How to begin expanding your palette
When I think back to my old likes and dislikes, I realize how much my pallete has expanded. Of course, growing older helps us to open our eyes and mouths more eagerly to new experiences, but sometimes it takes a little push and motivation to venture into new avenues, gastronomically or otherwise.
We eat meals multiple times a day; so why not through a little adventure and exploration into this cotidian task? Expanding our palette in one sense, like taste, can encourage us to expand our comfort zones in our other senses.
Tools You’ll Need
this was part of the blog post template lol
an open mind and a willingness to cook
1 — Try local produce from a market
Going to a local farmers market is a wonderful way to spend and afternoon. beautiful colors and produce about, and you can connect with local producers and vendors in the area. By supporting small farmers, you are bolster the local food system, meaning you can play a part in enabling a more just and sustainable economy!
Local produce varies widely from region to region and season to season. I recommend trying to find an item that you don’t usually notice or have in grocery stores and trying it out. For instance, this summer there were a lot of “baby”or "salad” turnips at the our nearby farm stand. We sautéd them with some baby bok choy and covered them in a miso maple glaze. It was an absolutely delicious side dish and became part of our summer rotation.
2 — Experiment with new spice blends
A rack of oils, vinegars, and canned goods from the “International Bazaar” at the Minnesota State Fair
Well seasoned food is a whole world within itself. Seasonings, spices and herbs unlock completely different knew flavor combinations.
Spices have a long history of connecting cultures. The Silk Road was the name for the networks that connected the East and West, carrying with it an abundance of spices and cultural commodities.
Now a-days spice blends are much more accessible, so trying different combinations on familiar foods are a great way to test out new flavors in a less intimidating way.
Some of my favorites are za’atar, Gerogian ajika, garam masala, East African bebere, and Japanese togarashi
3 — Find a cookbook from a new cuisine and make a recipe
This one doesn’t even require you to buy anything. If you are feeling cheeky, go into a Barnes and Noble or local bookshop, find the international cookbooks, and rifle through one that looks interesting. If a recipe catches your eye, take a picture of it and try it out!
This is a great way to expand your cooking skills and add new, exciting dishes to your repetoire. I highly recommend this as an activity to do with friend or family.
4 — Eat with a community
Sharing a meal can be a wonderful way to strengthen bonds between each other, whether it is your family, a group of friends, or coworkers. Breaking bread with each other can break down our protective walls, and ease us into knew experiences. You might be encouraged to try something you never even considered. Or, a friend might get a dish that looks so tantalizing the you just have to try a bite, and now you have discovered a new favorite dish!
Have any other suggestions? Share them below!