In the food world, there are items that get used a lot, and some that seem to get buried in the pantry.
I would like to take a moment to discuss some of the less used foods that are out there, and a way that they can be used to make a wonderful meal.
1.
Eggplant.
This odd looking, and odd colored, plant is related to the tomato and comes in different shapes and sizes depending on where you are in the world.
The more well known variety of eggplant is the large, purple fruit that looks a lot like Barney the Dinosaur would if he were a fruit.
Cooking eggplant yields a rich, complex flavor that the raw fruit doesn't have.
This is why many dishes, like ratatouille and Eggplant Parmesan taste so robust, even though they don't have any meat in them.
In fact, I just recently tried Eggplant Parmesan and found it to be very delicious, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to try something new or is a vegetarian.
2.
Caviar.
Everyone knows that caviar is just little fish eggs, but the actual product varies so greatly from fish to fish that choosing the perfect compliment for your dinner party is vital to making that party as good as it can be.
Some of the cheaper, farmed caviar is great for those looking to try out caviar for the first time, while those with high end tastes will want to look for something that they can count on, like beluga or sturgeon caviar.
If you want to incorporate caviar into a meal to bump it up a notch or two, scrambled eggs and caviar go perfectly together.
You could even toss some caviar into hamburger to create an extremely high end burger that will impress your friends.
3.
Mushrooms.
Specifically, big Portobello mushrooms.
Whether you are sitting down to eat a juicy steak or just want a flavorful meal that can be cooked in very little time, a Portobello mushroom will be the perfect addition.
These mushrooms are meaty and rich and will take on the flavor of anything you want to cook them with.
Plus, if you get the big Portobello caps, you can simply coat them with some olive oil or a marinade and cook them right on the grill the same way you would with a burger.
Many vegetarians do this because of the meaty flavor and the big portion that they can get with a Portobello.
Personally, I like to slice these up and fry them with some things like steak sauce, soy sauce and pepper and then have them as a topper for my steak.
These ingredients will help you to broaden your horizons in the culinary world and give some of your regular dishes a whole new flavor.
Check them out the next time you are at the grocery store and see what you can do with them.