23 Unexpected Flavor Combos That Taste Amazing

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.

11. Strawberry + Tomato

food52.com

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

12. Rhubarb + Anise

boulder.wholefoodsmarketcooking.com

Try a Rhubarb Anise Cocktail recipe from Two Tarts.

13. Butternut Squash + Lime

shrinkingkitchen.com

Try it in this recipe.

14. Oysters + Watermelon

marthastewart.com

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

15. Avocado + Coffee

scrumptiousreads.com

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

16. Orange + Olive

bonappetit.com

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

17. Mushroom + Blueberry

theeverydayveggie.com

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

18. Chocolate + Onion

foodpairing.com

Get directions here.

19. White Chocolate + Caviar

foodpairing.com

Get directions here.

20. Scallops + Vanilla

chow.com

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

21. Cinnamon + Thyme

plantoeat.com

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

22. Shrimp + Walnuts

userealbutter.com

Get the recipe for Chinese Honey Walnut Shrimp.

23. Basil + Cloves

amateurcookprofessionaleater.blogspot.be

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

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.

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