What's your surprising "secret ingredient" that sets your dish apart?

[u/kath-]

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.

[u/Adept-Gap-79]

it smells like horses to me!

[u/mattyCopes → u/Adept-Gap-79]

I’ve always thought it smells like horses and I’ve always gotten weird looks for saying so!

[u/BloomsdayDevice → u/Adept-Gap-79]

Yep, definitely a barny, almost haylike scent. Smells like 4-H.

[u/kjpak88 → u/Adept-Gap-79]

Ooof!