Cooking dinner doesn’t have to be hard work – in fact, keeping things simple can really pay off. Here are some of the magic ingredients that our food editors claim will add extra flavour to any meal.
Stock
Using stock adds a depth and richness to cooking that both compliments and brings out the flavour of a dish. When it comes to cooking rice and other grains, stock is a great ingredient to add flavour to the dish at a base level. Stock brands like Massel are vegetable-based, gluten-free and lactose-free which makes them suitable for most people with special dietary requirements.
Basil
Basil is popular in Mediterranean cooking and is often used in pasta sauces and in salads, but Thai stir-fries can also benefit from its inclusion.
Garlic
Can you ever use too much? Nope. Garlic is an easy way to add a boost of flavour to any dish. A handy hint when using fresh garlic is to let it rest after chopping it up. Allowing the garlic to sit for 10-15 minutes allows the compounds to develop and add extra flavour to your dish.
Sriracha
Sriracha shouldn’t just be reserved for dining at your favourite Asian restaurants – it’s a great way to add a kick to your cooking. Sriracha is a great ingredient in chicken and fish marinades, is special drizzled on your scrambled eggs and mixed into your aioli for an extra hit of spice.
Mint
Mint is an incredibly versatile herb that is used for both sweet and savoury cooking. It’s the perfect companion to lamb dishes and is also a delicious addition to co*cktails.
Paprika
This spice adds a vibrant pop of colour to your dish along with a whole lot of flavour. Try using it in just about any savoury dish from eggs to rice and creamy sauces.
Vinegar
Vinegar shouldn’t be reserved just for salad dressings, because it can be of the most versatile ingredients in your pantry. Known to bring a splash of flavour to dreary dishes, vinegar – when used sparingly – can have a knockout effect on a dish. If you’re feeling inspired, why not make your own herb vinegar with this easy four-step recipe.
Lemon
This little fruit can add a whole lot of flavour to your cooking. The acidity and sour taste play a similar role to vinegar, as they can bring together and turbocharge the different flavours in a dish for a boost in taste.
Coriander
Coriander is something people either love or hate. With a very particular taste, coriander is great in Mexican dishes as well as Asian cooking and seafood. Hot tip: this herb doesn’t cook too well, so be sure to add it to the dish just before serving.
Cheese
Soft, hard, strong, mild; cheese is a versatile addition to bring a different dimension your cooking and a little goes a long way. From adding marinated feta to a salad to sprinkling a little grated parmesan in the breadcrumbs of your chicken schnitzel, cheese can be a great substitute for salt.
Tahini
Tahini paste is made from ground-up sesame seeds and is one of the key ingredients in hummus. This creamy condiment is a great addition to marinades, salad dressings and cooking sauce for meat.
Rosemary
Rosemary’s distinct taste is a great addition to flavouring meats, tomato sauces, potatoes and soups. Add a twist to your next batch of roast potatoes by pairing it with thyme.This article is brought to you by Massel.
FAQs
These elements: salt, fat, acid, and heat all add a unique layer of flavor to a dish. Salt not only makes foods taste saltier, which we humans enjoy because it's essential to our diet, but also enhances the flavors of other elements in a dish (i.e., adding salt to cookie dough enriches the overall cookie).
What ingredient brings out flavor? ›
These elements: salt, fat, acid, and heat all add a unique layer of flavor to a dish. Salt not only makes foods taste saltier, which we humans enjoy because it's essential to our diet, but also enhances the flavors of other elements in a dish (i.e., adding salt to cookie dough enriches the overall cookie).
What adds the most flavor to food? ›
Acidic ingredients help lift and balance flavor. Use small amounts of ingredients with bold flavors such as pomegranate seeds, chipotle pepper or cilantro. Give a flavor burst with condiments such as horseradish, flavored mustard, chutney, wasabi, bean purees, tapenade and salsas of all kinds.
How can I flavour my food naturally? ›
Herbs and spices
Keep some fresh herbs and a spice rack on a counter in your kitchen to have them on hand, or you might just reach for the salt without thinking. Opt for herbs and spices that have a distinct taste such as chilli, mint, rosemary, ginger, or cumin, and make sure your cooking still packs a punch!
How to add flavour without spice? ›
All types of vinegar (cider, wine vinegar, Balsamic, rice, or flavored) can be used as marinades or to drizzle on veggies or fruit. Citrus juices and/or citrus zest (orange, lemon, grapefruit etc.) can be added to marinades and rubs or squeezed over meats, pasta, rice, and/or veggies.
What is a food additive that enhances flavor? ›
Many food ingredients, including monosodium glutamate (MSG), NaCl, and sweeteners have been termed 'taste enhancers' but their main effect is simply to add more molecules that generate additional taste or smell sensations.
How do you artificially flavor something? ›
Imitation, artificial extracts, essences, and flavours are prepared by bringing into solution with alcohol, glycerol, or propylene glycol various synthetic flavouring agents to formulate an extract, essence, or flavour with the likeness of the flavour of the fruit, spirit, or liqueur for which it is named.
What is one way to enhance the flavor of food? ›
Fresh squeezed citrus juice adds great flavor in marinades, dressings, and drinks, but don't forget about the flavor from the peel. Use a zester to remove the peel and use to augment citrus juice. Fresh herbs are available year round at your local grocery store, so opt for them instead of dried herbs.
How do you make food taste rich? ›
If you're looking for ways to give your next meal a flavor boost, try these five techniques.
- Caramelize your veggies. Cook your veggies to bring out their natural sugars (and flavors). ...
- Add a little acidity. Nothing brightens up a dish like a squeeze of lime and lemon, or a dash of vinegar.
The World's Favorite Flavor
Vanilla is one of the most beloved spices in existence. Its popularity reportedly dates back to 1602 when Hugh Morgan, an apothecary for Queen Elizabeth I, introduced her to vanilla as a flavor and she loved it.
Most salt substitutes swap out sodium entirely or partly for potassium chloride, a naturally occurring salt-like compound that tastes similar to sodium. For many people, potassium chloride and sodium taste similar enough that the switch is fairly easy.
How to make things taste salty without salt? ›
6 Ways to Add Salty Flavor Without Salt
- Feta. Looking at another boring bland salad? ...
- Parmesan. Same cheesy story, different cast of characters. ...
- Capers. When I think "briny", capers and olives are always the first things that come to mind. ...
- Olives. ...
- Anchovies. ...
- Bacon.
SALT enhances flavour.
Yet, most chefs will tell you that the most frequent kitchen crime is under-salting food. So let's repeat that: salt enhances flavour. It makes flavour - any flavour - more intense.
What spice brings out flavor? ›
Cinnamon is added to dishes for added flavour and aroma and is also considered as a digestion aid. Cinnamon is used in both forms in dishes, in bark form as well as in powdered form.
How to add savory flavor? ›
Here are some ideas to add savory / umami flavors:
- Add a splash of soy sauce, fish sauce, or miso to broth or stock.
- Saute veggies with a bit of anchovy paste.
- Simmer soup with the rind of parmesan cheese.
Substitutes for Allspice include using a combination of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon as well as similar spice blends such as pumpkin pie spice (with some added pepper to achieve the savory notes of allspice) or apple pie spice.
What ingredient provides flavor? ›
I reached out to some of our food science gurus to explain the basic roles of a few ingredients used in cooking; salt, sugar, fat, and acid. Here is what I learned about the role these ingredients play in food texture, structure and safety: Salt plays an important role in enhancing flavors in foods.
What brings out flavour in food? ›
SALT enhances flavour.
Yet, most chefs will tell you that the most frequent kitchen crime is under-salting food. So let's repeat that: salt enhances flavour. It makes flavour - any flavour - more intense.
What gives things flavor? ›
The taste of a food product is not only determined by the aromas present in the original material and added flavorings, but also by accompanying substances like flavor enhancers, sweeteners, acidulants and salt substitutes.
