Advice | 5 ways to fix a bland recipe (2024)

Share

Comment

Save

Have you ever followed a recipe to a T and then found it sort of … blah? Recently, a reader in the live Q&A I host with my colleague Aaron Hutcherson (every Wednesday at noon Eastern!) found themselves in this very conundrum with a sorta soup, sorta stew.

I’ve never eaten anything with less flavor in my life! … Any suggestions as to what I can do to perk it up now that it’s well and truly cooked?

— Voraciously Q&A reader

Our fellow staff writer Daniela Galarza has previously written about how to fix overseasoned dishes, but there are also plenty of easy ways to address the opposite problem. Here, broken into a few larger flavor categories, are some suggestions on how to turn your bland food into something brilliant.

Salt

Return to menu

As Samin Nosrat says in her book “Salt Fat Acid Heat,” it matters when you use salt. “Add it in the right amount, at the right time, in the right form. A smaller amount of salt applied while cooking will often do more to improve flavor than a larger amount added at the table.” That being said, even if you have salted your food before cooking, sometimes you need to adjust to taste at the end, to sharpen and complement other ingredients. This is something I always do with soup, pesto and tomato sauce. Add a little at a time until you’re happy with the result.

Advertisem*nt

Now is also the time to bust out those fancy finishing salts for when you want a briny pop of flavor, as well as visual and textural panache. Aim for something with flakes that you can pick up. Leave quicker-dissolving fine sea salt or table salt for times when you want it to meld into the finished dish.

Salt-forward pantry staples are another way to go and can add other dimensions of umami-rich flavor. Contenders include soy sauce, fish sauce, parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce.

Acid

Return to menu

One of my favorite ways to perk up a bland dish is with a splash of acid. These types of ingredients are great especially if you’re trying to cook with less salt. This is one reason I try to have at least one lemon in my refrigerator produce drawer at all times. A squeeze of lemon juice can brighten a soup or stew and even a grilled or seared steak. If you’d like to always have juice or zest on hand for seasoning, try freezing in small portions, such as in an ice cube tray ( likes Soupercubes for stashing extra ingredients). You can toss the frozen juice or zest straight into a hot soup or stew.

Don’t overlook vinegars, either. Sherry vinegar is my go-to for tweaking finished dishes, though cider and rice vinegars work well, too. I find regular distilled white vinegar a bit harsh and one-note for this purpose. Balsamic vinegar can shine in the right circ*mstances as long as you keep in mind the dark color and sweetness it brings.

Vinegar is one component of mustard, so that’s another option when you’re looking for an ingredient to cut through the fog.

Chile peppers

Return to menu

Adding something spicy is a sure way to transform an underseasoned dish. And there’s lots to choose from.

Options for hot sauces span the world, whether you’re interested in harissa, Sriracha, Cajun pepper hot sauce (i.e. Tabasco) or another flavor profile. Since tolerance for spicy foods varies, it’s typically best to let individual diners select the type and amount of hot sauce they prefer, which goes for the other possibilities listed here as well.

Crushed red pepper flakes are another accessible, shelf-stable pantry option. For something with a milder heat, consider Urfa chile flakes, from Turkey, or Aleppo-style pepper, originally from Syria but now typically sourced from Turkey.

Advertisem*nt

Don’t forget about spicy condiments with more ingredients, either. I’ve been known to improve a dish with a pile of kimchi or a spoonful of chili crisp.

Sugar

Return to menu

The goal is not to fix a dish by making it saccharine, and if you add a little sugar or a similar ingredient to something savory, it’s unlikely you will actually taste the sweetness. But as with salt, a judicious amount of something with sugar, even a teaspoon, can enhance other flavors and bring balance.

So, yes, that’s why I might add a pinch of sugar to my tomato sauce. I will also add a few drops of honey to a homemade vinaigrette to balance the acid and, bonus, help emulsify the dressing. Honey, maple syrup or agave can elevate a meh bowl of oatmeal or even bland, underripe fruit, which we’ve all dealt with.

Fresh herbs

Return to menu

To guarantee they retain their color and flavor, fresh herbs are often added at the end of cooking anyway, making them an easy solution for bland dishes. Parsley can do so much more than garnish, and it’s an excellent way to inject a final hit of “mildly bitter, refreshing and grassy” flavor, as Aaron describes it.

I favor generous heaps of cilantro, though I know that plenty of people find it tastes like soap. Thyme, scallions, basil and chives are other assertive additions to play around with.

Advice | 5 ways to fix a bland recipe (2024)

FAQs

Advice | 5 ways to fix a bland recipe? ›

If yes — and it still tastes bland, don't give up. A sprinkle of finishing salt, fresh herbs, chopped toasted nuts, and if it makes sense —salty cheese such as Parmesan or feta or a drizzle of spicy Sriracha sauce can add plenty of flavor to an otherwise sad dish.

How to fix a bland recipe? ›

If yes — and it still tastes bland, don't give up. A sprinkle of finishing salt, fresh herbs, chopped toasted nuts, and if it makes sense —salty cheese such as Parmesan or feta or a drizzle of spicy Sriracha sauce can add plenty of flavor to an otherwise sad dish.

How do you fix bland taste? ›

From boring to brilliant: Five easy ways to fix a bland recipe
  1. Salt. Advertisem*nt. ...
  2. Acid. One of my favorite ways to perk up a bland dish is with a splash of acid. ...
  3. Chilli peppers. Adding something spicy is a sure way to transform an underseasoned dish. ...
  4. Sugar. ...
  5. Fresh herbs.
Mar 13, 2023

How can I make bland food better? ›

Adjust the seasoning with salt, acid, and herbs. A squeeze of lemon juice can make nearly any dish better (we always add a few dashes to cream of broccoli soup, for example, to help balance the richness). And don't forget the fresh herbs!

How to fix a bland pasta dish? ›

How do you fix bland pasta sauce? For a tomato based sauce. After the regular herbs and spices, I find carefully adding some lemon juice or vinegar and a little sugar and salt can help “wake up” a bland tomato sauce. For an Alfredo style cream sauce, extra nutmeg, salt, grated parmesean and garlic can help.

How do you fix bland dough? ›

Your bland bread could be the result of rushing the process. Try a slow overnight rise in the refrigerator. Plan ahead to proof your loaf overnight. This hands-off time in the icebox will slow the fermentation process in your dough and result in a complex-flavored loaf.

How to improve a bland casserole? ›

Fresh herbs or citrus zest can also punch up flavors with a bit of welcome brightness for a long-cooked dish, as can adding some heat in the form of a dash of hot sauce, a generous pinch of minced or sliced fresh chili pepper, or a shake of red pepper flakes.

What can make food taste bland? ›

Bland Taste

This condition is called dysgeusia, where the taste of the food may appear unpleasant. It occurs due to certain treatments, medical conditions, flu or due to vitamin or mineral deficiencies. In rare cases, dysgeusia can also indicate underlying liver disease or other serious health conditions.

How do you fix bad taste? ›

Overview
  1. Gargle with water.
  2. Using toothpaste, brush your teeth, tongue, roof of your mouth, and gums at least two times a day.
  3. Rinse your mouth with mouthwash.
  4. Drink liquids, chew sugar-free gum or mints, or suck on sour candies.
  5. Use plastic utensils if you have a bitter or metallic taste when eating.

What are the 4 bland foods? ›

Foods you can eat on a bland diet include:
  • Milk and other dairy products, low-fat or fat-free only.
  • Cooked, canned, or frozen vegetables.
  • Potatoes.
  • Canned fruit as well as apple sauce, bananas, and melons.
  • Fruit juices and vegetable juices (some people, such as those with GERD, may want to avoid citrus and tomato)
Feb 4, 2022

How to make food taste better? ›

10 Simple Tips to Make Food Taste Better
  1. Don't Prepare Garlic and Onions in Advance. ...
  2. Don't Seed Tomatoes. ...
  3. Keep Fats Tasting Fresh. ...
  4. Strike Only When the Pan Is Hot. ...
  5. Never Discard the Fond. ...
  6. Season with Sugar, Too. ...
  7. Bloom Spices and Dried Herbs in Fat. ...
  8. Brown Breads, Pies, and Pastries.

What is a super bland food? ›

Breads, crackers and pasta made with refined white flour. Refined hot cereals, such as oatmeal and cream of wheat. Lean, tender meats, such as poultry, whitefish, and shellfish that are steamed, baked, or grilled with no added fat. Creamy peanut butter. Pudding and custard.

How to fix a bland dish? ›

From blah to bravo: 5 ways to fix a bland recipe
  1. Salt. As Samin Nosrat says in her book “Salt Fat Acid Heat,” it matters when you use salt. ...
  2. Acid. One of my favorite ways to perk up a bland dish is with a splash of acid. ...
  3. Chile peppers. ...
  4. Sugar. ...
  5. Fresh herbs.
Mar 8, 2023

How to fix bland macaroni? ›

Try adding a little more salt first, because that might fix it. If the problem was the cheese you use doesn't have much flavor, then try adding some other flavors, such has mustard or hot sauce. The next time you make it, try to find some more strongly flavor cheese, or adding more cheese.

How to fix bland spaghetti sauce? ›

Flat or bland sauce likely needs a hit of something acidic to lift and enhance its flavors, such as a small splash of high-quality, flavorful vinegar, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or a few drops of not-too-fiery hot sauce.

What to do if food is tasteless? ›

In this case, adding more citrus flavors (think lemon, orange, lime) may help. Also, certain spices, herbs, vinegars, and seasonings may help boost the taste of your meal ( 6 , 7 ). Additionally, this may be a good opportunity to add nutritious foods that you normally steer away from to your diet.

What can you add to a dish to make it taste better? ›

Add hardy herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, and marjoram to dishes early in the cooking process; this way, they release maximum flavor while ensuring that their texture will be less intrusive.

How do you add flavor to a bland diet? ›

Tips for adding flavor to bland food

Sweet flavors can be easy, even without results to table sugar. For example, adding fresh fruit like strawberries, oranges, or pomegranate seeds to a salad can be terrific. Dried date or apricots are also sweet and also have nutrients that table sugar does not possess.

How do you make bland sauce taste better? ›

To make spaghetti sauce taste better:
  1. Sauté onions and garlic for flavor.
  2. Use quality tomatoes (canned or fresh).
  3. Simmer the sauce for an extended period.
  4. Add herbs and spices like basil and oregano.
  5. Enhance with a splash of red wine (optional).
  6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Nov 19, 2023

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tish Haag

Last Updated:

Views: 5516

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tish Haag

Birthday: 1999-11-18

Address: 30256 Tara Expressway, Kutchburgh, VT 92892-0078

Phone: +4215847628708

Job: Internal Consulting Engineer

Hobby: Roller skating, Roller skating, Kayaking, Flying, Graffiti, Ghost hunting, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.