Three ingredients...

[bklyn]

What are the tried and true things you reach for when you need to make a tasty meal?

One triumvirate that I call upon often is sesame oil, soy sauce and chili garlic sauce. It can be a marinade, a condiment, a soup stock, the base for more complicated sauces... I can't seem to exhaust this trio's uses.

Show me your three ingredients that add complex flavors and make people clean their plates. Limit it to three items, so it's not a full recipe but rather something that can enhance many different dishes.

[MassLiberal]

I'm a big fan of braising, so carrots, onion, and celery generally base my winter cooking.

[shera]

Trayc, you got me addicted to that stuff. I make fish with that jar at least once a week. Mahi mahi tonight.

[valleygirl]

Orange juice, soy & ginger... any one, two or all three. Marinades... sautes... mixed w/maple syrup for a yummy glaze. Grilling season is here!!

[SKISC]

Garlic, Salt and Pepper, red wine (for sauce if cooking beef), onions, and olive oil.

bklyn, what you make sure sounds tasty, I may have to try that on some fish soon.

[Steven S. Dallas]

Sweetfat, sweetfat, and more sweetfat!

[mrryde]

Trayc, you got me addicted to that stuff. I make fish with that jar at least once a week. Mahi mahi tonight.

where was this thread last night when i made mahi mahi.

when im lost for recipes, i go to garlic, lemon and olive oil

[MrZach]

Gotta have:


And:

acidity = 0.2-0.4%, super fruity, mmmmmmm

And:


Lately I've been loving this stuff too and it's recently found a permanent place in my kitchen, so I had to add it:

Good on all kinds of foods

[lemon boy]

Butter:
We use a tremendous amount of butter at our house (okay, I use most of it in my dishes although the wife's no slouch on butterfied cooking).
from mere flavoring to sauces to frying butter is indispensable.

Garlic:
What is a meal without garlic? Not much I say. I do often cheat and use "jarlic" though, so easy.

Bacon:
There is always a little bacon waiting around. It serves a similar function as butter but also can be the star meat in some dishes.

But, I don't think that those are really the assignment here so instead I'll roll with a couple of my standard starters:

butter, garlic, shallots

butter, booze, brown sugar (semi-standard dessert base)

butter, wine, shallots

a powerhouse two ingredient base that the can go either sweet or savory:
butter and cream

[bklyn]

Trayc, you got me addicted to that stuff. I make fish with that jar at least once a week. Mahi mahi tonight.

Ha ha ha. You were so skeptical at first... but I'm glad you like it.

[cinnepa]

garlic, avocados, mangos.....picks up any dish.

[Tectonically_Neglected]

GOOD Acieto Balsamico (the thick, siruppy, super expensive kind)
Mild indian currypaste
Mango chutney
Apple sirrup (great with stir fried chicory, smoked bacon and a dash of acieto balsamico)

Close seconds:
Thai fish sauce (gives red meats a really nice earthy flavour, alternative are anchovis)
Ginger

(GOOD olive oil and garlic go without saying)

[Viva]

Sea salt

Fresh-ground peppercorn mix

Calif olive oil

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

Lawry's Seasoned Salt
Garlic
Cayenne powder

[Mrs Roo]

The basics to any Mauritian sauce (more than three, sorry):

Lightly fried in olive oil:

onions
garlic
ginger
fresh thyme
curry leaves (carapulai)


It's then up to you whether you add curry spices, and/or chopped tomatoes to cook your meat,fish or vegetables. Always topped with chopped, fresh coriander.

I love frying those 5 ingredients. The smell is always so aromatic and gets people talking when they come over to eat.

[edg]

Malted Barley
Hops
Yeast

(Just add water)

edg

[philippeR]

Thyme, garlic, olive oil.

[Staggerwing]

Good chicken stock. If I don't have any homemade, there is an Ohio brand that has only chicken and veggies for ingredients; no yeast extract or MSG.

Glad someone else mentioned the soy and OJ combo.

If you like tuna steaks, try this...marinate a couple in a combo of low sodium soy sauce, chardonnay, a couple tablespoons of frozen OJ concentrate, a generous helping of fresh grated ginger and a splash of olive oil. Marinate tune for a couple of hours in the fridge. Grill over an extremely hot fire, about 2-3 minutes per side.

Reduce marinade in a skillet to 1/4 original volume. Strain, then return to warm pan. Add several pats of butter, swirling pan to incorporate into sauce. Taste, and add salt/fresh pepper as needed. A tablespoon or so on each hunk of fish is plenty.

[RootSkier]

Malted Barley
Hops
Yeast

And we have a winner.

[smalls]

[MakersTeleMark]

[cj001f]

-Chair
-Table
-Waiter

[The Dad]

Nutmeg, wine, and dairy.

[valleygirl]

Nutmeg, wine, and dairy.

I call minor league foul.... dairy??? pick one...

[Dantheman]