Thursday, 11 April 2013

Taste #5 Umami Paste - Laura Santtini

Have you heard of this bad-boy yet? Well, if not, now you have, and it is a DELIGHT to introduce. Umami has been identified as the fifth taste sensation, existing alongside sweet, sour, bitter and salty, and it is now available in supermarkets thanks to Laura Santtini.


On the (really beautiful) packaging it is described as a 'flavour bomb', and it really is. This umami paste is comprised of tomato puree, garlic, anchovy, and a plethora of other flavours, but describing it bit by bit doesn't do justice to the product as a whole. Indulging in a metaphor, I would instead say that this paste is a cunningly disguised key, opening up a whole new world of tasty food. You can add it to anything, (and I mean anything: meat poultry, fish, sauces, soups, stir-fries, sandwiches), where it enhances and adds a real depth to the flavour. I tried it with my supper yesterday - some simple chicken marinated in honey, soy sauce and olive oil, and the difference was incredible. You can even use it in place of wasabi when eating sushi, and after attempting to make my own, I tried it with this too. Again, it blew me away. I'm really excited to have found this, and can bask in the knowledge that with this, food will never dare be bland again. The thing to do now, is to go and try some for yourself. Don't let me have all the fun.

Sushi: Fallen apart, or 'deconstructed'..?

J

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