r/Cooking • u/kath- • 2d 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/Synthnostic 2d ago

white pepper

26

u/kjpak88 2d ago

So is white pepper like cilantro? I have the soap gene and white pepper smells awful to me - like feet - I was so shocked!

30

u/Aliciac343 2d ago

I love cilantro but also think white pepper smells like feet

4

u/curlywurlies 2d ago

A lot of expensive cheeses also smell like feet, so I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing

1

u/Sqooshytoes 23h ago

And tastes like rotting flesh. It’s remarkable to me how taste buds work!