Seasoning with pepper comes naturally to experienced cooks, but for cooks just starting out, it can be confusing. Most recipes tell you to "season with pepper to taste" but if you've never cooked before, that's pretty meaningless. If you aren't following a recipe, it's hard to know when to cook with pepper and when it's best to leave it out or choose another seasoning. Pepper has a strong flavor that complements a lot of foods that might surprise you, like strawberries, so use a light hand at first and don't be afraid to experiment.
Step 1
Sprinkle finely ground table pepper on eggs, potatoes, pasta and other mild foods to spice them up without adding sodium or fat.
Step 2
Grind pepper in a hand-mill over salads. The more flavor the salad has, the less dressing it will need on it, saving you calories.
Step 3
Use coarse cracked black pepper to coat chicken, meat and fish before pan-frying it. The pepper makes a spicy crust that can eliminate the need for salt.
Tips and Warnings
- Use white pepper in cream-based dishes to keep the color pure.
- Do not add black pepper to cream soups during cooking, because it will sour the pot.
Member Comments