Is honey a staple in your kitchen pantry? Honey is an amazingly versatile ingredient that plays well with others, imparting a distinct but not in-your-face flavor to everything it goes with. From stews and marinades to aperitifs and appetizers, honey gives you room to get creative when it comes to tantalizing the taste buds.
Need some inspiration? Here are some of the ways we love to perk up meals with Bees Knees Honey from Bushwick Kitchen.
Go Bold with Sweet, Spicy Stickiness
When you mix the delightful sweetness of honey with the zingy kick of Sriracha, you’re presented with bold flavors that are sure to leave your tongue tingling with this winning combo.
We like to mix one-part Sriracha with two parts honey – but if you like things hot, don’t be scared to experiment.
This tingling taste bud tantalizer goes exceptionally well with everything from salad dressings and hummus to chicken, pork, and even shrimp. Make it as a dip or baste your meat in it.
Garlicky Gooeyness
Garlic and honey are staples in many Asian dishes. We know garlic is a powerful flavor all on its own, so start small with this mixture and make sure there’s plenty of honey on hand to balance the taste. Depending on your recipe, you can add chili paste and soy sauce for a stunning flavor for your pork stir fry, cashew nut chicken or even shrimp fried rice.
Honey and Avocados
If you’re in the mood for a sweet yet healthy treat, drizzle honey on your avo. Whether you mash up your avocado to make guacamole, smash it on toast, or just eat it in halves, pairing honey with avocados creates a superfood blend that will satisfy your sweet tooth and your calorie count!
Fish and Honey
Specifically, we’re talking about salmon. Honey is rich in antioxidants, and salmon, as you know, is an essential-fats superfood. A honey and garlic sauce smothered over roasted salmon gives you a dish that’s bold, sweet and oh so good for you.
Honey and Salad
A light, crisp honey is the perfect way to amp up flavors and brighten your dishes. With refreshingly fruity undertones, honey truly takes the spotlight when drizzled over citrus-based salads that include sharp ingredients like arugula, caracara, or chevre.
Honey and Cheese
You already know how awesome honey and cheese are together. For something different, why not try this divine creamy ricotta and crusty bread recipe for an indulgent snack or for your next dinner party.
Here’s what you’ll need for about 4 to 6 crostini:
- Honey (we recommend our salted or Meyer lemon honey)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- One and a half cups of ricotta cheese at room temperature
- A loaf of ciabatta or another chewy-style bread
This snack is really easy to put together:
- Set your gas grill to medium-high heat or prepare a medium-hot charcoal fire.
- Slice your bread into half-inch thick slices.
- Drizzle olive oil over your slice and grill them until both sides are slightly charred and have grill marks.
- While the bread’s hot, rub garlic over it and slather on a heaping helping of ricotta cheese.
- Top the cheese with a drizzle of delicious, gooey honey and dig in.
Honey Is the Perfect Pairing
There’s really no wrong way to enjoy honey. It pairs beautifully with pretty much every food group, and even just off the spoon.
Honey and cheese are a timeless pairing that can be tracked all the way back to a Roman gourmand in the first century AD. But you don’t need to stick to just honey and cheese. Experiment with walnuts, figs, pears, crackers, and different pieces of bread. Pick a few varieties of honey and drizzle over to find your favorite. The idea is to find pairings that contrast or complement the honey to create a brand-new flavor sensation for your taste buds.
If you find that one cancels out or overpowers the other, it’s a clash. So, try something else, like a fruity honey with creamy goat cheese. Or a rich, darker honey with blue cheese.
You can serve honey on the side, too, with vegetables, nuts, and fruits to add texture and color to your table. Or, add it to sauces, pastes or simply drizzle on top of your favorite dish. The choices are endless and you’re sure to have tons of fun serving up your favorite combinations at your next get-together.
Find a range of honeys for the perfect pairing at Bushwick Kitchen.