Gremolatas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A condiment made typically from minced garlic, parsley, and lemon zest, used to enhance meats or sauces
2. A flavorful mixture blending finely chopped herbs and citrus that brightens the taste of various dishes
3. An Italian garnish often applied to meat dishes, combining fresh ingredients for a zesty finish

Etymology: "Gremolatas" is simply the plural of "gremolata," the Italian garnish of minced parsley, garlic and lemon zest traditionally scattered over osso buco. The noun was borrowed from Italian, where it is a variant of "gremolada," and its ultimate source is the Lombard dialect of northern Italy, which gave forms such as "gremolà" and "gremolaa." That dialect origin matters because the dish itself is Milanese, and the name travelled with it. The Italian word has a close relative in "gramolata," from the verb "gramolare," meaning to crush, grind or knead. The garnish's name thus points back to the physical work of pounding its ingredients together, so the word describes a process before it names a flavour.