5 Special Secret Ingredients to Elevate Your Home Cooking

home cooking with expensive ingredients — Image: @maldonsalt

If you’re looking to level up your home cooking, stocking your pantry with a few select expensive ingredients just might be the key.

Of course, we’re not saying that you should break the bank on over-the-top seasonings. But, having a few upscale go-to ingredients on hand at all times can take your cooking from “good” to “great”.

To see our favourite fancy kitchen essentials, keep scrolling. You’ll be cooking like a Michelin starred chef in no time at all.

5 Expensive Ingredients That Are Actually Worth It

TRUFF, Black Truffle Oil

By now, TRUFF is a household name amongst the foodie crowd. But while the brand is best known for its truffle-infused hot sauces, TRUFF is taking things in a new direction. Putting heat on the back-burner for the time being, TRUFF has launched a new product sans spice.

This new addition to the TRUFF family is undoubtedly going to find a home in the pantries of home chefs across Australia. Just a drizzle of this luscious oil elevates even the most basic dish to a restaurant-quality level of goodness. Trust us, this one’s a must-have.

Maldon, Sea Salt Flakes

Admittedly, this is not a hot take. Any home cook likely knows by now that flaky sea salt is the secret to finishing any worthy dish. Summer pasta, grilled meats, and even burrata are all made exponentially better when served with a subtle sprinkling of this salt.

If that’s not enough to convince you, consider the fact that this British brand has been around since 1882. That considered, the quality of Maldon’s flavourful sea salt speaks for itself.

Wilderness Poets, Tahitian Vanilla Powder

Calling all bakers, this one’s for you.

This vanilla powder is made by premium sun-cured Tahitian vanilla beans that are then ground down into a fine powder. With no added alcohols or sugars, this flavourful vanilla is undiluted and truly spectacular.

Just a pinch provides the richest, most robust vanilla flavour, so rarely achieved by liquid extracts. Best of all, this organic vanilla powder is also said to boost the immune system and improve skin complexion. What more could you want?

The Essential Ingredient, Saffron Threads

For centuries, saffron has been the spice of legends. Saffron’s distinct flavour and vibrant colour have made it a favourite ingredient of cooks around the world, appearing in a variety of dishes from paellas to pastas.

According to Bon Apetit, it’s the intense harvesting process that makes this precious ingredient so pricey. “The saffron must be harvested—by hand!—in the mid-morning, when the flowers are still closed in order to protect the delicate stigmas inside. It takes about 1,000 flowers to produce just one ounce of saffron.” Once you try it, though, you’ll never look back. While it’s hard to pinpoint the taste exactly, there’s no denying that just a pinch of saffron can bring a whole new dimension to your cooking.

Elsa, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

Love Italian food? Consider this one a must-have.

Balsamic Vinegar of Modena must meet strict standards to ensure it’s of the highest quality. There are several requirements covering every aspect of the vinegar production, from the grapes used to the amount of time it must be aged.

While it may all sound like a bit much for a drizzle of vinegar, one taste and it’s clear that these strict standards yield unparalleled results. Full-bodied and rich, this vinegar is best served fresh. Drizzle it on top of sliced mozzarella, cooked steak, and even gelato for a flavour experience unlike any other.

Need a kitchen upgrade before you get cooking? Check out the 5 best luxury appliances of 2022.

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