Sometimes the recipes we cook and eat gets a little bit boring and predictable. It’s always the same kind of seasonings over and over again.
We crave for something foreign and exotic to tickle our taste buds and restore our love for food again.
Well if you’re feeling a little bit adventurous, here are some rare and delicious seasonings you may want to try incorporating into your cooking and baking.
They may just change your life.
6 Unique and Life-Changing Seasonings to Try
Cured Egg Yolk
One of the more viral food trends to come out of 2019, cured egg yolks is an ancient Chinese invention that had a recent online Renaissance thanks to content creators on FoodTok.
While not freely available in stores, cured egg yolk is surprisingly easy to make,
You only need three ingredients; salt, sugar and of course, raw, unbroken egg yolks.
This delicacy is often used as a substitute for cheese which makes it especially delicious when paired with rich and creamy pasta dishes like carbonara and yes even Bolognese.
Some people also recommend it freshly shaven over a bowl of ice-cream.
Black Garlic
Often overlooked due to its unpleasant appearance, black garlic is a cheap substitute to truffle. Often described as having an earthy, mushroom-y smell and taste, black garlic is a versatile ingredient in many savoury dishes.
You can use it in the place of normal garlic, but it is often used as a sauce for steak. But don’t let this stop you from experimenting.
It’s important to note that black garlic, unlike white garlic, has a very subtle flavour, so it’s important not to drown out the unique taste with other overwhelming ingredients.
Some people recommend mashing it up uncooked, and mixing it with butter to use in cooking.
And icing on the cake? Black garlic is rich in antioxidants and has almost double the amount of anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties than the unfermented variety.
Balsamic Vinegar
This sweet and sour condiment is made from fermented grapes and remains a popular condiment in many Western dishes.
Often only eaten on its own drizzled over fresh, crisp salad leaves.
But it is often also used in cooking to add a spicy but subtle hint of sweet freshness and acidic complexity.
Often compared to molasses and even chocolate, balsamic vinegar is a great ingredient to use in stews, like beef stews or Beouf Bourgonion.
Used in meat marinades and stir-fries, it adds a deep, rich flavour that compliments any savoury dish. And yes, you can even put it in baked goods for a delicate aroma and tang.
Definitely something worth trying out.
Mayonnaise
Yes mayonnaise is not just good on your sandwiches (or in your hair), it’s also a great ingredient in both savoury and sweet dishes.
While less of a seasoning and more of a flavour enhancer, plain old mayo can add a creamy richness to any dish.
You’ve seen those commercials well they add mayo to omelettes, I can tell you now it’s a game changer.
For savoury dishes, fried chicken (when used in the batter), mashed potatoes and mac and cheese are the way to go.
And yes, people even add mayo to sweet things too like cake (but don’t worry, it won’t make your cake taste weird).
You will get a much denser, fudgier and richer cake (perfect for things like chocolate cake).
It doesn’t stop there, you can also add mayo to muffins, cheesecake and even pastas dishes. A tablespoon or two is usually enough.
Tahini
A star condiment in Middle-eastern cuisine, tahini is a sweet and savoury sauce made from sesame seeds.
It has a rich nutty flavour and is often paired with things like shawarma or hummus, popular Turkish delights.
It is often widely used on its own as a dip, but you can totally use it for other things as well (and not just plain old salads).
Tahini is a versatile ingredient, you can add it to milkshakes, smoothies, baked goods (cakes/cookies) and of course savoury dishes too like stir fries, soups, and pastas.
It has recently become a favorite in Asian cooking due to its complex nutty sigature.
But if tahini is too expensive for you, store-bought peanut butter will do in a pinch.
Miso Paste
Chockful of probiotics and that signature umami flavour, miso paste can add a distinct variety that you simply can’t get with things like fish sauce or Worcestershire sauce.
Made from fermented soybeans (and often formulated with dashi or fish stock), miso paste is reminiscent of our Malaysian taucho.
So if you like tauco but don’t particularly enjoy how salty it is, miso is a milder, sweeter version that you can definitely try adding to things like soups and curries.
It is also good for things like marinades (poultry and beef), stir fries and of course dressings.
Oh and just like mayo, you can add it to baked goods like cookies and cakes for a complex, savoury hit that you can’t achieve with salt alone.
On its own it makes a great nourishing drink for your gut health. But make sure not to boil it over a certain temperature or you will kill all the good bacteria in it.
Spice Up Your Life (and Cooking) with these Seasonings
Variety is the spice of life; so don’t be afraid of trying out new seasonings.
Whether its from your own culture or others.
While not exactly an example of fusion cuisine, using seasonings that are not local can add a new depth to your recipes and allow you to renew your love for cooking.
This list is by no means exhaustive. There are hundreds of other exotic spices, herbs and ingredients out there. So don’t be afraid to scour the seasoning aisles of your local supermarket.
You may just find a hidden gem that may just change the way you cook forever.
For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!