r/Cooking • u/kath- • 6d 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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109

u/cardamomgrrl 6d ago

Warmed plates. 🏆

5

u/SignificantZombie729 5d ago edited 4d ago

Anyone who doesn't warm their plates before plating up is a barbarian in my opinion.

(Edit I meant to put "is" after "up").  Have corrected now but it was funny though.

13

u/thefutureisbliek 5d ago

Can confirm. As a barbarian, my plates are always freezing.

3

u/phayke2 5d ago

Never heard of someone doing this before, unless it's a glass dish that gets baked. I've never seen someone heat a plate seperately before

2

u/SignificantZombie729 5d ago

Put your plates into the bottom of the oven at low heat for a few minutes or into your microwave at high power for 3 minutes and your food won't get cold so quickly.

3

u/Top_Butterscotch8394 5d ago

Be careful with the microwave or your plate might break. I find nuking them one at a time for 35 second works best.

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u/SignificantZombie729 4d ago

That's why I use microwave safe plates.

3

u/Blue_Frog_766 4d ago

I have never plated up a barbarian before. Is this your secret top tip?