The Sweet and Meaty Taste Science of Grilled Vegetables

The Sweet and Meaty Taste Science of Grilled Vegetables

The Sweet and Meaty Taste Science of Grilled Vegetables

“Let’s grill tonight” translates to “let’s eat meat tonight”

in many backyard BBQs. It’s not surprising since grilled meat products create hundreds of complex aroma and flavor compounds. Grilled vegetables create less of these craveable compounds but develop delicious flavor profiles that can make them popular with kids and adult “veg-avoiders.” Whether using wood, coal or gas heat sources for grilling meat products or vegetables, the flavor differences are determined by browning reactions that depend on carbohydrates and protein.

Vegetables and meats exposed to high heat in a dry environment develop unique flavors from non-enzymatic browning reactions known as the Maillard reaction and caramelization.

Caramelization relies on sugar for creating tasty molecules whereas, the Maillard reaction requires protein and a hint of sugar for flavor development.

grilled sweet potato

Flavorful Proteins

Vegetables meet two of these Maillard reaction requirements; however, the low protein content compared to meat products limits the flavor development. Meat, poultry and fish, when exposed to a high and dry heat, yield hundreds of complex Maillard aroma and flavor compounds ranging from savory and meaty to floral and earthy. Because meat products also include the simple sugar ribose, some caramelization flavors also may be detectable.

Flavorful Sugars

Caramelization is a browning process from heating sucrose or sugars such as fructose or glucose, also known as reducing sugars. Caramelization requires higher temperatures than Maillard reactions. Annette Hottenstein, Sensory Scientist and Registered Dietitian, explains that grilling typically exposes vegetables to higher heat than other cooking methods and at these high temperatures, new complex volatile flavor components become available as natural sugars caramelize.

Caramelization flavor compounds are less complex than those from Maillard reactions, but don’t disappoint with a flavor range that includes butterscotch, sherry, rum or toasty notes.

Vegetables with high levels of reducing sugars and protein such as corn, sweet potato, onions and eggplants create tasty flavors from both types of browning reactions.

Veg grilled Eggplant Michele Redmond

“Meaty” Grilled Vegetables

Like meats, some vegetables can develop a “meaty” taste element thanks to sulfur. Vegetables with an amino acid linked to sulfur such as cysteine create more savory elements or a meatiness. Cysteine is plentiful in cruciferous vegetables and alliums like onions.

Cysteine found in onions and combined with naturally high sugar content transform onions on the grill but also explain why caramelized onions are popular additions in many meals.

Grilled vegetables also offer pleasant contrasting textures. Hottenstein shared that she particularly enjoys the crispy tips of grilled asparagus and how the heat of the grill intensifies the green flavor components while adding a smoky dimension.

Veg grilled Asparagus

Vegetable Grilling Tips

Here’s some veggie grilling flavor techniques to make “let’s grill tonight” translates to “let’s cook delicious foods” where vegetables are hogging the grill grate.

  • Fresher is better: Some vegetables, like sweet corn, rapidly convert natural sugars to starch after harvest. Less natural sugars result in less flavor and sometimes a mealy texture
  • Par-cook: For dense or slow-cooking vegetables such as carrots or potatoes, partially pre-cook then grill or grill the surfaces for color and flavor, then finish cooking on the warming rack.
  • Coat or naked: Dry the surface of vegetables before coating lightly with oil or a marinade. Or instead grill them naked like whole eggplants or peppers for smoky, charred skin aroma compounds.
  • Veggie densityVegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes that are less dense due to high water content grill quickly in general and even faster if sliced or quartered. It’s best to not mix them with dense vegetables, such as root vegetables, to ensure even grilling results.
grilled potato fingerlings | Tasteworkshop.com

    About Me

    The pleasure of food, good health and well-being through simple habits for eating well and flexitarian low-key cooking.
    Michele Redmond

    Michele Redmond

    French-trained Chef, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Food Enjoyment Activist

    It's about Making Food First

    Get Eat Well Academy periodic updates on easy ways to choose and cook foods that satisfy your appetite, nurture your body and make eating well a pleasure.

    Pizza as a Path to Veggie-Eating Kids

    Pizza as a Path to Veggie-Eating Kids

    Pizza as a Path to Veggie-Eating Kids

    Pizza Veggie Opportunities

     

    Ask a group of American kids to all agree on meal they like. Pizza, a unifying force in the kid kingdom, wins. However, ask kids to agree on specific vegetables toppings and you’ll hear some “yuck” comments. Unfortunately, most pizzas for kids are made assuming kids have limited palates, particularly for vegetables.

    This lack of veggie variety is a missed opportunity for helping kids develop diverse palates for nutrient-rich foods. Fortunately, kids are actually more likely to try new veggie pizza toppings because they already have a positive association with pizza.

    Creating Scenarios for Veggie-Eating Kids

     

    Combining a potentially challenging food such as Brussels sprouts with a food kids already like, known as associative conditioning, can increase likeability for that food.

    In one “let’s get kids to eat stuff they don’t like study”, the kids who experienced associative conditioning with food pairings were more willing to start eating the “challenging” food by itself and needed less exposures before accepting a new food.

    It’s commonly recommended that kids need to try foods about 10 times to help them to develop a palate for the new food. However, in the study by Capaldi-Phillips and Wadhera using associative condition food pairings, kids were more accepting of a new and challenging food. They tried new veggies seven times before accepting them without being paired with other foods.

    Cooking & Tasting Veggies

     

    I experimented with introducing veggies to young palates during cooking classes I taught to over 300 kids for the Halle Children’s Heart Museum. The kids, ages 7-12, made pizza’s cousin, flatbread from scratch. They cut vegetables (with chef knifes—not kid knives) and shared feedback about which ones they liked most.

    Kids responded well to vegetables that they’d eaten before even though they may have not tried them as a “pizza” topping. For veggies that were new, kids were encouraged to taste them before cooking since vegetables often become sweeter from cooking.

    halle cooking kids

    Zucchini, created the most resistance, but kids seemed to be more familiar with them being served soft or even mushy. Feedback about veggies and herbs they liked or were willing to try on pizza included:

    • Mushrooms*
    • Fresh tomatoes*
    • Broccoli*
    • Corn*
    • Olives
    • Basil
    • Carrots (consider roasted)
    • Red and orange peppers (most kids didn’t realize they were sweet)
    • Chiles and red chile flakes (sample of kids were from the spicy Southwest)

    *Measurable levels of umami which is a taste component kids love

    So consider other unifying foods that can create veggie-eating kids such pasta. Use meals or condiments that kids already like when introducing new veggies. However, this is not stealth nutrition where kids aren’t aware of the actual vegetables being used. Instead, it’s taste education.

    Here’s the “adult” flatbread recipe the kids prepared, cooked and ate in under 45 minutes. The flatbread dough itself can be made in under five minutes.

    KER_Kids Eat Right Month

    This post is in honor of Kids Eat Right Month™. This is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Academy Foundation’s Month-long effort in August to highlight best practices and great information for healthy kids. More info on Kid’s Eat Right Month!

      About Me

      The pleasure of food, good health and well-being through simple habits for eating well and flexitarian low-key cooking.
      Michele Redmond

      Michele Redmond

      French-trained Chef, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Food Enjoyment Activist

      It's about Making Food First

      Get Eat Well Academy periodic updates on easy ways to choose and cook foods that satisfy your appetite, nurture your body and make eating well a pleasure.

      Culinary Nutrition & Fats: Le Cordon Bleu, Paris

      Culinary Nutrition & Fats: Le Cordon Bleu, Paris

      Culinary Nutrition & Fats: Le Cordon Bleu, Paris

      Culinary Nutrition in Paris: Fats that Give Back

      We launched this culinary nutrition fats class by discussing dietary fat myths and questions such as:

      • Can cooking oils become less healthy upon heating?Culinary nutrition fats LCB coconut oil
      • Does coconut oil stimulate weight loss?
      • Is coconut oil an all-purpose oil?
      • Is olive oil really the better oil for health?
      • What’s the latest on saturated fats and butter in healthy diets?
      • What happens when you eat higher carb foods with fattier foods?

      Culinary Nutrition: “Fat” Techniques

      We explored further questions during the class culinary techniques and tips such as:

      • Why do smoke points matter for food quality and taste?
      • How smoke points relate to culinary techniques & health?
      • What are the best tricks for non-stick sauté & tasty results?

        Culinary nutrition questions and answers

        Culinary technique questions in my favorite demo room

      • Which techniques pair with different oils?
      • What happens when you mix a low and high smoke point fat?
      • Clarified butter uses and can you overheat it? (we did a live test of this thanks to a curious student!)
      • How does Culinary Nutrition relate to cooking great tasting food and health?

      Slurping Fats for Flavor

      Palates were challenged with an olive oil tasting. Participants tasted two mystery French (Oils A & B) and one mystery Italian olive oil (Oil C).Culinary nutrition fats olive oil tasting

      How do you taste oils? Briefly follow the steps below but for more detailed info, email me for a handout.

      • Sniff
      • Slurp (rudely works best)
      • Feel
      • Swallow
      • Breathe out

      Participants discussed what aromas and flavors they perceived, rated the oils and guessed their sources and types.

      Olive oil

      Many students guessed the Italian versus the French versions.
      The Italian version was from Umbria and had complex notes of grass, artichoke, spice and a creamy finish with hints of pepper.

      This pricey oil (29 euros) limits it to finishing techniques and vinaigrettes. This can be found at http://www.oliviersandco.com/il-tempio-dell-oro-olive-oil.html

      Another olive oil was Puget which has made oils in France since 1857. It had high acidity and a pungent and peppery finish–a good all-purpose affordable oil. This can be found at any grocery in France.Olive oil puget

      Food Tastings and Recipes

      Tastings are designed to illustrate key differences in flavor components of cooking oils and fats and how techniques affect flavor. Key culinary techniques such as key tips for “non-stick” saute and knowing the four signs that a cooking oil is ready relate to flavor in several ways.

      Recipes are developed to be straight forward with quick prep but maximize flavors, textures and balance or highlight the five tastants. Recipes developed by the Taste Workshop for this class and tastings included:Lemon olive oil sorbet edcpfav

       

          • Salmon rillettes with hint of spice & citrus
          • Besan shrimp fritters w/ catsup chutney
          • Crispy chicken with sherry-vinegar mustard pan sauce
          • Meen Molee (Fish with coconut, lime and spices)
          • Citrusy almond and cornmeal olive oil cake with tangerine and Grand Marnier glaze
          • Lemon olive oil sorbet

       

      Thanks to LCB Paris and WICE for amazing support and for the interesting and engaged participants for this class. For more info visit:Le Cordon Bleu, Paris and WICE Culinary events

        About Me

        The pleasure of food, good health and well-being through simple habits for eating well and flexitarian low-key cooking.
        Michele Redmond

        Michele Redmond

        French-trained Chef, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Food Enjoyment Activist

        It's about Making Food First

        Get Eat Well Academy periodic updates on easy ways to choose and cook foods that satisfy your appetite, nurture your body and make eating well a pleasure.

        Le Cordon Bleu Spice Taste Workshop

        Le Cordon Bleu Spice Taste Workshop

        Le Cordon Bleu Spice Taste Workshop

        Le Cordon Bleu WICE Paris FB MR_MO jpeg

        I’m in Paris teaching some cooking classes and taste workshops.

        One workshop was at Le Cordon Bleu and was a special Spice Taste Workshop for members of WICE but also includes students from the school and the general public.

        A big thanks to WICE cooking Director Mary O’leary and Sandra Messier, Marketing and communications Manager at Le Cordon Bleu for organizing a sold-out event.

        I also appreciated the excellent participants from WICE who came with great questions, a willingness to taste all sorts of spices and foods and have fun with food.

        http://www.wice-paris.org/event-1763638

          About Me

          The pleasure of food, good health and well-being through simple habits for eating well and flexitarian low-key cooking.
          Michele Redmond

          Michele Redmond

          French-trained Chef, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Food Enjoyment Activist

          It's about Making Food First

          Get Eat Well Academy periodic updates on easy ways to choose and cook foods that satisfy your appetite, nurture your body and make eating well a pleasure.

          Culinary Gastronomy Salt Workshop in Paris

          Culinary Gastronomy Salt Workshop in Paris

          Culinary Gastronomy Salt Workshop in Paris

          Culinary Gastronomy Salt Workshop in Paris

           

          Le Cordon Bleu, Paris and Hautes Etudes du Goût*

          Culinary Gastronomy Series

          Gastronomy salt workshop LCB

          Chef Michele participated in a culinary gastronomy series at Le Cordon Bleu, Paris in conjunction with Hautes Etudes du Goût.

          LCB salt MR fav2 1450 sharpMichele conducted a salt taste workshop and discussed how to use salt seasoning to bridge culinary and nutrition science with health and taste enjoyment.

           

           

           

          Culinary Gastronomy Salt Considerations

           

          From the sea salt of Guérande to the pink Himalayan rock salt, this mineral, the only one humans eat, shares a common cause: flavorful food.

          Improper use of salt or a lack of respect for this universal and valuable ingredient canSalt Sel sign
          ruin a meal and raise health concerns.

          Proper use of salt enhances natural flavors in foods, heightens aromas or suppresses bitter ingredients.

          In this session, we explored why we like salt and its role in taste perception plus how to enjoy its flavor benefits without health fears.

           

          Salt tasting workshop and cooking applications:

           

          We reviewed taste sensory aspects of taste and how salt enhances flavor components without creating salty foods. Common culinary techniques for salt Gastronomy Salt Workshop LCB HEGseasoning were demonstrated and reviewed as well as tricks for avoiding the most common salt seasoning issues.

          Comparisons of foods cooked with and without salt as well as at varying quantities of salt demonstrated salt flavor effects. We also teased participants with salt samples from around the world.

           

           

          Location:  Le Cordon Bleu, 8, rue Leon Delhomme, 75015, Paris

           

          Date and Time: 18h30-20h30, May 22

          *Advanced Studies of Taste Program with the University of Reims & Le Cordon Bleu, Paris

            About Me

            The pleasure of food, good health and well-being through simple habits for eating well and flexitarian low-key cooking.
            Michele Redmond

            Michele Redmond

            French-trained Chef, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Food Enjoyment Activist

            It's about Making Food First

            Get Eat Well Academy periodic updates on easy ways to choose and cook foods that satisfy your appetite, nurture your body and make eating well a pleasure.

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