Food combos that are so wrong they’re right
Sound weird, taste great
Fries and ice cream? Here are the most wacky-sounding but wonderful-tasting modern day food combos we've found and why you HAVE to try them.
Peanut butter burger
Say goodbye to ketchup, peanut butter is the only condiment you should be adding from now on. Whether you like it smooth or crunchy, peanut butter adds just enough creamy sweetness to compliment any beef burger. Why not add a dollop of jam for a classic twist to the classic sandwich?
Honey-dipped fries
Pushing the sweet and savory boundary, salty fries dipped in sweet honey is definitely a combo to try, as shown in this example from Detroit's Small Plates restaurant. If you’re looking to save on the calories, you can even use sweet potatoes instead of a normal spud, though this does make the dish as a whole significantly sweeter.
Caviar and white chocolate
This combo can be attributed to English celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal. Knowing that salt on white chocolate would enhance its flavor and soften its sweetness, he started experimenting with different pairings until he eventually found caviar resulted in the most delicious combination.
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Parmesan and strawberries
Forget chocolate-covered strawberries, for a real treat tuck into strawberries gloriously topped with parmesan shavings. It works because butyric acid in the cheese reacts with flavonoids in the strawberries for a heightened sweet and savory combo.
Marmite pasta
Before you decide if you love it or hate it – try it! This combination may sound weird but the salty, tangy yeast taste of Marmite works brilliantly on the pasta, topped with regular parmesan.
Melted chocolate & cheese pizza
It’s nothing new to find chocolate as a dessert following a cheese board, but on the same pizza? Believe us, it’s something else. The creamy chocolate pairs beautifully with the cutting cheese, providing just enough sweetness for you not to miss your usual tomato base.
Peanut butter and bacon
Is there anything bacon doesn’t go with? Next time you fancy a sandwich, hold the butter and instead opt for thick, creamy peanut butter instead. Crunchy or smooth, it will compliment your salty bacon perfectly. Feeling daring? Add a banana too (pictured).
Popcorn and milk
Stuck for breakfast ideas? Try some freshly popped popcorn with milk, just as you would cereal. Whether you like it sweet, salty or somewhere in between, this cracking combination will be the best meal of your day.
Chili chocolate
Controversial at the time of its release, chili chocolate (such as the one pictured from Bush Grub) is now a permanent fixture in supermarkets alongside even more daring combinations such as wasabi, lavender and tobacco.
Oreos and orange juice
Going against the tradition of cookies and milk seems like sacrilege, but after one bite you’ll never want to dip your Oreos anywhere else!
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Salted potato chips/crisps and Nutella
Is there anything Nutella doesn’t go with? Ditch the sweet stuff here and grab yourself a pack of salted crisps to scoop out everyone’s favorite chocolate dip. It will save you washing up the spoon!
Honey and avocado
Is it a starter? Is it a dessert? No, it’s honey drenched avocado. Though a funny idea at first, the sweet, creamy outcome makes it easy to see how avocado can be slipped into sweet recipes as a substitute butter in baking.
Vanilla ice cream and soy sauce
Not just for those who are a fan of oriental cuisine, this can be universally enjoyed as a sweet and salty classic. Sprinkle with sesame seeds for an extra twist.
Olives and chocolate
If you fancy making your own crazy chocolate combinations at home, try adding very finely sliced olives to chocolate truffles, cakes or desserts. The subtle flavor will have you hooked – just make sure you get plain olives without any extra flavoring! Not as brave? Try adding a dash of olive oil instead.
Donut burger
It’s sweet, savory and the most indulgent burger you’ll have all year. Donut burgers have become a worldwide phenomenon with everything from the classic glazed ring to chocolate-covered and sprinkle-topped donuts replacing the burger buns of old. Here's one from The Smokehaus restaurants in Wales.
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Bacon and vinegar
An unusual combo hailing from the Philippines, white vinegar is used as a dipping sauce for an array of salty meats from sausage, pork belly and ham to, of course, bacon. With salt and vinegar already being such an established combination, it shouldn’t be hard to sink your team into this idea.
Ketchup and dark chocolate
Ketchup has been squirted on everything but, scientifically, pairing it with chocolate really works. That’s because dark chocolate already has tomato notes in it, so adding ketchup only enhances those flavors making it even tastier.
Olive oil and ice cream
Made famous by Mario Batali at his NYC restaurant Otto, olive oil gelato has been a surprising hit ever since. The oil brings a level of smoothness without overpowering the base flavor, which is usually vanilla, though it can be chocolate too.
Sweet nachos
Forgo chili and cheese and replace with chocolate and beautifully, gooey melted mashmallows and you will not be disappointed. The one remaining ingredient? Tortilla chips – because whatever you have on top of nachos, you’ll need something to scoop it all up with!
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Bacon and jam
Not only does this combination have the sweet and salty allure we lust after but the texture plays a huge part in making this so delicious. Its taste has even inspired relishes and chunky chutneys with the smoky flavor of bacon enhanced with the sweet jam.
Chili powder and fruit
This sweet and spicy combo is already popular around the world, with the chili’s spice and heat increasing the fruit’s sweetness. You can try this yourself with a variety of fruits including watermelon, mango, pineapple, coconut, papaya, orange and cantaloupe. You can also vary your chili from cayenne to ancho chili to chipotle.
Pepperoni and peanut butter
Not your average sandwich filling but certainly one to try! The spicy sausage is the perfect companion to the smooth peanut butter. Trust us and try it.
Pizza and applesauce
Taking the sweetness of BBQ sauce to the next level, why not use applesauce as your base or dipping sauce next time you have pizza? With pineapple now a well-recognized pizza topping, it shouldn’t be such a jump to include one of your five a day.
Potato chip/crisp sandwich
A craze that spawned its own dedicated shop in England, crisp sandwiches are a firm (weird) favourite. With an endless variety of flavors to choose from, you simply need to crush and sprinkle into your bread for a holy carb combo.
Zucchini/courgette and lime
Forget zucchini/courgette as just a boring veg, used in baking alongside lime it creates a super-soft sponge with the best tangy twist.
Coca Cola and meat
A secret weapon when making glazes for meats including chicken and pork, Coca Cola adds a sticky, sweet and surprisingly moreish twist to any dish. You can even add coke to casserole stocks for a richer flavor.
Guinness and chocolate
Adding beers, ales and stouts to food isn’t anything new but you would normally expect them in a savoury dish – not a chocolate cake! The rich Guinness gives the sponge a rich, moist texture, perfect alongside a cream cheese frosting.
Ice cream-dipped fries
Another twist on classic fries is dipping them in ice cream. A particular drive-thru favorite, it doesn’t take much imagination to see how the salty, hot fries have found their perfect companion in creamy, cold ice cream.