Whether it is a luscious pasta dish or a hearty soup, Chef Karen Akunowicz appreciates that one underlying concept infuses every recipe. When a home cook can appreciate this cooking technique, she can impress anyone at the table.
From her award winning Boston restaurants to her numerous appearances on food television shows, Chef Karen Akunowicz has legions of fans. While she radiates a vivacious personality on screen, it is the deliciousness of her food that brings people back to the table.
Through her recent partnership with Hood Cream, Chef Karen shared some of her cooking philosophy. Although the home cook might just be beginning their culinary journey, one simple concept can help guide that progress.
According to Chef Karen, every recipe needs balance. She said, “in every recipe, we are always looking for balance.” While that term might sound simplistic, it comes back what makes any and every recipe delicious. Those dishes focus on the best ingredients.
She explained, “looking at Italian cooking, there is a tradition in picking beautiful ingredients and highlighting them. We use them to the best of our ability.”
“For example, when you are using Hood Cream, it is the gold standard, both in consistency and quality.” No matter how that ingredient is used, the resulting flavor will be delicious and craveable.
Chef Karen went onto explain how a cream sauce needs that punch of acid to make it balanced. Although it might seem like the two ingredients would not be good bedfellows, they need each other to make the flavor delicious. Richness with acidity makes people craveable.
To highlight those flavors, it comes down to using the best quality ingredients. Chefs have long touted the importance of fresh vegetables, eating local, or knowing your farmer. The same can be said for every ingredient in a recipe. It is one of the reasons why it is better to spend the money on an ingredient, like Hood Cream.
Even in today’s climate when food costs continue to be front of mind, the recipe’s balance requires ingredient thoughtfulness. As Chef Karen said, “quality ingredients are going to make your dish delicious, especially when the dish only has a few ingredients. You want the best possible products because it will come in the flavor.”
Whether it is a family recipe handed down through the generation, pocket recipes that work in a pinch, or another dish that was discovered through experimentation, the best ingredients allow the flavor balance to be achieved. Thinking before just throwing an ingredient into the mix will make a difference in that memorable flavor.