Brighten Any Dish With a Little Acid
Sometimes you cook something, taste it and feel that something is missing. It just needs to amplify the flavor a little to make it perfect. Most of the time, you need a little acid. It will decorate any dish and complement other flavors.
Adding acid to a dish is not as easy as picking up something tart and throwing it into it. Here are some options that will work just about anywhere:
- Citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges (if using zest, be sure to do this at the last minute ).
- Vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, or red wine vinegar.
- Wine or wine for cooking (but make sure it really complements your meal )
- Tomatoes (or tomato paste if you don’t want extra moisture)
While most acidic ingredients work well with just about everything, think about the other flavors in your dish when choosing which acid to add. For example, rice wine vinegar is better than red wine to liven up a savory stir-fry with a rich sauce. Keep your favorite foods (like a couple of lemons in a fruit bowl) and you will always have something ready to spice up otherwise hard or bland foods.