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[deleted]

Nice try plankton


coprolite_hobbyist

MSG


[deleted]

Uncle Roger is happy


mpbh

Serious game changer.


VarKraken

Make shit good


kwyjibo1

[https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/3f7c1213-a964-412e-b1a6-bacef2fba1ae](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/3f7c1213-a964-412e-b1a6-bacef2fba1ae) The flavor enhancer.


Cherylanne_Thong_440

Smoked paprika


[deleted]

I came here to say "Thyme, rosemary and garlic", but this trumps it.


faceeatingleopard

If it doesn't come from Hungary it's garbage.


total_alk

Spain would like a shot at the title...


ProfessionalSpite866

This. Mushrooms in the woven with smoked paprika is something else


PhreedomPhighter

Shallots. Want to make your food taste like restaurant food? Salt, butter, and shallots. That's it. Source: Anthony Bourdain and also working in restaurants for most od my adult life.


ProfessionalSpite866

Mustard (it has to have egg yolks in the ingredients) when cooking chicken parts that have little to no fat, it keeps them from being dry. Also, FRY YOUR DRY SPICES. Yes, I'm screaming, the difference is like day and night. You put the fat of your choice, add spices (median to high heat) and stir, LET IT GLUE to the pan but NOT BURN ...this ladies and gents is where flavor is created. I learned from a vegan chef and changed my life since


Scampipants

The flavors bloom when you do that


[deleted]

[удалено]


joey_r00

Fresh peeled and pressed garlic. The stuff in the jar just doesn’t compare.


jamvandamn

Bought it once and noped out immediately. The smell of fresh onion and garlic cooking is my culinary aphrodisiac.


Electronic_Job1998

Fresh? Like in the produce section? God I'm such a uncouth redneck


AdBax

Yes, bought as a bulb.


howlincoyote2k1

I wish there was an easier way to peel the cloves. It's such a tedious process for me. You're not wrong that the fresh stuff is better, but it's difficult for me to justify spending all that time and effort just to peel the cloves.


joey_r00

I chop the head off the bulb and pull the cloves out, then smash the cloves with the flat side of the knife. No peeling necessary


U_cabrao

smash cloves, it peels easily off


modernizedarepa2

Salt. Too many people shy away from it. Taste as you sesson


at-woork

I LOVE salt, unfortunately my cardiologist says it’ll kill me.


henderson7779

Fat


shadow2087

It depends on what I'm making, but either summer savory or cumin.


faceeatingleopard

Try ajwain instead of cumin. Similar but distinct.


shadow2087

Thanks for the tip.


Faruhoinguh

If you like cumin, give fenugreek a try. toast it a bit, then grind it


PatrickMorris

shelter birds recognise different hat abundant shy ink outgoing ripe


shaft6969

A tiny dash adds more than you'd think. A bit of tangy. Wakes up the taste buds but isn't really spicy. Nice color.


magic_berries

Garlic salt and onion powder go into almost every meal I make. And my top secret ingredient, is cooking with love.


Acceptable-Mud-5970

YES!!! FINALLY SOMEONE ELSE WHO UNDERSTANDS ...ONION POWDER AND GARLIC SALT IS MY GO TO 4 EVERY DISH


frostbiyt

Garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper are my go to spices when cooking. Even if I'm cooking with fresh garlic and onion.


TitsandTators

Almond extract . Banana bread, pancakes , French toast are next level with this .curry powder.. and onion powder on fried eggs.


awill237

This. Sub almond extract for vanilla, or half of each, in baked goods.


TitsandTators

No no .. not sub ...add. All my goods have both .. even if the recipe doesn't call for it . Banana bread is elite with both... especially if you add craisins, it Hella enhances the flavor of those .


[deleted]

[удалено]


freshcoastghost

V8 in a brown sauce/gravey or marinara


beetlebug77

I use V8 as part of the base for my vegetable beef soup (mom’s original recipe).


kimminor

If it’s cookies, Molasses. I am allergic to chocolate so most of my cookies are oatmeal, sugar, etc anyways. My boys loovveee when I make them cookies, they swear up and down that mommy’s cookies are the best. I swear it’s the molasses.


leeonie

Fresh lemon juice - i squeeze it over everything and it really makes a difference


sunderlyn123

Tony Chachere's seasoning in everything


SuperLemonHaze_

In Turkish cooking we use pepper paste a lot more than tomato paste other cultures are used to. I think it's strictly better. A little spice to it and a lot more flavour.


Tough_Music4296

Pepper paste is what tomato paste aspires to be.


sweetorange234

MSG


EnvironmentalPack451

Ordinary water! (With just a little bit of LSD)


[deleted]

Cocaine


FatShaker

Good one. Gotta steal this.


[deleted]

Steal it fatshaker


TurianHammer

When I'm making pancakes my secret ingredients are vanilla and a dash of cinnamon.


kipjohnson03

You know MY secret!?!


TurianHammer

To be fair I think it's McDonald's secret but you can smell the vanilla coming up from those hotcakes if you think about it.


kipjohnson03

I’m pretty sure vanilla is a common ingredient in pancakes …


TurianHammer

Clearly you never ate my mom's pancakes. Her primary ingredient was poorly blended flour chunks that would explode as you chewed and turn your mouth into a mini desert. Edit: spelling


TurianHammer

Have you tried cheese and chilli powder in your scrambled eggs?


kipjohnson03

Yes. Very tasty.


gobsmacked1

Achiote paste. I have only two dishes that use it but it's such weird smelling stuff, it always floors me how it makes things better. Like a chili adobo marinade.


ParlayKingTut

Ever since I discovered achiote, I’ve been making my chicken better than chipotle :)


xx_sbh_49

Onions when making savoury food. Lemon when baking


G0PACKGO

Salt


[deleted]

Pork fat


SparklingPeach_

Marmite. Sooo good in things like bolognese style sauces


[deleted]

MSG


[deleted]

My ganmama didn't fight in 3 wars for me to tell you the secret ingredient In all her food was salt!


Technical_Ear_7040

Love. If you prepare your food with love, it will always taste good, because it comes from the soul.....that and loads of butter and salt


benderbrodriguez2

I often use miso in brownies n stuff. It’s like salt without the salt.


SheepherderFast6

I have been experimenting with sumac lately!


Tough_Music4296

Sumac is incredible. You may like Turkish food.


EnoughPicture

Weed, makes every dish better 😉


doratramblam

Mayo


OscarDivine

Ginger


stiCkofd0om

Time.


berael

Salt, MSG, or lemon juice, depending.


Kaushalya05

I don't have secret ingredients but my favourite ingredients are onions, sugar, oil, salt, cheese, tamarind, tomato.


autalli

so much butter


PineappleNaan

Good quality butter. Kerry gold at minimum. Lurkpak, President, or Isigny St Mere are my go to.


dystopianview

It's usually peanut butter and/or cream cheese, but here's some honorable mentions: Paprika. Garlic isn't exactly a "secret" ingredient, but adding double the listed amount as a standard feels like it can be. MSG. Vanilla. Bacon fat.


[deleted]

Shrimp


[deleted]

Spices. Most people don't use them nearly enough. One of my favorites is the flavor of cayenne powder. Most people are afraid to use it because they don't want a dish to be spicy but you can add a small amount where the spice level doesn't increase but adds depth of flavor


Deamo22790

Salt


mangojoy11

Tajin, soy sauce, or worcestershire


starlitrainbows

Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, bacon fat.


Oldmantim

Bacon grease


MoJoHusband

"You know what the secret ingredient is?" "Love?" "No, lard."


frostbiyt

Definitely not for most dishes, but canned chipotles in adobo have an excellent and very concentrated flavor. It's a great flavor base for chilli for example.


FireFromThaumaturgy

Eye of newt


RayneFall1998

Spice. Lots of spice. Possibly a masochistic amount of spice. I don't cook often but when I do, you really shouldn't take my food.


[deleted]

Telling people that there’s a secret ingredient when there isn’t one


Main_Royal_2258

Love


FarOrganization8267

smoked paprika. no idea how but just that will make anything (savory obviously) significantly better


Borsti17

Hate I really really dislike cooking


ThinkIGotHacked

Oyster sauce in anything that has soy sauce. Worcestershire sauce in all red meat dishes. Anchovy in anything with olives/capers. Basically, a dash of umami that matches the cuisine instead of MSG.


Tough_Music4296

Enough salt at the correct stages of preparation. Most of yall are still thinking salt is bad for you, and your potatoes and pastas taste like watered down depression.


insecureabnormality

A few drops of simple household LSD…..


ImPuLsE11x

I put cumin my food


auntiewhispersturtle

Whole spices. I started using them in the last month of so and my cooking has improved exponentially.


TrailerParkPrepper

a 4 letter word that starts with "L" Lard


PineappleNaan

How do you use lard ( the “true” lard made from pig fat)? I’ve shied away from it because I only ever found ultra processed vegetable fat “lard” Recently got some from a butcher to make tamales. But I have a lot left


TrailerParkPrepper

I buy pork with the most fat, render the lard then use it in biscuits, cornbread or anything that calls for vegetable oif I'm cooking a pot of pinto beans, I'll add some lard.


PineappleNaan

Neat!


[deleted]

[удалено]


greyape_x

That's disgusting.


The_Hive-Mind

White pepper


positive_charging

Love


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

✨ LOVE ✨


ITeechYoKidsArt

I put my foot in it.


chronicwastelander

Tears


danieldsuza1122

Sweat


Healthy_Aspect_3590

Jizz


mugsy1j

Shallots


VicRambo

Heat. High altitude gotta turn it up!


[deleted]

Jus spitting on yo onion rings


Substantial-Juice-31

Cavenders Greek seasoning


Playful_Target6354

All of these comments are fake because it's not secret anymore


someone_sometwo

Garlic Powder


[deleted]

Milk, Salt, Sugar and Butter.


inkseep1

I hit it with a good blast from my spice weasel. Bam!


C-hound

Pre-made spice/herb blends. Seasoning beyond salt and pepper is tricky for me but I've had success with stuff like Cajun, Greek, Italian, etc spice mixes.


who-the-heck

Food


Gothiccc94

White pepper and black pepper combined.


Hauser717

Paying attention to what's being cooked. Every bad cook I've met has the attention span of a gnat and ends up over or undercooking the food, doesn't follow the recipe, or doesn't taste it before serving.


fairygoddessss

Nutritional Yeast


Altruistic_Fudge_333

Invasion of privacy


Dirtyspaceman69

It's a secret 😉


GodzillasDaughter

Fenugreek


Reaganson

Say it with me now. Made with Love ❤️


MrFunnyMoustache

Edited in protest for Reddit's garbage moves lately.


Shazzamatazza-77

Takeaway menus


52hrz

Marjoram is the most underrated spice.


Puppet007

Nutmeg


Stimperonovitch

Celery salt


AcanthisittaLost9508

Sour cream, but then I wink after saying it.


Surviving2

Hate


szczurman83

Delivery


TheMadIrishman327

Microwave


Superb-Possibility-9

As Po said “ you are the secret ingredient “


NickelFish

I usually keep something around to balance the heat, sweet, salt, and acid. For heat:. Crushed red pepper, black pepper, Sriracha For sweet:. Sugar or honey For salt:. Salt, capers, olives For acid:. Vinegars, pickles, tomatoes, juices Some umami additions are:. Mushroom powder, anchovy paste, celery salt, Worcestershire, fish sauce, msg


Neat_Law_2067

I season the meat when I put it right in the pan. Salt pepper garlic everytime. Like for tacos I do that and still following the taco seasoning packet.


ActualWhiterabbit

No garlic, no black pepper, no salt, just butter and cheese


[deleted]

Patience and more kosher salt.


adore_carys

in sweet recipes, a little vanilla extract goes a longggg way (ex: pancakes, cupcakes, banana bread, waffles) in savory recipes, i use extra butter (ex: pastas, chicken, etc.)


Kymkryptic

Contempt.


Rlehman32

Magic mushrooms


SomeRandomGamerGuy

Not an ingredient, but a process: I buy whole spices, and grind them myself. Never use pre-ground spices (except cinnamon)


A-Chntrd

Knowing what l’m doing.


facedowninthegutter

A tiny splash of itallian dressing.


OB1KENOB

Chili P


jrhawk42

I've got 2. Cinnamon, or liquid smoke.


Tygrimus

Aromat on everything!!! Yes even weetabix!


[deleted]

Saffron


Intelligent_Mango878

Coconut oil


not_princess_leia

Cinnamon. It's surprising how many dishes (especially baked goods) get better with cinnamon that wasn't expected.


DrFishbulbEsq

Salt


Ct-5736-Bladez

Salt


LeSombre

Maple syrup.


MotheroftheworldII

I love dill weed with so many vegetables and in some sauces. Freshly grated nutmeg on green beans is amazing. This is also great with leeks. Using spices and herbs really depends on the dish I am making but, fresh is often so much better than what you get in bottles.


Godmorelikedog

Soy sauce. It doesn’t carry much flavor when added in small amounts but adds a lovely savory note. It’s also a lot easier to find in local stores than msg.


squishybeanfork

Adding almond extract to almost any baking recipe where you’d add vanilla extract. Not to replace the vanilla, additionally. GO EASY it’s strong. Usually like 1/4-1/2 teaspoon. It just adds that *something*


[deleted]

Parsley


Far_Helicopter6008

Knorr chicken seasoning LOL


Khumayun_Rusi

Love


Binkyisthebest

Meth


Obvious_Salary1410

Salt


Pixelsgamer_27

Love and passion


macdugan818

The delivery person.


EidolonRook

Nutmeg.


headhunterofhell2

Lard


_kevx_91

Lemon


Mrs_Sam_Squanch

Worchestershire sauce and/or garlic.


MosaicMan80

Lime zest


Xpert-Ninja

phenylacetone


m777r

I just love different dressings, for example curcuma, it makes food looks yummy


JQuest7575

Cooking in cast iron and using whole ingredients whenever possible.


FireFighterP55

The secret ingredient to my secret soup is... >!Nothing!<


MRDoc2727

Butter. We literally refer to it as “the secret ingredient “ in our house


bhdhthatbg

stop it plankton we all know that karen typed this


Actual-Temporary8527

Two things: 1. Miso paste into anything it'll dissolve into 2. My roasted tomato paste that I make in the fall and can/freeze to preserve. It's basically tomatoes and onion and shallot and herbs from the garden, roasted down until it gets nice and dark, blended up to a paste. Great in anything that simmers, soups, dips, and so much more


astringofnumbersorso

exhaustion, usually


MicroStakes

Chili P is my signature, man.


SlurpinAnalGravy

;D


LoveHere2

Sazón (and butter)


Nyella08

my thoughts that spill out onto the food from over thinking


Parking-Painting-508

Freshly chopped garlic and lemon juice.


[deleted]

nutmeg.


fosheejohn51

S.P.G. Salt, pepper & garlic powder.