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Published: Feb 24, 2019

Flavor Factors: The Two Most Important Things

Red-Cooked Pork Belly Recipe

Ok, let’s talk salt and acid… two of the most important tools in your cooking arsenal. They bring simple ingredient to life. They transform any dish from “meh” to “WOW.”

This dish, a basic red-braised pork from the cookbook Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees, is a perfect example. It’s flavor profile comes primarily from shaoxing rice wine (acid) and two kinds of soy sauce (salt + #umami). And of course, slow cooking — which is a HUGE flavor factor in and of itself.

There are other ingredients that play important roles (garlic, a few spices, sugar, stock) but they would be nothing — read: totally boring — without the amped-up acid and salt.

So your lesson for today is this: USE MORE SALT AND ACID! Play around with the very limits of your experience with these ingredients. At the boundaries of your default comfort zone is #flavortown.

About Steph

I’m Steph, a classically-trained cooking teacher and professional recipe developer who’s going to show you how to COOK LIKE A BOSS.

Follow me for friendly-fierce guidance and training. Let's get you on the road to becoming a master home cook!

Previous Post: « It Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated
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Stephanie Stiavetti

I'm a classically trained chef and cooking teacher. I can teach you how to be a ninja home cook.

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