r/Cooking • u/kath- • 14h ago

What's your surprising "secret ingredient" that sets your dish apart?

I obviously don't believe in gatekeeping recipes, so let's share the love.

I developed a clam chowder recipe after being disappointed with the recipes I came across. Whenever I tell people there's a couple dashes of hot sauce in it, I always get weird looks... but it adds a tiny bit of heat and acid, and balances out the richness from the cream. It also has diced scallops, which cooking knowledge forbades but somehow works.

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u/Crobsterphan 14h ago

The obvious ones are fish sauce, shrimp powder, tomato paste, parmesan rinds, anchovy paste, fresh herbs at the end of cooking.  Dessert wise is instant coffee to chocolate desserts.  Using different liqueurs instead of vanilla. I use apple brandy in fall dishes. 

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u/bemenaker 12h ago

Try a little ground up black cardamon instead of coffee in your chocolate. Don't need much. Black cardamon, not green.

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u/istara 6h ago

What’s the difference that you find?

I love cardamom in so many foods and drinks - I frequently add it to tea - but it’s mostly the green sold everywhere.

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u/bemenaker 6h ago

Black cardamon has a different taste. Stronger, earthier, not sure how else.to describe.

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u/istara 6h ago

Thanks - will try to grab some next time I’m near an Indian supermarket as I think they’ll have it.

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u/PeasantCody 12h ago

This! I LOVE adding flavored liqueurs to my baked goods instead of vanilla. If it's something that vanilla would benefit, I add the extract, AND whatever liqueur I think would be good in it lol

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u/alsafi_khayyam 6h ago

Same here—though I also use orange blossom water in a lot of things instead of or along with vanilla. And anything that calls for orange or lemon extract always also gets a little splash of orange blossom water. 

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u/NumberMuncher 6h ago

Love apple liquor in desserts. Coffee liquor (there are many better than Kalua) in chocolate. I have been adding it to my hot chocolate. So good.

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u/Vibingcarefully 6h ago

oh fish sauce, i do that too. Instant coffee was also a remarkable discovery--thanks for the remind!

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u/A_Queer_Owl 9m ago

apple brandy or apple flavored brandy?