorzichtig” means “carefully” in “de soep voorzichtig kruiden”. It tells the speakers to season with care rather than adding seasoning carelessly. In this scene, it modifies the action of “kruiden”.

kruiden “Kruiden” has two uses in the dialogue: in “de soep voorzichtig kruiden”, it means “to season”, while in “meer kruiden toevoegen”, it means “herbs”. The surrounding words show whether it names an action or an ingredient. Both uses belong to the cooking context.

smaakt “Smaakt” means “tastes” in “De soep smaakt nu beter”. It describes the soup’s flavor after the seasoning step. A useful expression from the dialogue is “smaakt nu beter” when reporting an improved taste.

nu “Nu” means “now” in “De soep smaakt nu beter”. It places the improved taste at the current point in the cooking process. In this scene, it contrasts the present result with the soup before further seasoning.

beter “Beter” means “better” in “De soep smaakt nu beter”. It says that the soup’s taste has improved in the current comparison. The dialogue uses it after “smaakt nu” to report the result of seasoning.

Volgende “Volgende” means “next” in “Volgende keer”. It points to the following occasion rather than the current cooking session. Use it together with “keer” to talk about a later time.

keer “Keer” means “time” or “occasion” in “Volgende keer”. Together, “Volgende keer” means “next time” and refers to a future cooking occasion. In the dialogue, it introduces a suggestion about what to do in a later session.

Grammar Points

terwijl/voordat + bijzin: het werkwoord staat achteraan

Voordat ik de soep proef, voeg ik zout toe.

VOOR-daht ik duh soop proof, vookh ik ZOWT too.

Before I taste the soup, I add salt.

In een bijzin met voordat staat het werkwoord achteraan: ik de soep proef.

lijken + bijvoeglijk naamwoord

Het recept lijkt eenvoudig.

ut reh-SEPT laykt AYN-vow-dikh.

The recipe seems simple.

Na lijken volgt het bijvoeglijk naamwoord direct: lijkt eenvoudig betekent “seems simple”.

Dutch Vocabulary

avondeten noun

AH-vont-AY-tun dinner; evening meal

eenvoudig adj

AYN-vow-dikh simple

groente noun

KHROON-tuh vegetable groenten

koken verb

KOH-kun to cook; to boil

lijken verb

LAY-kun to seem; to look lijkt

proeven verb

PROO-vun to taste

recept noun

reh-SEPT recipe

snijden verb

SNY-dun to cut; to chop

soep noun

SOOP soup

terwijl conj

tur-VILE while

water noun

WAH-tur water

zacht adj

ZAHKHT soft

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

How long should the soup cook?

Show Answer

Hoe lang moet de soep koken?

Taste it first.

Show Answer

Proef de soep eerst.

The soup tastes better now.

Show Answer

De soep smaakt nu beter.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to cook; to boil

Show Answer

koken

water

Show Answer

water

to cut; to chop

Show Answer

snijden

while

Show Answer

terwijl