Play around with this classic combo! For example, a blend of parsley, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and fennel seed mixed with go-to veggies like garlic and onions make meat taste like sausage. [2] X Research source
Usually, you only need a dash of Italian seasoning—around 2 tsp (8. 4 g) typically works. Some recipes call for just 1 tsp (5. 69 g) of minced onions or garlic, while others suggest a whole onion and many cloves of garlic. For an extra dose of savoriness, pair cooked onions and sauteéd garlic with simmered celery and mushrooms.
To make your meat super flavorful, pair green bell peppers with cooked garlic, onion, and—if you’ve got a serious sweet tooth—a spoonful sugar. [5] X Research source
When you season meat, just 1 tsp (14. 15 g) of dried Italian herbs is enough to make a big difference. For really meaty notes that don’t get lost in a blend of Italian herbs, season a protein with a flavor profile that stands out, like Italian sausage. Then, add in some savory ingredients, like garlic powder and cooked onions.
For a standard spicy meat, use about 2 teaspoons (5. 40 g) of crushed red pepper or red pepper flakes. Adjust the amount depending on how hot you like your sauce to be. An alternative to crushed red pepper or red pepper flakes is cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper provides a similar heat level, but you only need about half as much as regular red pepper. To tone down red pepper flakes for just a dash of spice, season meat with rich and earthy ingredients, like olive oil, garlic cloves, oregano, and tomato paste.
Chili powder usually has cumin and red pepper flakes in it, along with other ingredients like garlic powder and even cinnamon. To infuse ground beef with a rich savoriness, combine chili powder with diced onions and minced garlic cloves. In order to make the “umami” notes of chili powder pop, mix it with ingredients that taste “meaty,” like tomato paste, salt, and Worcestershire sauce.
Hot sauce easily overwhelms a sauce if you use too much of it. Stir in about 1 teaspoon (4. 9 mL) of it and add more as needed. In order to soak up some of the heat in hot sauce, go for a super absorbent protein, like meatballs, and pair it with a flavorful base, like a combo of olive oil, butter, broth, and marinara sauce.
When you want to use cumin to make meat taste sharp and spicy, try a pepper blend, like a mix of chipotle chili powder, standard chili powder, sea salt, and crushed red pepper. For an extra earthy flavor, combine cumin with fresh herbs like spicy oregano and rosemary.
For spicy-sweet ground beef, combine ground cinnamon and nutmeg with ingredients that have sugary notes, like browned butter and sauteéd onions. If you just love the spiciness of cinnamon, highlight it by sprinkling black pepper onto ground beef.
To complement the sharp sweetness of cloves and cinnamon sticks, throw in savory ingredients like olive oil, cooked onions, and tomato sauce. To make the sweetness of cloves and cinnamon sticks shine and stand out, season a protein with a nutty flavor—for example, go for ground pork.
To infuse your slightly sweetened meat with some earthiness, throw in some oregano, parsley, and basil. For a spicy-sweet meat sauce, toss in pinches of red pepper flakes and ground black pepper after you’ve added your sugar.
