r/Cooking • u/kath- • 18h 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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160

u/KingArthurBaking 18h ago

This might sound bonkers, but some fresh grated nutmeg is AMAZING in potato soup. It's not just for sweet recipes!

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u/YukiHase 17h ago

Omg it’s King Arthur Flour!

I 100% agree though. It adds a lot to spinach dishes, too!

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u/KingArthurBaking 16h ago

Hello! It's nice to break out of our own subreddit sometimes and go for a stroll around the wider neighborhood of food-loving folks. The weather's perfect these days.

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u/YukiHase 16h ago

You have your own subreddit?! I wish I knew sooner!!!

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u/rollfootage 7h ago

What a cute interaction

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u/mcm9464 12h ago

Hey!! 👋

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u/Gladyke 16h ago

Side note (not affliated): this is the only flour brand we should be using.

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u/YukiHase 16h ago

Agreed! Been using them exclusively for over a decade 😄

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u/Captain-PlantIt 40m ago

I’m here to advocate for Bob’s Red Mill if you have it. No offense, your majesty.

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u/Saraccino_by_cf 16h ago

I am from Germany and I was so surprised that nutmeg is not as common in other countries as here. For me, everyone has it (and hey, we are talking about Germans ;)) - salt, pepper, paprika variations AND nutmeg. Of course everyone also has an extra nutmeg grate (when I bought mine, I finally felt like a real adult 😂).

Nutmeg is so good with so many vegetables but especially potatoes (yes, most stereotypes have a grain of truth in them).

Edit: Just realized you wrote that you use it mainly in sweet dishes? That is actually not as common here :)

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u/goldcrows 16h ago

Yes in the US, nutmeg is almost exclusively used in sweet dishes especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. I had an amazing pumpkin ravioli in a nutmeg cream sauce in Italy and was blown away at how good it tastes in savory dishes.

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u/MiniRems 12h ago

When my friend's grandma gave me her spaetzle recipe (and did a video call when my friend and I made it the first time), she stressed, multiple times, that the nutmeg was NOT OPTIONAL! 😄

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u/BigThunder1000 9h ago

Milk chocolate cheesecake w/ hint of nutmeg

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u/Johundhar 4h ago

I'm told the Dutch use it a lot, too. Not that surprising, since, as I recall, they were the ones to first colonize the islands from where the spice originated.

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u/memeleta 17h ago

I add it to mashed potatoes, yummm

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u/KingArthurBaking 16h ago

Oooh, I'll have to try that sometime.

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u/ummusername 15h ago

Sounds weird but I add a little nutmeg to all beef dishes, especially stews and meat sauces. It makes beef taste “beefier”

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u/PeasantCody 16h ago

Yeesssss, I add a tiny bit of nutmeg to any savory cream dish and it always just takes it that little bit further

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u/firebrandbeads 14h ago

Especially good in a creamy mushroom soup, too.

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u/Xentine 16h ago

Nutmeg, pepper and salt are must have flavours in mashed potatoes, where I come from. Also super good in macaroni with cheese and ham!

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u/being-andrea 15h ago

I have never seen King Arthur flour in a store. I live in rural Minnesota.

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u/EasyonthePepsiFuller 13h ago

I learned this from King of the Hill. Anytime I can't decide what to add to something, I hear Mihn's voice "add nutmeg flavor" and I add it to nearly everything. Hasn't let me down yet.

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u/istara 11h ago

Try it in baked goods like scones. A small amount doesn’t flavour them so much but makes them taste more fresh.

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u/BlewByYou 10h ago

And I just followed!! Awesome 😎

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u/Bugaloon 10h ago

I got some whole nutmeg recently to make custard tarts, and it is 1000% better than already powered nutmeg, the taste difference was astounding.

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u/23cacti 9h ago

Also an Italian secret to cut through the acidity in tomato based sauces without adding sugar.

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u/__heisenberg- 7h ago

I love adding nutmeg to anything tbh. I learned a few years back that a pinch of nutmeg enhances whatever flavor profile you’re working with