General Concepts in Flavor Building

Appears in
Professional Cooking
Professional Cooking

By Wayne Gisslen

Published 2014

  • About
There are no fixed rules for combining flavors, but the example just discussed suggests some general principles. When you are developing or modifying a recipe, think about the following points.

Every ingredient should have a purpose. Start with the main ingredients, and then think about what will work with them. Continue to build the flavor, using just the ingredients you need.

Ingredients can work together by harmonizing or by contrasting. In the example above, the rich taste of the liaison and the mild taste of the veal harmonize, and the tartness of the lemon contrasts with the cream.