Perfect Pairings: Ingredient Duos That Will Blow Your Mind

Apple Chevre Flatbread

The sweetness of apples plays with the tang and salinity of the chevre. Check out Mon Petit's Four beautifully simple recipe here. http://cm.g.doubleclick.net/pixel?google_nid=rfi&google_cm=&google_sc=&google_hm=Nzg1NjY3MDM2NTc1MzM0MjQ1&forward=http://pixel.rubiconproject.com/tap.php?v=13490&nid=2596&put=785667036575334245&expires=30&next=http://image2.pubmatic.com/AdServer/Pug?vcode=bz0yJnR5cGU9MSZjb2RlPTI3MzkmdGw9MTU3NjgwMA==&piggybackCookie=785667036575334245&r=http://t4.liverail.com/?metric=csync&p=3010&s=785667036575334245&redirect=http://dsum.casalemedia.com/rum?cm_dsp_id=57&external_user_id=785667036575334245&forward=http://ads.yahoo.com/cms/v1?esig=1~84c296ca4cae9f73fbcc48363a3cd4cd34be98f5&nwid=10000648372&sigv=1http://soma.smaato.net/oapi/idsync?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fp.rfihub.com%2Fcm%3Fpub%3D720%26partnerId%3DSomaCookieUserIdhttp://us-u.openx.net/w/1.0/sd?id=537073062&val=785667036575334245&r=http://geo-um.btrll.com/v1/map_pixel/partner/62.pnghttp://sync.search.spotxchange.com/partner?adv_id=7180&uid=785667036575334245&img=1http://cs.gssprt.jp/yie/ld/cs?dspid=rocket&uid=785667036575334245http://pippio.com/api/sync?pid=1941&it=1&iv=785667036575334245http://secure-us.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/m?ci=us-rocketfuel&cg=785667036575334245&cc=1

 

Pairing: Tomato + Basil

Tomato Salad With Basil Ice Cream

"The creaminess of the ice cream actually mimics the creaminess of fresh mozzarella in a Caprese salad, and the potent basil flavor ties it all together," says Coley Cooks. "The sweetness of the ice cream is set off by a generous sprinkle of sea salt, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and of course the bold, rich acidity of the tomatoes."

Check out the recipe (and video) here. 

Pairing: Broccoli + Cheese

Broccoli Cheese Casserole

This dish sometimes gets dismissed as a dated American classic, but The View From Great Island makes this in the style of French gratin; it is definitely recommended that you give it a try. Get the recipe here.

Pairing: Mango + Mint

Lime-Garlic Shrimp with Mango-Mint Salsa

"Mango-Mint Salsa is like eating summer on a plate," says Turnips 2 Tangerines. Check out the recipe here.

Pairing: Cilantro + Lime

Cilantro-Lime Grilled Chicken With Avocado Salsa

This week Platter Talk brings us the zesty flavors of lime perfectly complemented and balanced by the distinctively pungent flavors of cilantro. Find the original recipe here.

Pairing: Dark Chocolate + Red Wine

Dark Chocolate Cake with Red Wine Glaze

From the kitchen of Mon Petit Four, the glaze is made with a combination of bittersweet chocolate and red wine, and "together [the ingredients] are an intoxicating blend that renders this cake the divine remedy for any woman in need." Click here for the recipe.

Pairing: Espresso + Chocolate

Espresso Chocolate Cupcakes

Mon Petit Four says, "These espresso chocolate cupcakes are rich and decadent in every way you could imagine. While the taste of espresso is apparent, the espresso's importance in this recipe is more for the sake of enhancing the chocolate flavor in these cupcakes." Find her original recipe here.

Pairing: Sweet + Salty

Grilled Jerk Beef

Sweet and salty flavors are highlighted in this Grilled Jerk Beef recipe by Platter Talk. Strips of beef are stacked between layers of brown sugar, salt, and pepper, and then they marinate in their own juices overnight. Find the original recipe here.

Pairing: Burrata + Plum

Pairing: Cheese + Honey

Fried Manchego With Lavender Honey

I don't know what sounds more enticing: fried manchego or lavender honey. Luckily, we don't have to choose! Get the recipe on Coley Cook's blog.

Pairing: Peanut Butter + Chocolate

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Moore Or Less Cooking says she may have a slight obsession with peanut butter, and we see nothing wrong with that — especially when she channels that obsession into her cooking. Try this perfect pairing of peanut butter and chocolate here.  

Pairing: Chocolate + Caramel

Chocolate Caramel Tart

This creamy caramel and sweet chocolate ganache are so perfect together that it "might make your head spin," says the Chick Who Cooks. Check out her recipe for Chocolate and Caramel Tart here.

Pairing: Truffle + Parmesan + Prosciutto

Truffled Popcorn With Parmesan and Prosciutto

Coley Cooks brings us this interestingly delicious popcorn recipe to our attention. She notes, "This recipe uses fancy ingredients, like white truffle butter, to help take your snack game to the next level – perfect for movie nights and Netflix binges alike." Find her original recipe here.

Pairing: Lemon + Poppy Seed

Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

Lemons and poppy seeds are a match made in food heaven, and this recipe gives us a large a large dose of both. Get this recipe from The View From Great Island here.

Pairing: Prosciutto + Melon

Prosciutto and Melon Salad

How could we not include one of the most notorious food pairing classics? It is quite possible that prosciutto and melon were made for each other. This simple salad relies on quality ingredients, and the bit of basil on top adds a layer of freshness and vibrancy that rounds out this salad perfectly. Find the recipe here.

Pairing: Blueberry + Lemon

Simple Summer Blueberry Lemon Cobbler

Blueberries and lemons will always and forever be amazing together. Try this tart from Home Maker's Habit and see for yourself.

Pairing: Cucumber + Dill

Blackened Salmon With Cucumber Dill Cream

Cucumber and dill is a wonderful flavor combo on its own, but Recipes I Live By says, "Combine [the blackened salmon] with the cooling of the cucumber dill cream sauce and you have the perfect balance of hot and cold in this dish." Two perfect pairings in one. 

Click here to find the original recipe.

Pairing: Blueberry + Zucchini + Lemon

Blueberry Zucchini Snack Cake with Lemon Buttercream

This recipe by The View From Great Island combines the subtle sweetness of blueberry with zucchini, and it is all pulled together with a light yet decadent lemon frosting. Check out the recipe here.