What is Chiffonade?

Chiffonade is a French cooking term referring to slicing food in thin strips. See what you can dice up with these culinary herb pictures.Chiffonade is a French cooking term referring to slicing food in thin strips. See what you can dice up with these culinary herb pictures.Chiffonade is a French cooking term referring to slicing food in thin strips. See what you can dice up with these culinary herb pictures.Elke Dennis

Q. I recently came across a recipe that called for "basil chiffonade." I am unfamiliar with this term.

A. "Chiffonade" is a French cooking term that literally means "in rags." It refers to a method of slicing food — usually lettuce, basil, or other leafy greens — into thin, string-like pieces.

The method for making chiffonade is really quite simple. First, stack your leafy greens, then roll them up like a cigar. Slice your "cigar" thinly, crosswise, and, as if by magic, you will have chiffonade.

To learn more about cooking techniques, read the following articles:

  • Herbs
  • Preparing Greens
  • How to Cook Vegetables
  • Smoky Kale Chiffonade

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