There’s a science to how certain flavors interact with each other. Finding ingredients that complement each other and bring out new flavors is a matter of experimentation and experience. If you’re looking to up your cooking game at home, it’s good to know some of the best flavor enhancers to try with your food.
Wine
When it comes to enhancing the flavor of your meats, wine is an excellent pairing. Red wines are richer in tannins than white wines, providing a touch of acidity and complex flavors from the fermented fruits. This makes red wine excellent for certain cuts of pork and red meats such as beef. Alternatively, white wine is a good choice for seafood or poultry dishes, which will appreciate the lighter, fruitier flavors.
Honey
There are several tasty ways to use honey, but as a naturally sweet substance, it pairs nicely with sauces and dressings. As a sugar, honey is very versatile. A Chinese-inspired honey walnut shrimp dish is a great example of a dish that plays with a mix of sweet and savory flavors to create a delicate balance. Honey brings out the fresh flavors of lighter meats and seafood without tasting unnatural or strange.
Citrus
The zest of fresh citrus fruits invigorates dishes with a refreshing flavor profile that enhances seafood and poultry. When cooked with the other ingredients, citrus adds a certain smoky fruitiness and a juicier texture to the food. Adding it after cooking also provides a bright flavor that lifts other flavors. This is one reason why people often add lemon to boiled crab legs—the lemon accentuates the flavor of the crab without overcomplicating the experience.
Among the many joys that people find in cooking, one of the greatest is discovering for themselves the many different tasty combinations they can create. When you incorporate a few of these incredible flavor enhancers into your dishes, your next meal is sure to be memorable. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and do something risky. If you’ve never tried it before, there’s no telling how good it will be.