I like to use lots of whole, flavorful ingredients in my cooking, and let the food’s flavor speak for itself. I suspect most people prefer to cook the same way. When you have great ingredients, it’s hard for the outcome not to taste good.
But what about when you’ve whipped something up, you’re about to serve dinner, but you find that it tastes a little… bland. Flavorless. Needs a little something.
I’ve got a little list in my head of ways to rescue this situation – little-noticed and under-appreciated ingredients, maybe ones that have overwhelming flavors on their own, but when you add just a bit, suddenly the whole meal sings. And the funny thing is, probably no one will taste it in there, even though they would certainly have noticed their absence. These types of ingredients are the unsung superheroes in home cooking. Superheroes, because with just a touch they can magically transform dinner from dull to delicious. Salt and pepper are the most ubiquitous, but I also like to use:
- lemon juice – to bring out an edge in neutral-flavored foods
- vinegar – like lemon juice, a splash of vinegar can bring out a nice brightness… but too much will turn the whole dish sour.
- maple syrup – on the opposite end of the spectrum, a dish with a lot of acidic flavors (like cooked-down tomatoes) can be balanced by a little sweetness
- mustard – gives food a touch of tanginess, without the risk that comes with using vinegar
What you use will depend on the situation, and is best guided by your own instinct, but it’s handy to keep these tricks up your sleeve just in case. And, this list is by no means complete – what are your favorite last-minute additions to fix up a dull dish?
One Comment
I think the importance of just a pinch of salt cannot be understated. You can put in a pound of spices without salt, and just barely taste them, but just a sprinkle of spice with a few grains of salt enhances the flavor and lets you taste what’s there!