Seeking Recommendations for Strong Tasting Foods

BlackKat75
BlackKat75 Posts: 210 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I'm looking for recommendations for strong tasting, but lower calorie, foods to add to recipes / salads. For example, I generally bring in a greek salad for lunch because I like the strong taste of feta and kalamata olives. Similarly, I'll add a lot of sauteed mushrooms to recipes because I like the strong taste. Any other recommendations for other foods to try? (FYI, I really dislike bleu cheese, so that's definitely not on my list!) Any tricks to bump up taste / bulk of recipes without adding a lot of calories?
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Replies

  • live_your_dreams
    live_your_dreams Posts: 13 Member
    have you tried adding Kosher salt to some of your recipes? No calories, and half the amount of sodium of reg salt and it taste great! I use it in rice, stir fry's, pasta, when I cook meats and fish etc.
  • cjc166
    cjc166 Posts: 222
    kimchi. pickled cabbage with lots of spices. one of the staple Korean dishes. I love it!
  • Spatialized
    Spatialized Posts: 623 Member
    Repeat after me: sriracha. Adds strong flavor to everything. I second the kimchi suggestion too, but your co-workers may not appreciate the pungency of it (garlic, lots of it adn more).
  • ChrisRS87
    ChrisRS87 Posts: 781 Member
    honey mustard
  • HolllyBot
    HolllyBot Posts: 33
    hot pepper flakes
  • rextcat
    rextcat Posts: 1,408 Member
    boeuf bourguignon- small amount on rice or noodels.
  • kateanne27
    kateanne27 Posts: 275 Member
    I like to make a sauce of yogurt and curry to marinate chicken/cook veggies, you can make a nice little stew to serve over rice.
  • Lize11e
    Lize11e Posts: 419
    I like to roast a head of garlic and just eat the cloves. Also great spread on toast. Red onion is another of my faves. You might want to invest in a pack of gum for later though. :wink:
  • kenyajae
    kenyajae Posts: 48
    balsamic vinegar and salsa are both strong flavors and mix well with veggies and grains
  • jwalworth
    jwalworth Posts: 32 Member
    banana peppers
  • kateanne27
    kateanne27 Posts: 275 Member
    dijon mustard with horseradish on my veggies and sandwhiches
  • deviantcupcake
    deviantcupcake Posts: 136 Member
    Bump.

    I'm interested to see what people have to say. My other half won't eat a lot of the healthier things I make because he can't taste subtle flavours.
  • jojosgreen
    jojosgreen Posts: 5
    I've been using lots of Mrs Dash Low Sodium herbs and McCorrmick's spice packets. Adding lots and lots of flavor. The family (not on a diet) are enjoying it too. Husband has even put DOWN the salt shaker.
  • wtfusernameisnttaken
    wtfusernameisnttaken Posts: 192
    Thai dishes have strong flavors and are fantastic since it's mostly veggies.
  • kaajay
    kaajay Posts: 62 Member
    Vegemite or Marmite. Add a dab to your toast (I put more because I love the taste). I usually feel really satisfied.

    Peanut butter to your ramen, noodles.

    Caramelized onions (you can speed up the cooking time by microwaving cut onions for several minutes then sauteing them).

    Balsamic or cider vinegar.

    I also second the Sriracha, and also recommend the Sambal (chili garlic paste).

    Dijon mustard.

    BBQ sauce.
  • T34418l3angel
    T34418l3angel Posts: 474 Member
    I use feta cheese, it's the bomb. I also use allot of some ground/spicy mustard, dill, tapitio hot sauce, cilantro, craisins (cranberry raisins), depending on what I'm eating.
  • vtachycardia
    vtachycardia Posts: 374
    I have a bit of a garam masala fetish, I use it like pepper on food. The blend of spices do not have to be cooked like in curries although when cooked garam masala has a less raw flavour, turning more aromatic.

    Chilli Flakes I use as is also.

    Then a squeeze of lemon or lime juice with a fine grating of the skin, always lifts a bland food.

    Staple of mine is making bean dips or chick pea dips, bland beans with anything I like added to make the flavour punch. Did humus with peanut butter and tahini with pitted balck olives and lots of garlic and lemon the other day. Lots of flavour and minutes to make in a food processor.

    Really great item is fenugreek leaf (methi) dried or fresh. I use this when poaching chicken or other white meats and fish.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    Repeat after me: sriracha. Adds strong flavor to everything. I second the kimchi suggestion too, but your co-workers may not appreciate the pungency of it (garlic, lots of it adn more).

    This. I put Sriracha on everything.
  • Francesca3162
    Francesca3162 Posts: 520 Member
    I add fresh figs for sweetness and texture!!
  • _LilPowerHouse
    _LilPowerHouse Posts: 365 Member
    Vodka.. Oh wait can we add that to food??.. :laugh:
  • BringingSherriBack
    BringingSherriBack Posts: 607 Member
    spicy brown mustard
    garlic
    red pepper flakes
    garlic pepper seasoning
    cajun seasoning
    lemon pepper
    banana peppers
    Frank's Buffalo Wing sauce
  • steadk
    steadk Posts: 334 Member
    Vegemite or Marmite. Add a dab to your toast (I put more because I love the taste). I usually feel really satisfied.

    I tried this when I visited NZ, needless to say, I'm glad it's not found on our shelves in the US lol
  • tippity
    tippity Posts: 3
    definitely cilantro - I add it to salads to kick up the taste
    dijon mustard as well
    cayenne pepper
    dill
    ginger
  • rivka_m
    rivka_m Posts: 1,007 Member
    I put garlic in nearly EVERYTHING I cook (possibly this is why I'm still single :smokin: ). Anything that can't get garlic gets mustard.

    I also sometimes sprinkle sumac on things, it's nice and lemony.
  • minty16
    minty16 Posts: 3 Member
    Very low calorie curry sauce. Saute an onion in water to soften along with a couple of garlic cloves sliced and an inch of fresh ginger grated. Once these have softened sprinkle with curry powder to taste and cook off the spice with the onion mix. After a couple of minutes add passata and a teaspoon of splenda. Once onions are completely soften place in a blender, season to taste and blend for a couple of minutes. This gives a smooth tasty curry sauce to use with vegetables and meat.
  • bellesouth18
    bellesouth18 Posts: 1,071 Member
    Dave's Insanity Sauce is super, super hot! One little droplet will set your mouth on fire.

    Try some Creole and Cajun dishes, if you like celery, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and hotter spices (which can be adjusted up or down). They can be quite healthy, especially the tomato based recipes, and adapt especially well to seafood or chicken. :drinker: I love Shrimp Creole.

    edit: added vegetables.
  • squishycow7
    squishycow7 Posts: 820 Member
    more spices! on everything!

    my faves: cumin, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, variety of chil powders (cayenne, ancho, etc), basil (fresh is SO GOOD), rosemary, sage...


    ...and of course hot sauces and salt but I am trying to learn moderation on that front!!!
  • tinkermommc
    tinkermommc Posts: 558 Member
    Thai dishes have strong flavors and are fantastic since it's mostly veggies.

    Mmmmm.....Curry!!
  • robmcd88
    robmcd88 Posts: 85 Member
    Capers add a strong olive type taste to things.
  • kaajay
    kaajay Posts: 62 Member
    Vegemite or Marmite. Add a dab to your toast (I put more because I love the taste). I usually feel really satisfied.

    I tried this when I visited NZ, needless to say, I'm glad it's not found on our shelves in the US lol

    :) Actually Marmite is pretty easy to find -- in the British section of most supermarkets.

    I get Vegemite sent over to me by my fiance. He's so lucky to have me ;)

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