Crossword Genius

Dietary requisite from celebrity chef, half-cut (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

starch

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'dietary requisite' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'celebrity chef half-cut' is the wordplay.
'celebrity' becomes 'star' (I've seen this before).
'half cut' means to take half the letters.
'chef' with half the letters taken is 'ch'.
'star'+'ch'='STARCH'

'from' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for starch that I've seen before include "Stiffening carbohydrate" , "Formality - makes things stiff" , "Stiffener in the laundry" , "Carbohydrate; stiffener" , "Stiffening agent" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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