HOW TO MAKE FOOD TASTE BETTER (2024)

Here is an excerpt from my bookLe Kitchen Cookbook: a Workbook

• Saltiness—briny, saline, brackish
  

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  • If dish is too salty, add an acid or sweetness.

• Sourness—acidity

  • If the dish is too sour, add fats or sugars to counteract.

• Sweetness—sugar

  • If the dish is too sweet, add acid. (Do not add salt; it will only highlight the sweetness.)

• Bitterness—sharp, pungent, tart

  • If the dish is too bitter, add sweet, citrus, or vinegar.

• Umami—savory, meaty

  • If the dish has too much umami, add sour or sweet to brighten the flavor.

• Rich—you can add sweet or sour to cut the richness of the dish. (Fresh limes—lemon juice, a little vinegar.)

• Bland—salt can add flavor, bouillon will add a burst of flavor, cheese or strong herbs and seasonings, soy sauce, spicy pepper sauce.

• Spicy—sour or sweet will help to tone down overly spicy foods. Adding a spoonful

• Salty—sweet or sour will help but may not be enough. If possible, try diluting with water.When salting your dish, do so in intervals and taste as you go. Any dish that evaporates as it cooks will cause the flavors to intensify, especially the flavor of salt.

• Sour—sweet, salty, or bitter will help take the flavor away from sour.

• Bitter—salty, sweet, or sour will help reduce the bitter flavor.

• Sweet—sour, salty, or bitter will tone down the sweetness. Adding other flavors will distract from the sweetness.

• Soy sauce adds a bit of saltiness and savoriness, known as umami, without adding the traditional flavor of Chinese food. It is the perfect addition to tomato sauce that still has a bit of sourness. I find that it works far better than the traditional addition of sugar. When I’m cooking a wine-based stew for hours, a tablespoon or two of soy sauce at the end rounds out the flavor to give it complexity and interest without overpowering it. As far as I’m concerned, it is my magic sauce.

• Anchovies are also magical. Add them to increase the robustness and depth to what you are cooking. Don’t panic if you are not an anchovy fan; it doesn’t add any fishiness to your dish. Instead, what you will taste is great flavor. I always have a tube of anchovy paste in my refrigerator.

• My other must-have is bouillon. It is concentrated flavor that is a must-have when cooking. In the past, broths were made using quality ingredients that were left tomijoter, simmer on the back of the stove for hours. The flavors would reduce and concentrate into an intensely powerful essence that was used to create sauces, stews, soups, or anything to which you wanted to add that burst of flavor.

1. Add the bouillon at the end when I’m adjusting the flavor.

2. I don’t add a lot of salt as I’m cooking, adding it only at the end if I need it.

3. I buy low-sodium bouillon. Try different brands to find the one you like best.

Or, order on Amazon.com

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