A1.17: Cooking and baking

Cocina y repostería

Learn essential Spanish verbs for obligations like "hay que" (one must), "tener que" (have to), and "deber" (should), while exploring cooking vocabulary such as "harina" (flour), "ajo" (garlic), and "nata" (cream) in practical kitchen contexts.

Listening & reading materials

Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.

A1.17.1 Lectura

Bizcocho casero con nata

Homemade sponge cake with cream


Vocabulary (13)

 La harina: The flour (Spanish)

La harina

Show

The flour Show

 El aceite: The oil (Spanish)

El aceite

Show

The oil Show

 La mantequilla: Butter (Spanish)

La mantequilla

Show

Butter Show

 La nata: The cream (Spanish)

La nata

Show

The cream Show

 El azúcar: The sugar (Spanish)

El azúcar

Show

The sugar Show

 La cebolla: The onion (Spanish)

La cebolla

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The onion Show

 El ajo: The garlic (Spanish)

El ajo

Show

The garlic Show

 El tomate: The tomato (Spanish)

El tomate

Show

The tomato Show

 Los ingredientes: The ingredients (Spanish)

Los ingredientes

Show

The ingredients Show

 Cocinar (to cook) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Cocinar

Show

To cook Show

 Casero: Homemade (Spanish)

Casero

Show

Homemade Show

 La receta: The recipe (Spanish)

La receta

Show

The recipe Show

 Mezclar (to mix) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Mezclar

Show

To mix Show

Exercises

These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.

Exercise 1: Reorder sentences

Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.

Show answers
1.
la receta. | para hacer | Hay que | comprar harina
Hay que comprar harina para hacer la receta.
(Flour needs to be bought to make the recipe.)
2.
ajo con | el aceite. | Tengo que | mezclar el
Tengo que mezclar el ajo con el aceite.
(I have to mix the garlic with the oil.)
3.
el | para | usar | mantequilla | pastel. | Debemos
Debemos usar mantequilla para el pastel.
(We should use butter for the cake.)
4.
de cocinar. | cortar la | Hay que | cebolla antes
Hay que cortar la cebolla antes de cocinar.
(The onion must be cut before cooking.)
5.
que | pulpo. | Tengo | con | preparar | tapas
Tengo que preparar tapas con pulpo.
(I have to prepare octopus tapas.)
6.
azúcar a | para el | postre. | Debemos agregar | la nata
Debemos agregar azúcar a la nata para el postre.
(Sugar should be added to the cream for the dessert.)

Exercise 2: Match a word

Instruction: Match the translations

Hay que usar la harina para hacer un buen pastel casero. (You have to use the flour to make a good homemade cake.)
Debemos añadir ajo y cebolla para dar más sabor a la salsa. (We must add garlic and onion to give more flavor to the sauce.)
Tengo que comprar aceite para freír las tapas esta tarde. (I have to buy oil to fry the tapas this afternoon.)
La receta dice mezclar el azúcar con la nata antes de hornear. (The recipe says to mix the sugar with the cream before baking.)

Exercise 3: Cluster the words

Instruction: Classify these words into two groups according to their function in the kitchen: basic ingredients and cooking actions.

Ingredientes básicos

Acciones para cocinar

Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence

Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.

1

La nata


The cream

2

El tomate


The tomato

3

El ajo


The garlic

4

Mezclar


To mix

5

La mantequilla


Butter

Ejercicio 5: Conversation exercise

Instrucción:

  1. Explain each step of baking pancakes. (Explain each step of baking pancakes. )

Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes

Example phrases:

Es necesario cocinar la mantequilla.

It is necessary to cook the butter.

Debemos añadir la mantequilla y el azúcar.

We must add the butter and the sugar.

Tienes que añadir el aceite y la mantequilla a la mezcla.

You have to add the oil and the butter to the mixture.

Tienes que mezclar los huevos, la leche y la sal.

You have to mix the eggs, the milk and the salt.

Cocina las tortitas en la sartén.

Cook the pancakes in the pan.

Come las tortitas, ¡buen provecho!

Eat the pancakes, enjoy your meal!

...

Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards

Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.

Exercise 7: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Hay que ____ el aceite para empezar a cocinar.

(You have to ____ the oil to start cooking.)

2. Tengo que ____ la harina y el azúcar para hacer la masa.

(I have to ____ the flour and sugar to make the dough.)

3. Debemos ____ la mantequilla cuando la mezcla esté lista.

(We must ____ the butter when the mixture is ready.)

4. Tienes que ____ la cebolla antes de cocinar el pulpo.

(You have to ____ the onion before cooking the octopus.)

Exercise 8: A Day in the Kitchen

Instruction:

Esta tarde, yo (Cocinar - Presente) una receta casera muy especial. Primero, (Mezclar - Presente) la harina con el azúcar y la mantequilla. Mi madre siempre me dice que (Deber - Presente) usar ingredientes frescos para que la comida salga mejor. Después, mi hermano (Tener - Presente) que preparar la cebolla y el ajo para las tapas. Nosotros (Deber - Presente) seguir la receta con cuidado porque hay que respetar las cantidades. Al final, todos juntos (Cocinar - Presente) y disfrutamos de una comida deliciosa en familia.


This afternoon, I cook a very special homemade recipe. First, I mix the flour with the sugar and butter. My mother always tells me that I must use fresh ingredients so that the food turns out better. Then, my brother has to prepare the onion and garlic for the tapas. We must follow the recipe carefully because the quantities must be respected. In the end, all together we cook and enjoy a delicious meal as a family.

Verb Tables

Cocinar - Cook

Presente

  • yo cocino
  • tú cocinas
  • él/ella/usted cocina
  • nosotros/nosotras cocinamos
  • vosotros/vosotras cocináis
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes cocinan

Mezclar - Mix

Presente

  • yo mezclo
  • tú mezclas
  • él/ella/usted mezcla
  • nosotros/nosotras mezclamos
  • vosotros/vosotras mezcláis
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes mezclan

Deber - Must

Presente

  • yo debo
  • tú debes
  • él/ella/usted debe
  • nosotros/nosotras debemos
  • vosotros/vosotras debéis
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes deben

Tener - Have

Presente

  • yo tengo
  • tú tienes
  • él/ella/usted tiene
  • nosotros/nosotras tenemos
  • vosotros/vosotras tenéis
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes tienen

Exercise 9: Obligaciones - "Hay que, tener que, deber"

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Grammar: Obligations - "Hay que, tener que, deber"

Show translation Show answers

Tengo que, Debemos, Debes, Tienes que, Hay que

1.
... comprar el azúcar para la receta.
(I have to buy the sugar for the recipe.)
2.
... picar la cebolla para preparar la salsa.
(You need to chop the onion to prepare the sauce.)
3.
... cocinar los tomates a baja temperatura.
(You must cook the tomatoes at a low temperature.)
4.
... usar harina para hacer pan.
(You have to use flour to make bread.)
5.
... batir la nata.
(You have to whip the cream.)
6.
... agregar el aceite a la mezcla.
(We must add the oil to the mixture.)

Grammar

It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!

A1.17.2 Gramática

Obligaciones - "Hay que, tener que, deber"

Obligations - "Hay que, tener que, deber"


Verb conjugation tables for this lesson

Cocinar to cook

Presente

Spanish English
(yo) cocino I cook
(tú) cocinas You cook
(él/ella) cocina he cooks
(nosotros/nosotras) cocinamos we cook
(vosotros/vosotras) cocináis You cook
(ellos/ellas) cocinan they cook

Exercises and examples phrases

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Lesson Overview: Cooking and Baking Vocabulary and Expressions

This beginner-level Spanish lesson focuses on the essential vocabulary and obligations related to cooking and baking. It introduces key ingredients and verbs commonly used in the kitchen, while teaching how to express duties and necessities using the structures "hay que," "tener que," and "deber." Through practical examples, you will learn how to talk about cooking tasks and recipes with clarity and confidence.

Key Vocabulary: Ingredients and Cooking Actions

  • Basic ingredients: el aceite (oil), el ajo (garlic), el azúcar (sugar), la harina (flour), la mantequilla (butter), la cebolla (onion)
  • Cooking actions: cocinar (to cook), mezclar (to mix)

Expressing Obligations in the Kitchen

In Spanish, it's important to distinguish different ways to express obligation or necessity. This lesson covers three common expressions:

  • Hay que: A general expression meaning "one must" or "it is necessary to." Example: "Hay que comprar harina para hacer la receta." (You need to buy flour to make the recipe.)
  • Tener que: Expresses a personal obligation, "I/you have to." Example: "Tengo que mezclar el ajo con el aceite." (I have to mix the garlic with the oil.)
  • Deber: A more formal or moral obligation, also meaning "should" or "must." Example: "Debemos usar mantequilla para el pastel." (We must use butter for the cake.)

Essential Phrases for Cooking and Shopping

These expressions are excellent for everyday conversations in the kitchen or when shopping for ingredients:

  • "¿Hay que comprar sal para la sopa?" (Do we need to buy salt for the soup?)
  • "Tengo que preparar tapas con pulpo." (I have to prepare octopus appetizers.)
  • "Debemos seguir la receta paso a paso." (We must follow the recipe step by step.)

Verb Conjugations

The lesson also reviews the present tense conjugations of important verbs, such as:

  • Cocinar (to cook): yo cocino, tú cocinas, él cocina, nosotros cocinamos, vosotros cocináis, ellos cocinan
  • Mezclar (to mix): yo mezclo, tú mezclas, él mezcla, nosotros mezclamos, vosotros mezcláis, ellos mezclan
  • Deber (should/must): yo debo, tú debes, él debe, nosotros debemos, vosotros debéis, ellos deben
  • Tener (to have): yo tengo, tú tienes, él tiene, nosotros tenemos, vosotros tenéis, ellos tienen

Tips on Language Differences

Unlike English, where modal verbs like "must" and "have to" are often straightforward, Spanish offers several nuanced ways to express obligation. "Hay que" is impersonal and general, similar to "one must" or "it is necessary to." "Tener que" expresses a direct personal obligation, and "deber" can indicate a moral or advised necessity. This lesson emphasizes these differences through real-life cooking contexts, helping learners grasp when and how to use each.

Some useful words and their English equivalents include:
El aceite (oil), la harina (flour), la mantequilla (butter), mezclar (to mix), cortar (to cut), and hacer (to do/make).

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