5 speed-scratch recipes to highlight global flavors

The secret to flavorful, on-trend, satisfying dishes is starting with the perfect base. Food bases are available in many meat, seafood and vegetable flavor profiles to complement an unlimited variety of dishes. They commonly lay the foundation for delicious stocks and stews—and with interest in international cuisine continuing to grow, a globally inspired soup can be a great way to introduce customers to appealing new flavors in a familiar format.

For example, Moroccan cuisine is up 27% on menus over the past four years, according to Datassential. Operators can leverage this restaurant trend in noncommercial segments with a thick and hearty soup, such as a Marrakesh Autumn Soup featuring Custom Culinary® Gold Label True Foundations™ Chicken Base. It’s a savory combination of sweet potato, lentil, mirepoix vegetables, red pepper, garlic and spices, finished with a toasted almond and mint garnish. Get the recipe here.

Food bases are traditionally offered in paste or granular formats, but innovation in the category has led to the creation of convenient liquid concentrates. These quick-dissolving formulas enable operators to create instant soups and stocks, with the added benefit of usage at full strength, straight from the bottle.

One way to do that is by adding a dash of a liquid concentrate as a finishing touch to sautés and stir fry entrées—perfect for action stations. An example of that flavor boost at work can be seen in this Ma La Chicken and Mushroom Lo Mein featuring Custom Culinary® Gold Label True Foundations™ Chicken Liquid Stock Concentrate. Get the recipe here.

Liquid concentrates can also serve to intensify the flavor of proteins. For example, use Custom Culinary® Gold Label True Foundations™ liquid stock concentrates as marinades, glazes, rubs and brining liquids—or even as the foundation for rich sauces and gravies.

This mouthwatering Tuscan Herb Hanger Steak was marinated overnight in a mixture of Custom Culinary® Gold Label True Foundations™ Beef Liquid Stock Concentrate, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, ginger and green onion before being fire-grilled to medium rare. Here it’s served with polenta and roasted mushrooms, but hanger steak is also a great protein choice for hearty sandwiches, breakfast dishes or an entree salad. Get the recipe here.

The rich, full flavors created with food bases are essential for healthy meals that your customers will love. Create dishes that meet nutritional requirements and clean label demands when you start with wholesome bases. Low sodium, gluten free and no MSG added bases can all be used for this purpose.

In fact, Custom Culinary® was the first nationally branded company to eliminate added MSG from its branded bases portfolio. Their Gold Label True Foundations™ line of bases was created to address the need for clean label products in the marketplace, keeping authentic flavor top of mind.

Take this Hearty Chicken Soup with Ancient Grains featuring Custom Culinary® Gold Label True Foundations™ Chicken Base. It’s a rustic take on a classic, with a colorful medley of carrots, red barley, spelt, farro and chickpeas, garnished with microgreens. Get the recipe here. 

Food bases are valued for enabling operators to save time and labor in the kitchen while maintaining the consistency of finished dishes. A good base will feature a well-balanced flavor profile developed to taste, look and perform like it was made from scratch.

Tacos remain a beloved staple across foodservice segments, so reinvigorate the classic with an elevated approach to flavor. These Pollo con Ancho Street Tacos, featuring Custom Culinary® Master’s Touch® Ancho and Southwest Flavor Concentrates—along with Gold Label True Foundations™ Chicken Liquid Stock Concentrate—showcase spicy, smoky char-grilled chicken thighs, citrus-chili slaw and jalapeño relish. Get the recipe here.