Don't know how to do it? Dr. Gourmet explains common cooking techniques and the hows and whys of what they are and why they work. More Cooking Techniques
The Delicious 6-Week Weight Loss Plan for the Real World
Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP has counseled thousands of his patients on healthy, sustainable weight loss. Now he's compiled his best tips and recipes into a six-week plan for you to learn how to eat great food that just happens to be great for you.
Get the prescription for better health as well as healthy weight loss, including:
In cooking, the idea of opposites makes for successful recipes. Mango salsa is a great example of using differing ingredients to play off of each other. The mango is sweet and is balanced by hot chili powder, with cilantro for a fresh, pungent flavor and red and yellow peppers for a bit of tartness.
I have experimented with this recipe and when I am going to serve it on top of something less salty, I add just a touch of salt – 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon at most. Likewise, if the dish that I am going to serve it on top of has lower acidity, I add a bit of lime juice. A teaspoon is usually adequate to balance the other flavors.
One of my favorite examples of opposites is strawberries with balsamic vinegar and fresh ground black pepper. While these three don’t seem to go together, they complement each other perfectly by stimulating the taste buds in perfect harmony.