I tell you all the time to taste your food as you go. Most dishes that lack flavor or general oomph are a result of just letting a recipe take the wheel and not giving it your tastebuds’ stamp of approval. When your food tastes flat, it’s not bad, or ruined—it’s simply asking for something.
Salt: Consider salt the ingredient of all ingredients. Most times a dish is lacking enthusiasm, it simply needs salt to help all the flavors become their most flavorful selves. Add a little at a time and keep tasting until it’s just right. You can always add more salt, but you can’t take it away.
Sweetness: Don’t be afraid to add sweetness to savory dishes. Acidic and bitter ingredients need sugar to help balance them out. Granulated sugar, brown sugar and honey are my go-tos for lending sweetness.
Acid: Ever taste something that should be bold and vibrant but just tastes…meh? This is a classic case of acid being needed to come in and wake up all the flavors. A splash of vinegar, or a squeeze of citrus works wonders.
Fat: When you feel like something tastes just a little too harsh, or lacks a luxuriousness you were hoping for, fat can turn it all around. A knob of butter, a splash of cream, a finish of olive oil are perfect additions.
Heat: Even if you aren’t a spice lover, you can still benefit from a little heat in a dish from time to time. If something tastes pretty close to what you expected but you feel like it needs just a little lift, spice is often the answer. A pinch of red pepper flakes, even freshly ground pepper sometimes can offer the solution.
Freshness: When things feel a little weighed down, or maybe a little too one-note, a finish of freshness can save the day. Herbs, a splash of citrus, or the zest, and scallions help a dish feel complete (not to mention look inherently more appetizing).
