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.

Culinary Herb Image Gallery

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

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: