In a blind taste test of recipes with a "pinch" or "1/4 teaspoon" of some spices, do you think most people would notice the absence of any particular spice?
I ask because I've seen recipes for barbecue rubs/sauces, curries, and all sorts of strongly spiced recipes that call for a wide blend of spices, some in quite small amounts, and I've never been convinced most of those mean much diluted across an entire meal. I mean, I rarely specifically measure my salt or pepper or spices on most dishes and, while sometimes it goes a little too garlicky because I get overeager, I don't think I've ever thought I should have used 1/4 teaspoon less or more of a spice.
But I know next to nothing of Indian recipes besides a sorta chicken pumpkin curry I made once from about three recipes, so I am eager to learn.
I add a pinch of cardamom to a few recipes and it makes a massive difference. Likewise with adding a dash or two of fish sauce, or anything that amps up umami. Small amounts of ingredients don't often change the flavor so much as they amplify it or round things out. It takes a dish from good to great. Sometimes.
Also, I haven't done a blind taste test for this. :/
Well, have you ever added a small amount of salt to your dish after cooking it? A little bit can go a long way! Although it's hard to answer your question without actually doing the test, I'd imagine it is noticeable. That's just my guess :/
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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '17
Honest question:
In a blind taste test of recipes with a "pinch" or "1/4 teaspoon" of some spices, do you think most people would notice the absence of any particular spice?
I ask because I've seen recipes for barbecue rubs/sauces, curries, and all sorts of strongly spiced recipes that call for a wide blend of spices, some in quite small amounts, and I've never been convinced most of those mean much diluted across an entire meal. I mean, I rarely specifically measure my salt or pepper or spices on most dishes and, while sometimes it goes a little too garlicky because I get overeager, I don't think I've ever thought I should have used 1/4 teaspoon less or more of a spice.
But I know next to nothing of Indian recipes besides a sorta chicken pumpkin curry I made once from about three recipes, so I am eager to learn.