Vanilla

There's nothing plain about vanilla. Crowned the World's Most Popular Flavor, vanilla is in countless foods, from soda to syrups to sugar and even salt.

Vanilla has been sneaking into a variety of dishes and can become the subtle star at your next dinner party.  Dominant in sweets-add a heaping teaspoon of vanilla bean paste to a banana peach fruit smoothie...yum-vanilla is also savory-friendly. A tablespoon of Mexican vanilla in pasta sauce or chili will cut the acidity of the tomatoes, enhance spicy flavors and make you and your friends go hmm.—Nicole Potenza Denis

the world of vanilla

Vanilla beans vary in flavor and fragrance, depending on their origin:

Madagascar
Otherwise known as Bourbon Vanilla. The thinnest of the three bean types, Madagascar Bourbon vanilla has a creamy, sweet flavor.

Mexican
A thicker bean with a creamy but spicy flavor. Ideal for savory dishes and rounds out acidic flavors. 

Tahitian
The thickest and darkest bean, Tahitian vanilla is a different species than Bourbon or Mexican. Its floral and fruity flavor enhances fruit items, and it is perfect to make vanilla ice cream.

bean tips

Look for:
Beans that have a strong vanilla scent

To use:
Split down the middle and scrape out inside with the back of a knife

Store
At room temperature

what to create

• Add vanilla bean paste to a banana peach smoothie

• Shake vanilla powder into your morning coffee

• Add a ½ teaspoon of vanilla paste to vodka-your drink will be visually stunning and taste great

• Make a vanilla-infused vinaigrette 

top suppliers of specialty vanilla: Nielsen-Massey Vanillas and Aust & Hachmann.

Nicole Denis is a regular foodspring.com contributor and is the author of foodspring’s foodie-mom blog.

Photography by Mark Ferri

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