The Flavorful Extract You Should Be Adding To Seafoods

Many people enjoy some sort of seafood, whether it's one of the several different types of fish, shrimp, lobster, or something else. In fact, OceanBox reports that Americans eat roughly 4.5 billion pounds of seafood annually. It's easy to understand why seafood is so popular; not only is it delicious, but it's also a healthy dietary addition. According to the Washington State Department of Health, fish contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in reducing blood pressure levels and potentially lowering the risk of conditions like Alzheimer's and diabetes. Shrimp, the most popular seafood in the U.S., is fairly low in calories and high in protein and nutrients like phosphorus and potassium, per Healthline.

The health benefits of seafood are an added bonus, but many people enjoy eating it for another reason — the flavor. Seafood is delicious in its own right, but people often season it with spices and other ingredients to enhance its flavor. According to Alaskan King Crab, some of the most popular seasonings include dill and lemon, rosemary, cilantro, and chili powder. Though these aforementioned spices are common choices, there is an unexpected extract that you should really consider adding to seafood dishes.

Vanilla extract is commonly used in baking, as it perfectly emphasizes the sweetness of baked goods. With this being said, it may seem a little strange to use it on foods that are a bit more savory, such as seafood. However, seafood has a natural sweetness and adding vanilla extract to seafood dishes greatly compliments this sweetness, per the Los Angeles Times. Of course, the sweetness of seafood is generally mild, not like that of a cake or other baked goods, so pairing it with vanilla extract can also provide a delicious contrast between sweet and savory notes.

According to McCormick, an easy way to incorporate vanilla extract into seafood dishes is to make a vanilla sauce. Vanilla sauce is a popular and simple custard sauce that typically contains vanilla extract, eggs, sugar, and milk, per the Chicago Tribune. It's the perfect way to infuse your dish with vanilla flavor; all you have to do is drizzle the sauce over the seafood of your choice. Salmon and shrimp are some great options to try. 

While vanilla extract is great for adding a sweet flavor to seafood, there are other options if you don't want to use it, including vanilla sugar. According to Bob's Red Mill, vanilla sugar is simply sugar that's been infused with vanilla flavor. This product is common in Europe, but it's typically a little difficult to find in the U.S. However, even if you can't find any vanilla sugar, you can easily make it yourself with vanilla beans and regular sugar. Whether you get lucky and find this ingredient in the store or have to make it yourself, it will give seafood the same vanilla flavor that vanilla extract does. A downside to vanilla sugar, though, is the fact that it needs to be stored for a week to a month in order for the vanilla bean to completely infuse the sugar. So, if you're looking for a quick way to sweeten up your seafood, stick with vanilla extract.

You could also try adding spices like cinnamon to seafood, per Seasoned Pioneers. Cinnamon gives food a mildly sweet flavor, but it also infuses dishes with warmth and hints of citrus. So, if you want to impart a gentle sweetness, warmth, and citrus notes into your seafood, cinnamon is a great option. However, if a stronger, creamy sweetness is all you need, vanilla extract has you covered.