Are you ready to bring some flavor excitement to your kitchen, but don't know where to start? Are you overwhelmed by the selection of herb, spice, and marinade combinations out there? Are you just plain stuck in salt and pepper land? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you're not alone.
Scores of us rarely experiment with herbs, spices, and marinades. Cooking methods such as breading and frying, basting in butter, or adding cheese are comfortable answers for those seeking flavor. But these methods add fat and saturated fat—nutrients most of us need less of.
Ready to move out of the comfort zone? With just a little know-how, you can overcome the fear of new flavors, and leave salt and pepper land behind forever.
When cooking with herbs and spices, many novices try to add flavor simply by using greater amounts of the same standby ingredient. "I used a whole head of garlic!" Sound familiar? Now try this: Instead of just adding more, start with your favorite herb, and then mix in a new one. For example, add some dill to garlic, or add cumin to onion. Move on from there. Before long you'll be spicing with confidence.
Beyond herbs and spices, cooking methods can make a big flavor difference, too.
Preserve flavorful juices in meat and fish by not overcooking. A meat thermometer is a must. Remember, meat continues to cook after it is removed from heat, so take meat out of the oven or off the grill just as it reaches the point of doneness.
With vegetables, experiment with methods such as steaming in foil, uncovered grilling, or roasting. Each method creates a unique texture and flavor.
Marinades tenderize, so they open the door to low-fat cooking methods such as broiling or grilling—cooking methods that might otherwise turn less-tender cuts such as lean steaks into shoe leather. Tenderizing takes time; allow four hours at a minimum, or tenderize overnight. Marinades also add flavor, and do so in less time than it takes to tenderize; as little as 30 minutes will do.
Making your own marinade is simple. Most marinades boil down to two basic ingredients: 1) a tenderizer such as vinegar, fruit juice, or wine, and 2) herbs and spices. Homemade or ready-to-use, marinades create a wide array of flavor options.
Finally, cooking healthfully does not mean cooking without any fat. In fact, eating some fat, primarily in the form of oil, is necessary. Oils contain essential fatty acids and are the major source of vitamin E in our diets. In addition, oils in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils do not raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels in the blood. So enjoy moderate use of olive oils, canola oils, and others to add flavor to salads, vegetables, and fish.
Once you bring on the flavor with herbs and spices, marinades, smart cooking methods, and judicious use of oil, you'll forget you were ever stuck in a lackluster routine.
You probably know more about adding flavor through herbs and spices than you think. Check out Solutions to test your seasoning savvy.
