Anonymous wrote:I grew up with food not having much at all - maybe some minced garlic or cinnamon but that's all. I thought I hated a lot of foods. While heat is not my friend, flavor is. When invited for dinner at other people's homes it turns out asparagus, green beans, etc., can taste amazing. But sometimes when I ask how they were flavored I don't get a straight answer or one I can copy at home. Any suggestions?
So far I have cinnamon, minced garlic and minced onion, garlic and onion powders, smoked paprika, thyme, dill, and salt and pepper. The heat from pepper burns my mouth so I barely use that. But what else can I add for flavor?
It isn’t just the spices. Asparagus can be fantastic with just olive oil and garlic or butter, lemon and salt. The trick is preparation. Thicker asparagus are more flavorful than thinner ones, fresher is better you want to either steam them or grill them for the right amount of time. If you overcook vegetables they lose their flavor.
Also use more salt than you think you should and don’t forget some type of fat. The quality of your butter and olive oil can make a big difference. Adding an acid like a squeeze of lemon at the end can make a huge difference.