What new-to-you food are you interested in trying this year?

Food Poll Wordcloud

We asked and you responded! From the looks of it, 2012 is going to be a pretty adventurous year in the kitchen! Last week we wondered, of all the foods that are new-to-you, which one do you want to try eating more of this year? The answers ranged from microgreens to dried beans, and one clear favorite bubbled to the top: umami paste!

The top votes, in order of preference were:

  • Umami Paste
  • Local Pork
  • Kale
  • Dried Beans
  • Kohlrabi
  • Homemade Anything
  • Kimchi
  • Durian
  • Local Beef
  • Microgreens
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Chinese Broccoli
  • Starfruit
  • Head Cheese
  • Turmeric

Check out all the results on our Facebook page.

Now, just what is umami paste, you ask? In fact, what is umami? It sounds mysterious, but it's actually more basic than you might think. Umami is the “fifth taste” or savoriness of a food and it rounds out the usual list of sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Umami is found in a wide range of foods, including fish, cured meats, mushrooms, ripe tomatoes, Chinese cabbage, green tea, soy sauce, and aged cheese like Parmesan. You can read all about it here. Umami Paste is a product that can be found on specialty food websites and typically involves some combination of these flavor-packed items. It can be added to just about anything, from sauces to crostini, and is a sure way to get your audience to say, "What is in this delicious dish??"

While we don't carry a pre-made paste, our Store Merchandiser, Alli Johnson, recently made her own from a recipe found in Paleo Comfort Foods by Julie and Charles Mayfield.

Homemade Umami Paste

3 medium cloves garlic
4 anchovies (or anchovy paste)
1 tablespoon tomato paste

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Add to dish to taste.

This particular recipe is dairy-free, but you could also consider blending in Parmesan cheese and among other things, black olives or Porcini mushrooms. Have fun and let us know what you discover!

 

Congratulations to our poll winner: Katherine Hackett! For being selected at random, Katherine will receive a $10 Co-op gift card and a bag of her new-to-you food choice, dried beans. Thanks to everyone who voted on our poll. Look for more polls coming your way on our Facebook page.