Breakdown of El guiso es tan picante como para enmascarar el sabor del pollo.
ser
to be
del
from the / of the
para
for
el pollo
the chicken
tan
as / so
como
as / like (such as, similar to)
el sabor
the flavor
picante
spicy
el guiso
the stew
enmascarar
to mask
Questions & Answers about El guiso es tan picante como para enmascarar el sabor del pollo.
Why does this sentence use the infinitive enmascarar after como para instead of the subjunctive?
We use the infinitive here because there is no subject change. The stew (el guiso) is the thing that is spicy, and the stew is also the thing doing the masking. If a different subject were introduced (for example, "so spicy that I couldn't eat it"), you would need como para que followed by the subjunctive.
How exactly does the phrase tan picante como para enmascarar work together?
This structure sets a "threshold of degree." It means the stew has reached a high enough level of spiciness (tan picante) that it triggers the result of hiding the chicken's flavor (como para enmascarar). In English, it translates literally to "so spicy as to mask," but you will also often translate it simply as "so spicy that it masks."
Could I say El guiso está tan picante instead of es tan picante?
Yes, and it changes the nuance slightly. Using es implies that being this spicy is a defining characteristic of this particular stew (perhaps that is just how the recipe is made). If you use está, you are reacting to how it tastes right now, perhaps implying it turned out spicier than usual. Both are perfectly natural here.
Is enmascarar the best verb to use when talking about overpowering flavors?
Yes, enmascarar is frequently used metaphorically for flavors, smells, and sounds, exactly like "to mask" in English. You will also commonly hear tapar (to cover) or ocultar (to hide) used in cooking contexts when a strong ingredient overpowers a milder one.
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