5 less obvious essential ingredients
Rather than doing a recipe of the week this week I've decided to write a list of five ingredients that I think are absolute essentials and that aren't the classic salt, pepper or garlic! I think when cooking it's good to have an understanding of what flavors you really like and for those who are less confident it can
be handy knowing about some other ingredients that are out there.
So at number one we have garlic powder
In my eyes this is an absolute must for the cupboard. It's cheap and you can buy it in big bags so you'll be stocked up or a while. I love this ingredient as it gives a lovely garlicky depth to sauces, almost a bit like stock but without the saltiness. I typically use this when I make curries, chilli con carne or garlic mayo. Sometimes it's just the thing that's missing.
Two: Cayenne Pepper
For all spice lovers, this ingredient is your friend. Make sure you taste as you go along as it packs a real punch but in my opinion cayenne pepper makes a much nicer and warmer heat then chilli powder or flakes.
Three: Tarragon
Tarragon has a lovely subtle flavor that I would say is in the realms of star anise and fennel. It makes a perfect match to chicken and can be used in sauces or on the chicken itself.
Four: Red Wine Vinegar
This ingredient is so versatile and if you're a coeliac like me then it's a great replacement for barley vinegar. I use it in hollondaise sauce, potato salad, sauces like chilli or bolognese and red onion gravy.
Five: Lemon
Ok this is probably a more obvious ingredient but what a lot of people forget to use is the lemon zest. The zest is where you can get that really fresh tangy lemon flavor that doesn't disappear into your food so much. I use it in taramasalata, on top of salads, in lemon deserts and in other homemade dips like hummus.
So that's it folks: five essential ingredients that are less obvious. Depending on your taste buds some of these might sound awful to you but I wouldn't underestimate them- they just make things delicious!
Rather than doing a recipe of the week this week I've decided to write a list of five ingredients that I think are absolute essentials and that aren't the classic salt, pepper or garlic! I think when cooking it's good to have an understanding of what flavors you really like and for those who are less confident it can
So at number one we have garlic powder
In my eyes this is an absolute must for the cupboard. It's cheap and you can buy it in big bags so you'll be stocked up or a while. I love this ingredient as it gives a lovely garlicky depth to sauces, almost a bit like stock but without the saltiness. I typically use this when I make curries, chilli con carne or garlic mayo. Sometimes it's just the thing that's missing.
Two: Cayenne Pepper
For all spice lovers, this ingredient is your friend. Make sure you taste as you go along as it packs a real punch but in my opinion cayenne pepper makes a much nicer and warmer heat then chilli powder or flakes.
Three: Tarragon
Tarragon has a lovely subtle flavor that I would say is in the realms of star anise and fennel. It makes a perfect match to chicken and can be used in sauces or on the chicken itself.
Four: Red Wine Vinegar
This ingredient is so versatile and if you're a coeliac like me then it's a great replacement for barley vinegar. I use it in hollondaise sauce, potato salad, sauces like chilli or bolognese and red onion gravy.
Five: Lemon
Ok this is probably a more obvious ingredient but what a lot of people forget to use is the lemon zest. The zest is where you can get that really fresh tangy lemon flavor that doesn't disappear into your food so much. I use it in taramasalata, on top of salads, in lemon deserts and in other homemade dips like hummus.
So that's it folks: five essential ingredients that are less obvious. Depending on your taste buds some of these might sound awful to you but I wouldn't underestimate them- they just make things delicious!
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