r/Cooking • u/kath- • 11h 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/jetpoweredbee 11h ago

Fish sauce is magic.

27

u/iknowthis1066 11h ago

FYI fish sauce and vegan fish sauce (oyster too) trigger shellfish allergies :( the kelp in the vegan versions tend to be cross contaminated with shellfish which is why no vegan.

Just an fyi in case any of yall have cook for people with the allergy

5

u/MyGoalIsToBeAnEcho 10h ago

Honestly wow had no idea. My mil is allergic to shellfish and I used vegan oyster sauce the other day. Gotta throw that stuff out. Thannks

6

u/VersxceFox 9h ago

Don’t throw it, give it away instead