X factor includes those category of ingredients or food which no matter what dish it is added to, gives it an extra twist which changes the dynamics of the dish and elevates it to another level.
Chaat Masala – This is an Indian blended spice which consists of salt, cumin, dry mango, pepper, ginger etc. The exact constituents and their proportions are known only to the brands who manufacture them – which is fine by me. It lends mystery to the exotic spice. Sprinkle it over salads, raw fruits, roast chicken, your street foods like rolls, papri chaat etc. or even over your meat preparations and behold the transformation – it adds a delicious zing to any dish!
Kasundi – This is the Bengali mustard sauce, consists of local / indigenous mustard seeds which have their own special aroma, few spices and salt. It is the best accompaniment to any and all deep fried foods like fish fry, egg devil, chicken cutlet etc. None of these feel complete without our favorite dipping sauce. I have even found that dipping the side salads in kasundi gives even the salad an additional wow factor.
Mayonnaise – Even though this is basically a dipping sauce, the use mayonnaise is many and varied. The classic version is made of raw egg yolk, oil, vinegar, and lemon juice. However, eggless versions are also available – made of milk. Slather it onto your bread or add a dollop to your sandwich or wrap fillings – it transforms the ordinary burger into a classy one. You can also use it as a dressing for your salad! And finally, use it as a dipping sauce or aioli for your pakodas, french fries and pretty much any fried items.
Lemon Juice – A little drizzle of lemon juice can add a whole new level to any bland dish or even an already tasty dish. For example, ghoogni / chickpea masala or roast or baked fish / chicken and finally adding it to all kinds of salads.
White Sauce – While this may not have such a wide variety of uses such as the above, this Italian marvel can add such deliciousness to a lot of dishes. Add it baked vegetables, serve it with your grilled chicken and ofcourse it’s the best pasta sauce. It is made of milk, cheese, flour, and butter. Called a béchamel, it can also be used a base sauce for making sauces like mornay sauce, cream sauce etc.
Do you know of anything which falls into this category? Do share your opinion in the comments – I would be highly interested.
This post was written for Blogchatter A2Z challenge; Day 24 – Letter “X”.
