Secret ingredient

[King Phenomenon]

Recipe: Chile in the Better Homes and Garden New Cookbook 14th edition

And the secret ingredient is cumin. It takes this dish from 3 stars to five.

What’s your secret ingredient for a specific recipe?

 

[Quintessence]

If it doesn't have garlic, you're doing it wrong.

 

[King Phenomenon]

If it doesn't have garlic, you're doing it wrong.

I edited. I want to know a specific recipe where one adds something

 

[SalixIncendium]

If I tell you, then it wouldn’t be a secret.

 

[Eddi]

sugar in Bolognese sauce

 

[crossfire]

Cardamom in Apple pie.

 

[crossfire]

Coriander in blueberry pie.

 

[Estro Felino]

Cane sugar in Cornbread, and in tomato sauce. Just a little spoon.

 

[crossfire]

Green chilies and cinnamon to hot cocoa and/or brownies.

 

[ChristineM]

Spoiler: Some of my secret ingredients

Bacon (and sometimes celery) in Bolognese sauce.
also in Bolognese sauce, completely replace water with red wine.

Chocolate in chili

Nutmeg or cinnamon in apple pie, rice pudding, roast pears etc.

I make our saturnalia rich fruit cake in September to give it time to mature plus I feed it a couple of table spoons of cognac each week until it's time to eat

Not an ingredient but... When making jam/conserve. Mix the fruit and sugar in a bowl, cover and leave it for 24 hours.

 

[JustGeorge]

We were in the produce section, and I told my husband to pick me out something random. He got a case of blackberries. Internally, I panicked, but...

I'd decided I was going to make chili, and see what I could do with an unexpected ingredient. That was it.

The pot of chili was delicious, and everyone loved it. Later, my husband asked where his blackberries went...



He was flabbergasted.

 

[Quintessence]

I edited. I want to know a specific recipe where one adds something

Yup, still garlic.

Stir-fry? Garlic.
Mashed potatoes? Garlic.
Pasta dishes? Garlic.

Garlic, garlic, garlic, garlic.

 

[crossfire]

Yup, still garlic.

Stir-fry? Garlic.
Mashed potatoes? Garlic.
Pasta dishes? Garlic.

Garlic, garlic, garlic, garlic.

Sweet corn: garlic, butter, salt, pepper, and perhaps some chili powder.
Peas: Garlic, butter, onion, salt and pepper.
Green beans: Garlic, sesame oil, salt, lots of pepper, and a touch of vinegar.
Broccoli: Garlic, butter, lemon, salt and pepper.

Works for me!

 

[Vinayaka]

Black pepper, but fresh. It's under-rated.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I dump red chili powder, garam masala, Old Bay seasoning, and turmeric into just about every hot dish I make. I have to go much lighter if someone else is eating with me, however, because few have my palate for hot.

 

[SalixIncendium]

When all you can taste is hot the meal is ruined. Spices should compliment the dish and enhance the flavor of a fish

Who said all I can taste is hot? Perhaps you just don't understand how to use these spices in combination.

And I don't eat fish.

 

[Rival]

Herbes de Provence.

 

[King Phenomenon]

Who said all I can taste is hot? Perhaps you just don't understand how to use these spices in combination.

And I don't eat fish.

Oh that comment was meant for someone else

 

[JustGeorge]

Who said all I can taste is hot? Perhaps you just don't understand how to use these spices in combination.

And I don't eat fish.

There really is a trick to the combinations...

I can handle very spicy things without trouble. But, if done wrong, while I can handle the spice level, I can't taste anything but.

 

[Orbit]

Recipe: Chile in the Better Homes and Garden New Cookbook 14th edition

And the secret ingredient is cumin. It takes this dish from 3 stars to five.

What’s your secret ingredient for a specific recipe?

Parsnips.

In stews or in white beans; they are amazing.