Among the many kitchen secrets passed down from older generations, one stands out for both its simplicity and its surprising power: sticking cloves into an onion before cooking. This old-fashioned culinary trick, used for decades by grandmothers around the world, can elevate the flavor of soups, stews, and sauces to a whole new level. Let’s explore why this technique works so well — and what science has to say about it.
🌰 Why Does This Trick Work?
Onions and cloves are both rich in aroma and flavor, but when combined, their impact is even greater:
- Onions add a subtle sweetness and umami depth as they cook.
- Cloves bring a warm, spicy, slightly peppery note thanks to their high eugenol content.
When you pierce a peeled onion with several whole cloves and let it simmer in your pot, the flavor infuses evenly and gently into your dish without overpowering it.
🍲 How to Use This in Your Cooking
This is how my grandmother used to do it:
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