23 Unexpected Flavor Combos That Taste Amazing

Some of these are recent discoveries from chefs like Heston Blumenthal who study the chemical compounds of food.

1. Olives + White Chocolate

Try it with an Olive and White Chocolate Panini recipe.

2. Strawberries + Fava Beans

Try it in chef Chris Cosentino’s Fava Bean and Strawberry Salad with Pecorino.

Source: amazon.com

3. Salmon + Licorice

Salmon in liquorice gel at The Fat Duck restaurant. See it re-created here.

Source: misskoslow

4. Oyster + Kiwi

Get a recipe for Kumamato Oyster with Arctic Kiwi Jam here.

Source: thisisgingerrose.blogspot.com

5. Chocolate + Sage

Fried Sage on Spicy Beef Jerky with Dark Chocolate by photographer Zack Burris.

Source: zackburris.com

6. Apple + Lavender

Try it in a recipe for Apple Lavender Muffins.

Source: italianfoodforever.com

7. Lamb + Anchovy

Try it in a recipe for Seared Lamb Chops With Anchovies, Capers, and Sage.

Source: nytimes.com

8. Mushroom + Apricot

Try it in a recipe for Wild Mushroom and Apricot Ragu on Polenta Cakes.

Source: flanboyanteats.com

9. Egg + Beet

Try it in Gourmet’s Aussie Burger recipe.

Source: gourmet.com

10. Egg + Coconut

Southeast Asia’s Kaya jam — a delicious combination of coconut milk, eggs, and sugar — is gaining popularity in the U.S., thanks to chef Susan Feniger’s new cookbook Street Food. In Asia it’s a breakfast dish and is spread on butter toast.

Try a recipe for Kaya Toast here.

Source: beyondtheplate.net

11. Strawberry + Tomato

Try it in Eleven Madison’s Strawberry Gazpacho recipe on food52.

Source: food52.com

12. Rhubarb + Anise

Try a Rhubarb Anise Cocktail recipe from Two Tarts.

Source: boulder.wholefoodsmarketcooking.com

13. Butternut Squash + Lime

Try it in this recipe.

Source: shrinkingkitchen.com

14. Oysters + Watermelon

Try it in a recipe for Oysters on the Half Shell with Watermelon Granita from Martha Stewart.

Source: marthastewart.com

15. Avocado + Coffee

Blend 1/2 avocado with 1 cup brewed coffee (cooled), 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk 2 tsp vanilla and ice cubes.

Source: scrumptiousreads.com

16. Orange + Olive

Get a recipe for Citrus-Marinated Olives at Bon Appetit.

Source: bonappetit.com

17. Mushroom + Blueberry

Try it in a recipe for Mushroom, Ginger, and Blueberry Stir Fry or in Mushroom and Blueberry Balsamic Pot Roast.

Source: theeverydayveggie.com

18. Chocolate + Onion

Get directions here.

Source: foodpairing.com

19. White Chocolate + Caviar

Get directions here.

Source: foodpairing.com

20. Scallops + Vanilla

Try it in a recipe for Scallops Crudo with Vanilla Salt or Seared Scallops with Vanilla Cream Sauce.

Source: chow.com

21. Cinnamon + Thyme

Try it in a recipe for Cinnamon-Thyme Chicken. There’s also a video.

Source: plantoeat.com

22. Shrimp + Walnuts

Get the recipe for Chinese Honey Walnut Shrimp.

Source: userealbutter.com

23. Basil + Cloves

Italian cooks sometimes put a pinch of ground cloves in pesto; the two foods share a sweet compound called eugenol.

Source: amateurcookprofessionaleater.blogspot.be

Find more info about flavor combinations in Niki Segnit’s book The Flavor Thesaurus, Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg’s book The Flavor Bible, and on khymos.org.