French Phrase
La recette demande de l'ail.
Meaning
This phrase indicates that garlic is a necessary ingredient for a specific dish. The verb 'demander' translates to 'to ask for' or 'to require,' which in a culinary context is equivalent to the English expression 'calls for.' It is a fundamental sentence structure for anyone interested in French cooking.
When to use
Use this phrase when reading through a list of ingredients, grocery shopping, or explaining a cooking process to someone else. It is suitable for both casual home cooking and professional kitchen environments.
✦Grammar Breakdown
La recettedemandede l'ail
Demander
In the context of instructions or recipes, this verb means 'to require' rather than its usual meaning of 'to ask'.
Partitive Article (de l')
The article 'de l'' is used before masculine or feminine nouns starting with a vowel to indicate an indefinite amount of something.
🗨In Conversation
Qu'est-ce qu'on doit acheter au marché ?
What do we need to buy at the market?
La recette demande de l'ail et des olives.
The recipe calls for garlic and olives.
✕Common Mistakes
La recette demande le ail.
Use the partitive article 'de l'' instead of the definite article when referring to an unspecified quantity of an ingredient.
La recette appelle pour de l'ail.
Avoid translating the English idiom 'calls for' literally; use the verb 'demander' instead.
↔Alternatives
Il faut de l'ail pour cette recette.
Garlic is needed for this recipe.
Il y a de l'ail dans la recette.
There is garlic in the recipe.
Cultural Tip
Garlic is a cornerstone of French gastronomy, especially in Southern France. When shopping in French markets, you will often find 'ail fumé' (smoked garlic) or 'ail rose de Lautrec', which are highly prized for their unique flavors and longer shelf life.