Secret Weapons for Improving Flavor
Knowing how to amp up the flavor of a dish you have spent the time shopping, prepping, and cooking for can be your secret weapon to a delicious meal. There are a few ingredients, some added during and some at the end of cooking, that you can rely on to boost flavor. Sometimes these ingredients are already built into a recipe, but if not, you’ll have the information on hand to adjust a recipe to your liking. What you use will depend on what you are cooking, but adding just one of these flavor-enhancers can make a dramatic and surprising difference in the final flavor.
Five Ways to Boost Flavor
1. Citrus – A squeeze of citrus juice, usually lemon, added at the end of cooking can really brighten the flavors. It adds an extra touch of flavor, even if you just use the zest. A little goes a long way, even with the zest, since the flavor is carried through the oils in the rind. Add the zest to salad dressings or over sautéed vegetables. Add juice to pan sauces, soups, or rice dishes.
2. Vinegars – As with the citrus, a little splash of vinegar in a dish will give it an added depth and balance to the flavor. Add to soups, or even a nice balsamic vinegar to vegetables.
3. Parmesan – There is a reason this is called the king of cheeses. Delicious on its own, it really does amazing things to some dishes when added. Shavings or grated Parmesan on top of pasta, as we all know, is delicious, but it is also great over roasted vegetables, in salads, and even on mashed potatoes. A Parmesan rind tossed into a soup during cooking yields an amazing flavor. It is fantastic in vegetable soups, or something like a white bean and kale soup. If you don’t happen to have one saved over in the freezer from your last piece of parmesan — or if you just don’t usually buy parmesan — it is getting easier to find Parmesan rinds by themselves for sale. If you have more than one left, simply wrap it in some foil, write the contents and date on the outside, and stick it in the freezer.
4. Toasting spices – To get the most flavor out of any spices you use in a dish, toast them either in the cooking oil you are using for the dish, or even on a dry skillet, and then add to a dish. You can even toast a taco seasoning mix a little before adding water to add more flavor. If you like a simple, fresh pasta with butter, salt, and pepper, consider toasting the pepper in some of the butter or oil before adding pasta to the pan to coat with the fat.
5. Salt – Salt is crucial in cooking, and if you don’t add enough during the cooking you really lose out on flavor. A little salt added at the end of cooking can also make a difference. We like kosher salt for cooking, but fine sea salt for finishing. Even flavored salts can add to the finished dish.
Bonus: Texture – Although not a specific ingredient, adding anything to a dish that will give it some texture — and flavor while you are at it — does help. The visual of a dish is important, but so is texture. Something crunchy, like toasted nuts, sesame seeds, or sunflower seeds, can sometimes help bring a dish together.