34 Comments

Chicken Boullion cube to everything with liquid. It is my secret MSG enhancer, without admitting to using MSG:) Plus I make most of my own stock, so adding a cube is a helpful way to getting that Unami without committing to anchovies or mushrooms. Love the anchovy comments, I need to sneak more in, secretly of course. People think they hate MSG and anchovies, but they really don’t.

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Duck fat. Yeah, I'm a one-trick pony, I know.

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I use Badia Complete seasoning a lot. It has a great blend of all purpose herbs and not too much salt. For any Asian dish that I want to add a slight kick to, whether during cooking or when I sit down to eat, I use Japanese Seven Flavor spice (Shichimi Togarashi). It is on the tables of all "diner" type restaurants in Japan, and it is amazing. A blend of chiles, sesame seeds, seaweed, and orange peel, but no salt. Yum!

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Mr Zimmern, could you do a post about different ways to use anchovies? I just read about Caesar Spaghetti from www.thekitchn.com, but I need more ideas! ☺️

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You got it!

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Yep I second that 👍

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I'm real believer in the 'Bay Laurel' leaves fresh or dried... it's one ingredient that when not used, it seems like something 's missing??? Another key ingredient I love to use, is a great quality Oyster sauce... provides a ton of Umami + a richness adding depth to stews, sauces, soups, ect... Sometimes only a dab or 6 depending...

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Fish Sauce and Anchovies (not together) are my favorite things!

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Freshly ground nutmeg

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Calabrian chiles in any form - dried, in oil, in vinegar

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Ok first of all I love that KitchenAid mixer with the flat black paint. Very cool. My secret ingredient is catnip. Makes for a fun dinner party… You should see the people rolling around on the floor after ingesting. 😹 Seriously though, and sadly, I don’t cook much, but do use lemon zest occasionally to brighten up a dish 🍋

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Agreed that Anchovies are a "must," in every kitchen. I have tins. I have jars ... even tubes. And, I like to try those that are sold in "flavored" oils. They can lend that "little something."

I love Garbanzo/Cece/Chickpea. While I have the dried, on hand. I love to puree some of the canned beans, to add texture, and depth of flavor to so many dishes.

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Anchovies without a doubt for me. Melt them and add veal meatballs. They add depth to so many recipes

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Wherever appropriate, I add fish sauce and MSG.

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Also i love, loveage, put it in roasted vegt, soups, broths....has a celery taste but more floral

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Wildly Delicious garlic basil salt.....no msg....but creates the umf in all your dishes, that takes it to a better level

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Barrel aged soy or white soy at the end of cooking

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A teaspoon of vanilla extract in a pot of vegetable soup. Seriously.

Also, cinnamon in chili or marinara sauce.

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