Why do recipes often use ingredients of a similar color together?

Why do recipes often use ingredients of a similar color together? - Raw dough on table with flour at home

One thing I've noticed anecdotally is that a lot recipes is that recipes often use ingredients of matching colors (e.g., almost deliberately using lots of green ingredients together).

Is this a thing in cooking? Is this for visual appeal? Is it just biased sample of recipes I cook? Any insights would be appreciated!



Best Answer

Occasionally, sure. Green goddess dressing wouldn't be as much fun with tomato paste added, and strawberries would look awful embedded in blue Jell-O.

In general, though, recipes tend to derive their color almost entirely from one or two ingredients. A ragu Napoletano has a ton of ingredients of different colors, but the dominant color is red from the tomatoes and adding some more thyme isn't going to change that.

That's not to say that color isn't important to food. One reason a beurre blanc matches so well with white fish is because the light color implies a subtlety of flavor which works with the delicacy of the fish. Dark brown suggests more of a roasted, savory flavor; greenness suggests freshness; blue suggests artificiality. To a certain extent, these associations happened naturally rather than through developed convention, and as a consequence recipes will often have the "correct" color automatically. But it's common to adjust a recipe to perfect the color, particularly in this era of Instagram.

One thing you might notice is various green ingredients being close together in the recipe. That's not the green section, though -- it's the herb section, since the author chose to group the herbs together.




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Why do recipes often use ingredients of a similar color together? - Top view of similar fresh exotic avocados with rough dry peel on table at home
Why do recipes often use ingredients of a similar color together? - Fresh cut avocado on table in kitchen
Why do recipes often use ingredients of a similar color together? - Pile of sarma near vine leaf on table



Why is it important for ingredients to be used in exact amounts and in order in a recipe?

Ingredients are listed in the exact amount as needed. The specific form of ingredient is also stated. Ingredients should be listed in the order they are used in the recipe in order to prevent leaving out any ingredients. The recipe should have directions for how to prepare it.

Why is it important to follow the recipe correctly?

Recipes are guides for cooking. It is important to read the whole recipe before you begin cooking. This helps you know how the dish is made. All recipes start with the name of the dish.

What is the purpose of a recipe?

A recipe is a set of instruction used for preparing and producing a certain food, dish, or drink. The purpose of a recipe is to have a precise record of the ingredients used, the amounts needed, and the way they are combined. (1) The Recipe Name tells you what you will be making.

How do you make red food coloring at home?

If you can find dehydrated beet powder, you can mix 1 part beet powder with 4 parts water to make red food coloring! Adjust the proportions to get just the color you want. Trim off the ends, then chop the beets into 1 in (2.5 cm) pieces.



How to make Chilli Paneer | चिल्ली पनीर | Easy Chilli Paneer recipe | Chef Ranveer Brar




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