Cooking ingredients are essential components of any recipe. OIL, LARD, OKRA, oleo, and SHORTENING are all common cooking ingredients. OIL is a 3 letter word that is used to add flavor and moisture to dishes. LARD is a 4 letter word that is a type of fat derived from pork. OKRA is a 4 letter word that is a vegetable often used in soups and stews. Oleo is a 4 letter word that is another name for margarine. SHORTENING is a 10 letter word that is a type of fat used in baking.