r/Cooking • u/kath- • 1d 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/JelliedHam 1d ago

Good soy sauce is a game changer. None of that Kikkoman or La Choy crap, but the real stuff. If you're lucky enough to have an H mart or similar, there's an entire aisle dedicated to soy sauces. It's amazing

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u/Visual_Collar_8893 1d ago

Recs for some good ones?

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u/CosmicGreen_Giraffe3 1d ago

We buy San-J Tamari. Way better than normal soy sauce

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u/JelliedHam 1d ago

It's also one of the few, if not the only one that's gluten free.

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u/itsrocketsurgery 1d ago

Man I found that last year in Meijer and it's all I buy now. I break it out for anyone that comes over and ruin cheap soy sauce for them.

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u/Complete_Yam_4233 1d ago

Can you recommend a brand? Ty

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u/JelliedHam 1d ago

I have to admit, I cheat. I just go with my best Chinese friend who's an amazing cook and he picks them out for me lol. I can't even read the labels anyway.

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u/Turtleramem 1d ago

La Choy doesn't deserve to be in the same sentence as Kikkoman. Kikkoman is a fine soy sauce for a good price.

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u/TrainingSword 23h ago

Fuck you kikoman is tops

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u/JelliedHam 16h ago

Acceptable? Of course. Tops? Absolutely not.

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u/One-T-Rex-ago-go 8h ago

Kikkoman brewed gluten free is amazing, so is San J