Anonymous asked: The food you make always sounds so good with flavor combinations I never would’ve thought to try. Where do you find inspiration? Are there any particular books,sites, or other resources you recommend? Thanks!
that’s so sweet of you to say! I learned to pair flavors by experimenting a lot in the kitchen and by going out to eat frequently, because you can’t know how to cook well until you know what you like! I also aim to balance flavors and textures in every bite of food, so my ingredient choices are based on “what will add a crunchy/creamy element to this dish? how can I add an unexpected punch of sweetness/savoriness/saltiness/spice?”
a fun starting point is by stepping up your salad game. learn what flavor combos you like by adding lots of salad toppings and mixing your own dressings. try a bite every time you add an ingredient, and tailor it to your palate. are your salad greens too bitter? make a slightly sweet dressing, like a lemon honey vinaigrette or add a punch of saltiness with capers or anchovies. is your salad lacking crunch? add chopped nuts or toasted grains. make salads several times to learn what you like or dislike, then use the ingredient pairings you like for other dishes. enjoy a salad with kale + lemon + goat cheese, or arugula + tomato + mozzarella + balsamic? try turning those same elements into a pasta dish!
I read a lot of Food52 articles as well, and I really think their “how to cook” section is a good primer for newer cooks. also, I just watched Salt Fat Acid Heat on Netflix after reading Samin’s articles for years, and her show really illustrates how to balance flavors. start there and tell me how it goes!!!
