How to combine flavours? In cooking, what we are looking for above all is taste and good flavours! There are thousands of easy-to-make recipes, but combining tastes and flavours is an art to be learned. In this article you will find recipes and advice on how to make a success of your dishes like a real chef by combining salty, sweet, acid, spicy, etc.

What is taste?

Taste is one of the 5 senses that our body has. It is the sensation we feel on our tongue after tasting different dishes. In cooking, this is where the right balance of tastes comes into play.

The smell, which refines this experience, helps the sense of smell and taste, which allows the perception of flavors.

The information will be collected by the many sensory receptors on our lips, which will then be sent to our brain. We will then be able to distinguish the flavor of any dish.

Taste is the most crucial factor in cooking. To begin with, there are five basic tastes to consider:

• Acidity: is a flavor enhancer as well as a flavor that goes with everything!
• Bitterness: despite its negative aspects, has health benefits. It will, in fact, contribute to the purification and cleansing of our body, as well as the stimulation of our stomach.
• Spicy: bitterness and sweetness are balanced in this spicy taste. The spiciness is well appreciated by lovers of spicy food, but it must be well balanced.
• Sweet: is one of the most popular tastes among our taste buds. It has a pleasant aftertaste and is ideally balanced in terms of bitterness, acidity and spiciness.
• Savory: Taste is developed through flavors, flavor combinations, and a complete understanding of what is going on in our mouth.

The dosage, the balance, the revelation of the tastes, their attenuation or their softening are all concerns.

Comment associer les épices en cuisine ?

Salt is the primary flavor enhancer that we all need on a regular basis. Contrary to popular belief, salt is not only used to season foods. In fact, it is generally recommended to add a pinch of salt to our instructions when creating a cake or other sweet delicacies. In this case, the salt will not add salt, but rather enhance the flavor of the other components that make up the cake or pastry.

Spices are also excellent flavor enhancers that are both natural and beneficial to our health. Pepper, cumin, turmeric, ginger and cloves are some of these spices. The next step is to determine which spices work well with certain foods. Putting cumin on fish, for example, enhances its flavor. Conversely, adding thyme to your pasta dishes can significantly improve the taste.

• Basil

The taste, smell and color of basil encourage gourmets to eat it raw, in green vegetables, in sauces and in omelettes.

• Rosemary

Rosemary is an herb that gives grilled poultry, fish and meat an extra flavor.

• Oregano

Oregano is a fragrant herb that is commonly used in Italian cooking, especially in pizzas and vegetable gardens.

• Peppermint

Peppermint serves as a base for a variety of gourmet meals with delicious flavors that can be served as an appetizer, entrée or main course.

Choose the right cooking technique

The flavour of your food will never be exactly the same depending on the cooking technique you choose. Don't be afraid to use different cooking techniques for the same food to change the flavours.

Braised fish, for example, will taste just as good as fish grilled in foil. Do you like to cook it in milk, or do you prefer to eat it raw?

Here are some additional suggestions if you decide to boil it in water:

• Add a bouillon cube to your braising liquid; 

• Learn how to improve the cleanliness of your tap water; 
• Start cooking potatoes and beans cold; 
• Use sparkling water to fix the color of your food and speed up cooking; 
• Cover your pan to prevent mineral loss due to evaporation.

Also, if you're wondering why you should clean the water in your home, you need to understand that treated water tastes better, and this will be reflected in your cooking.

Des plats de saveurs sucrés et salés

Is it hard to choose between a salty dish and a sweet note? Instead of cutting and pasting, mix and match sweet and savory flavors to create mouthwatering dishes that will make you fall in love! Here are some sweet and savory recipes to try:

Hawaiian Pizza with Pineapple and Ham

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (th.6).
• On a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, roll out the pizza dough.
• Mix it with the tomato sauce and serve.
• Dice the fruit (after draining it if it is canned), remove the seeds from the ham and cut the sausages into thin slices.
• Spread tomato sauce on top and top with grated mozzarella.

Easy Chicken Breast with Honey Sesame Glaze

• In a non-stick pan, fry the sesame seeds. Remove the pan from the heat.
• In a second pan, brown the chicken breasts in the oil for 5 minutes over moderate heat, stirring occasionally.
• In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and 2 teaspoons of honey.
• Stir and simmer for 1 minute to caramelize the sugars.
• Turn off the heat and add the sesame seeds.
• Season with pepper and serve immediately.

Chicken with prunes and honey 

• Preheat the oven to th.6 (180°C) and place the chicken with prunes in a casserole dish.
• In a casserole dish, place the chicken.
• Sprinkle the chicken with honey. Squeeze the lemons, add salt and pepper and sprinkle over the chicken.
• Place the prunes around and apply the thyme scent.

Here are several dessert dishes, both sweet and savory:

Pears with honey and cheese

• Keep the skin on the pears by cutting them in half.
• Poach them in honey and pear juice for 10 to 15 minutes.
• In a salad bowl, mix the Boursault cheese, chopped black olives, thyme and rosemary.
• Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
• Generously garnish the pear pieces with the preparation.
• Grill for 2 minutes.

Fresh goat cheese, figs and raisins on bread.

• Cut the figs in pieces after having peeled them.
• Spread the faisselle on the pizza and roll it up. Sprinkle the goat cheese and raisins on top. The figs should be peeled, cut into pieces and placed on the dough.
• Form a tight log with the dough. Cut the ends at an angle and leave them aside for 30 minutes in a cool place. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Brush egg yolk over the wrapped bread. Cut slits like on a loaf of bread with the back of a knife and bake for 20 minutes.
• Let it cool for a few minutes. Cut into slices and serve when reheated.