How to Write a Recipe in English: Standard Format and Essential Vocabulary

Have you ever tried to share one of your favorite dishes with an English-speaking friend, only to freeze when you had to write the instructions? You’re not alone. Most learners know how to cook, but they don’t know how to write a recipe in English using the standard format. The good news is, recipe writing follows a clear structure, and once you master a few vocabulary categories, you’ll be able to write clear, easy-to-follow recipes every time.

Let’s start with the shape of a good recipe.

The Five Parts of a Standard Recipe

Professional recipes include the same five sections every single time. If you follow this order, your reader will never get lost.

1. Recipe Title – Keep it short but descriptive. The title tells the reader exactly what they will make.

• Good: Classic Margherita Pizza
• Bad: A Pizza I Love

2. Prep Time, Cook Time, and Servings – This is a quick snapshot. It helps the reader decide whether they have enough time and ingredients.

• Example: Prep: 10 min | Cook: 20 min | Servings: 4

3. Ingredients List – Use a bulleted list. Put the quantity first, then the ingredient name.

• Wrong: tomatoes 3
• Right: 3 ripe tomatoes, chopped

4. Instructions (Steps) – Numbered list. One step per line. Use clear action verbs.

5. Chef’s Tips (Optional but helpful) – Add one or two tips that only an experienced cook would know. For example: For a crispier crust, pre-bake the base for 5 minutes before adding toppings.

Does the structure always look the same? Yes. And that’s exactly why it works. You can pick up any cookbook in English and find this layout. It’s not about creativity in format — it’s about clarity.

The Logical Flow of a Recipe

The Grammar Rule: Use the Imperative Mood

If you only remember one grammar rule for writing recipes, let it be this: use the imperative mood.

The imperative mood is the base form of the verb. You give a direct command or instruction. You don’t say “you should chop,” “you will chop,” or “you need to chop.” You simply say:

• Chop the onions.
• Add the salt.
• Stir for two minutes.

This feels natural in English because recipes are a series of commands. Every step starts with a strong action verb. Compare these two sentences:

• Weak: After that, the chicken should be cooked for 15 minutes.
• Strong: Cook the chicken for 15 minutes.

Which one is easier to follow? The second one, obviously.

Essential Recipe Vocabulary

You already know many cooking words. But for recipe writing, you need to be precise. Below are the most common categories, grouped by what they describe.

Action Verbs (for the Steps Section)

Verb	Meaning	Example
Chop	Cut into pieces	Chop the garlic finely.
Dice	Cut into small cubes	Dice the carrot into 1 cm cubes.
Slice	Cut into flat pieces	Slice the cucumber thinly.
Grate	Rub against a grater	Grate the cheese.
Boil	Heat liquid until it bubbles	Boil the water.
Simmer	Cook just below boiling	Let it simmer for 10 minutes.
Sauté	Fry quickly in a little oil	Sauté the mushrooms in butter.
Whisk	Beat with a whisk	Whisk the eggs and milk together.
Knead	Press and fold dough	Knead the dough for 5 minutes.
Preheat	Heat the oven beforehand	Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Stir	Mix with a spoon	Stir occasionally.

Quantity Words (for the Ingredients Section)

Recipes use specific measurements. Avoid vague words like “some” or “a little.”

Expression	Meaning
100 grams of…	standard weight
1 tablespoon (tbsp)	large spoon measure
1 teaspoon (tsp)	small spoon measure
1 cup	240 ml (US standard)
a pinch of	a very small amount (e.g., salt)
cloves of garlic	individual segments
½ cup, diced	measured then chopped

Descriptive Words for Texture and Doneness

Use these to describe the appearance or texture during cooking.

• golden brown – when roasted or fried
• translucent – onions after cooking in fat
• tender – vegetables when a fork goes in easily
• fluffy – rice or potatoes that are light
• runny – liquid that flows easily (e.g., eggs)
• firm to the touch – meat that’s cooked through

A Complete Recipe Example (Read It Aloud)

Let’s put everything together. Here is a short recipe written with the standard format and imperative mood.

Speedy Tomato Pasta
Prep: 5 min | Cook: 15 min | Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• 200 g pasta
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 400 g canned tomatoes
• 1 tsp salt
• fresh basil leaves

Steps:

1. Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
3. Add the canned tomatoes and salt. Stir and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Drain the pasta. Add it to the tomato sauce. Toss well.
5. Serve with fresh basil on top.

Chef’s tip: Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a splash of the reserved water.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even advanced learners slip up sometimes. Watch for these:

• Mixing tenses. Don’t switch between “chop,” “you chop,” “chopped,” and “will chop.” Keep everything in the imperative present.
• Forgetting numbers. “Take some pasta” is unclear. “Take 200 g of pasta” is correct.
• Unknown measurements. If your audience uses cups, stick to cups. If they use grams, stick to grams. Don’t mix them.
• Step order. Always list the steps in the order they happen. Don’t say “preheat the oven” after “place the dish inside.”

Practice: Try Writing Your Own

Now it’s your turn. Pick a simple dish you know how to cook — maybe scrambled eggs, a bowl of noodles, or a dessert. Write the recipe using:

• A clear title (with servings and prep times)
• Bulleted ingredients with precise quantities
• Numbered steps using imperative verbs
• One chef’s tip at the end

When you finish, read it out loud. Does it flow? Can someone who has never made it follow the steps without guessing?

Final Word

Knowing how to write a recipe in English is a useful skill for sharing your culture, cooking with international friends, or even building a cooking blog. The standard format doesn’t change. Use the imperative mood. Keep your vocabulary precise. And always order your steps logically.

If you want to practice your writing skills further — and check your reading, listening, and speaking accuracy — take the free English level test at English Measure. It will show you exactly where you are and what to improve next.

👉 Test your English now

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