Most cooks have at least
one special recipe, where an unusual ingredient or technique helps
set the dish apart from similar recipes. A few cooks are more
possessive about these secrets than others. Some family recipes now
exist only in the mists of memory, because Grandma or Aunt Betty
would never relinquish the cherished mystery ingredient.
Professional chefs and cooks are also reluctant to give out
recipes, not only because they don't want to share their secrets,
but also because cooking in a restaurant kitchen can be completely
different than home cooking. The dish might turn out poorly in the
hands of some home cooks, who then blame the chef.
Sometimes a cook will offer to share her secret, but provide a
recipe with ingredients omitted or errors introduced so the dish
won't turn out properly. Receiving satisfaction from someone oohing
and aahing over your treasured secret is understandable; however,
pretending to give it up but withholding vital portions is just
plain mean.
I don't have secrets (well, not recipe secrets, anyway). If
someone asks me for a recipe, I will give it to them lock, stock
and barrel. For instance, the "secret" to my citrus cakes is
coriander. I add coriander to almost every cake that has lemon,
lime or orange flavors.
Here are some "secret" recipes in the EYB library:
Serious Eats' Secret Ingredient series: Chutney
grilled chicken
Secret Ingredient French Onion Soup
Top Secret Chocolate Mousse
Michael Romano's secret-ingredient soup
All of Gordon Ramsay's Secrets
Do you have secret ingredients or recipes? And if you do, are
you a keeper or a sharer?