Water
Where a recipe here calls for water and not stock, that is usually a decision rather than a shortage. Two reasons come up. The first is sodium: stock and bouillon carry salt, so water keeps the seasoning budget under the control of the fish sauce or the soy. The second is concentration: when the flavour of a dish has been put into a fried paste, adding a second dilute flavour source only pushes those compounds further apart. Use it hot when it must dissolve palm sugar or a hard sweetener. Sucrose and palm sugar dissolve far faster above 60 degrees C, and neither dissolves well once acid is present.
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Recipes using it
elevenSouth African Pepper Steak Pie
Shin, oxtail and tendon braised in merlot and set in their own gelatin, frozen as pucks and baked in individual puff pastry pies.
South African · Second revision · 22 OCT 2026Roasted beef, marrow, chicken and lamb bones held at a light simmer overnight, with no salt
French · First revision · 21 OCT 2026Roasted San Marzano tomato soup
Split-can tomato soup with fried paste, confit garlic and chipotle, mounted with butter
American · First revision · 13 OCT 2026Sauce Périgueux Spaghettini with Seared Duck Breast
A demi-glace truffle sauce on spaghettini, with cold-pan duck breast and a bitter leaf salad
French · First revision · 13 OCT 2026Charred Pointed Cabbage in Harissa Tomato with Tahini and Sumac Onions
Seared Spitzkohl wedges braised in spiced tomato
Levantine · First revision · 13 OCT 2026Chicken Marylands braised on a bed of deep-gold onions, with the heat dosed from a chilli tincture
Northern Thai · First revision · 13 OCT 2026Pan-Seared Duroc Pork Chop, Demi-Glace and Mustard Sauce
Dry-brined 2.5 cm chops, fat cap rendered, turned every 30 s, thyme-garlic butter baste
British · Second revision · 13 OCT 2026Botanically Brewed Mint Lemonade
Wild ginger bug, lemon oleo with juniper, blanched mint syrup, bottle-conditioned
British · First revision · 13 OCT 2026A refrigerator pickle of jalapeño rounds in a warm spirit and cider vinegar brine. Ready in 24 hours. Best crunch in the first 3 to 4 weeks.
Mexican · Second revision · 13 OCT 2026Fan oven with a steam tray below, then the top grill for the char
Isaan · First revision · 23 SEP 2026Supermarket dry yeast, fresh ginger in the oleo, blanched mint syrup, bottle-conditioned
British · First revision · 19 SEP 2026