With so many brightly colored ingredients available, black can seem like an unusual choice for the kitchen. However, black foods and cookware can lend a sophisticated, elegant note to dishes. Here’s a look at some of the best uses for the color black when cooking.
Introduction
Black may not be the first color that comes to mind when thinking about food and cooking. Brightly hued fruits, vegetables, and spices are staples in most kitchens. However, the striking color black has an important role to play as well.
Black ingredients, cookware, and utensils can add flair and intrigue to dishes. Black draws the eye in, creating an air of drama and sophistication. When used judiciously, black elements can provide beautiful visual contrast and depth of flavor.
From jet-black noodles to charred vegetables to cast iron skillets, black finds many applications in the kitchen. Understanding when and how to incorporate black foods and tools expands the home cook’s repertoire. Read on to learn techniques for effectively cooking with the color black.
When to Use Black Foods
Certain fruits, vegetables, and other edible items naturally occur in black or dark purple hues. Their inky colors signify unique phytonutrient profiles and often hint at more robust, complex flavors. Here are some of the top black foods to cook with:
Black Rice
This heirloom rice gets its striking color from anthocyanins, antioxidant pigments also found in blackberries and concord grapes. Black rice has a nutty taste and slightly chewy texture that pairs well with savory or sweet ingredients. Use it as a base for pilafs, paellas, rice bowls, and puddings.
Black Beans
The rich, earthy flavor of black beans makes them ideal for Southwestern and Latin American dishes like burritos, enchiladas, and chili. They hold their shape well when cooked, so they also work in cold bean salads. Try mixing them with corn, avocado, and spicy seasonings.
Black Sesame Seeds
Nutty, aromatic black sesame seeds add crunch and visual appeal to Asian-inspired noodles, stir-fries, salads, and breads. Their flavor plays well with soy sauce, citrus, ginger, and garlic. Use black sesame seeds to top everything from sushi rolls to fruit tarts.
Black Garlic
Made by slowly heating whole bulbs for several weeks, black garlic has a prune-like chewiness and molasses-like sweetness. It provides deep umami flavor when used like regular garlic or made into a spread. Rub it on meat before grilling or add it to vinaigrettes.
Blackberries
The sweet-tart juice and summery aroma of blackberries make them ideal for jams, baked goods, and other desserts. Fresh blackberry tarts and blackberry cobbler are classic choices. For savory applications, add blackberries to salads or use in sauces for meats like duck.
Black Lentils
These tiny black legumes have a robust, earthy flavor and keep their shape well when cooked. That makes them ideal for vegetarian dishes and hearty lentil soups. Black lentils pair beautifully with Middle Eastern spices like cumin, coriander, and cinnamon.
Cooking With Black Cookware
From skillet to stockpot, black-hued cookware brings an elegance to the stovetop. Certain materials like cast iron and carbon steel offer excellent heat retention and can actually improve flavors. Here are some top options for black pots and pans:
Cast Iron
This rugged cookware distributes heat evenly and can be used for everything from searing steaks to baking cobblers. Over time, cast iron develops a natural nonstick seasoning. Common pieces include skillets, grill pans, Dutch ovens, and griddles.
Enameled Cast Iron
Cast iron coated with a glassy enamel surface makes it nonreactive and impervious to acids like tomatoes or wine. Enameled cast iron works well for braises, stews, and baking. Popular items include Dutch ovens, casseroles, and skillets.
Carbon Steel
Like cast iron, carbon steel fry pans excel at high-heat searing and stir-frying. With proper seasoning, they become impressively nonstick. Carbon steel is lighter than cast iron but requires more maintenance to prevent rusting.
Black Ceramic
Ceramic cookware offers a sleek, modern look in black and other dark colors. It heats evenly but does not retain heat as well as metals. The nonstick ceramic surface makes cleanup easy. Use ceramic pots and pans for sautéing, stewing, and baking.
Serving Food in Black
From dramatic dinnerware to moody table linens, embracing black elements when serving food creates intrigue. Here are tasteful ways to incorporate black plates, bowls, and more:
- Serve pasta with black squid ink sauce on black plates for a striking color contrast.
- Choose black stoneware bowls for earthy stews, chili, and other rustic dishes.
- Set a formal table with black ceramic dinnerware for an elegant, upscale look.
- Opt for black metal or lacquered chopsticks when serving Asian noodle dishes.
- Line platters with black paper doilies or small black skewers under hors d’oeuvres.
- Use a black glass or marble serving tray to highlight fruits, cheeses, or desserts.
- Select black ramekins for individual baked casseroles and savory custards.
- Drink wine from black glass stemware to play up the dramatic hues of red and white varietals.
With thoughtful incorporation, black ingredients, cookware, and serving pieces can take dishes from mundane to strikingly memorable. A touch of black lends sophistication and visual appeal to all kinds of cuisines and courses. Keep these suggestions in mind to start cooking with black in your own kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would a cook choose to use black ingredients or cookware?
Black ingredients and cookware add drama, elegance, and intrigue to dishes. Black foods often provide unique flavors like the earthiness of black beans or sweetness of black garlic. Black pots and pans sear beautifully and can lend excellent heat distribution.
What are some good uses for black sesame seeds?
Black sesame seeds work well sprinkled on Asian noodles, stir-fries, pickled vegetables, and salad greens like spinach. They also provide visual pop when used on breads, crackers, and desserts like cookies, muffins, and fruit tarts.
Can you cook acidic foods in cast iron cookware?
Acidic ingredients like tomatoes, wine, and vinegar can react with cast iron and create off flavors in food. Enameled cast iron is a better choice for cooking acidic components, since the enamel creates a nonreactive barrier.
What types of food pair well with black garlic?
Black garlic’s rich umami flavor enhances savory dishes like stir-fries, pasta sauces, and risotto. It also balances sweet and salty combinations, making it ideal in vinaigrettes, chicken or pork marinades, and butter-based sauces.
How can you incorporate black plates and serving pieces at a dinner party?
Some creative ways to use black dinnerware for a dinner party include serving charcuterie on black rectangular plates, plating white bean stews in black bowls, and offering mini cupcakes on black stands. Black napkins and table runners also help set the mood.
What are some good desserts to make with blackberries?
Blackberries shine in fruit tarts, cobblers, pies, and crisps baked with crumbs or dough topping. Their juicy popped texture also works well in cakes layered with cream or buttercream frosting. For simple presentations, dress up plain yogurt or ice cream with fresh blackberries.
Conclusion
Cooking and serving with black ingredients and tools allows cooks to add drama and elegance to menus. Black foods offer unique health benefits and flavor depth. Dark-hued pots, pans, and dinnerware establish sophisticated atmospheres. With some creativity and strategic use, embracing black in the kitchen keeps cooking and dining visually exciting.
