Pairs well with: capers, chives, cilantro, garlic, marjoram, oregano, mint, onion, parsley, rosemary, thyme, artichokes, eggplant, green vegetables, mushrooms, olives, Sweet Basil is the best basil for pesto and tomato salads.Pairs well with: caramel, cherry, chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, ginger, hazelnut, honey, lime, mango, molasses, papaya.Pairs well with: almond, apple, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, honey, macadamia, nutmeg, raisin, vanilla.

Pairs well with: almond, black pepper, caramel, cardamom, ginger, hazelnut, honey, orange, peach, vanilla, plum.

Pairs well with: caramel, cardamom, chestnut, cinnamon, cranberry, currant, ginger, hazelnut, mango, maple, rosemary, walnut.

Pairs well with: apples, beets, caramel, carrots, chocolate, citrus, cinnamon, coconut, coriander, cranberry, fennel, figs, fish, garlic, peaches, pomegranates, pumpkin.

Pairs well with: apple, apricot, banana, caramel, cherry, coffee, fig, honey, orange, peach, pear, plum.

Pairs well with: apples, beets, cabbage, caramel, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, juniper, mace, mustard, nuts, nutmeg, onions, pears, pumpkin, root vegetables, yams.

Click NouveauRaw – (pre)Pairing for Success, print, and tape to the inside of your kitchen cabinet. Blessings, amie sueĠ1/11/19 – I wrangled together a PDF that you can download with everything listed below. I also did a post on Flavor Balancing and How to Fix a Recipe. When working with fresh ingredients and spices, it is essential to taste test as you build a recipe. I have a few other posts that you might find helpful when preparing foods. Never be afraid to take a recipe and transform it with new and exciting flavors. “Good cooking is an art, as well as a form of intense pleasure… A recipe is only a theme, which an intelligent cook can play each time with a variation.” ~ Madame Jehane Benoit I read a quote that spoke to me, and I hope it does to you as well. We all have unique taste receptors, and flavors need to be tailored appropriately. Use a light hand when first adding them in, even when following another person’s recipe. They are there to enhance and support the main ingredients. Spices and herbs should never overtake a dish. Take produce as an example: knowing if something is ripe or not will significantly impact how you “season” a dish.

Knowing how to pair spices along with fresh, whole foods relies heavily on understanding their individual qualities and freshness. When we truly understand the essence of our ingredients, and what comprises their function and taste, the more successful our dishes will be.

When you are creating in the kitchen, every dish we make is inspired by flavor.

Peach pear plum