Are you doing Umame? No, it’s not the latest dance craze (thank God the Macarena has passed us by) and it’s not a jukebox. Umame is the fifth taste sensation, and until recently we Americans didn’t even know we had it. Never fear: Michelin-rated chefs are falling all over themselves to create the ultimate “umame bomb” (expect truffles, pancetta, blue cheese, bacon, garlic and the last living crustacean of whichever sea bug is most endangered at precisely this point in time).
We all grew up with the four basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty. But there is a fifth taste, umame, that translates as “savory” or “flavorful”. It’s that rich, deeply satisfying, sensual taste. Think gravy, steak, brie cheese, proscuitto, truffles, parmesan – that’s umame. Humans instinctively seek it out, which is why those low-fat chocolate cookies of the 90s failed to satisfy. We want umame. I think there’s a bit of a Primal aspect here – our tongues know how to identify what is rich and satisfying, even if we Westerners lacked the word until recently. For any doubting Thomases, Japanese researchers identified umame a century ago, and thank goodness we’re finally catching up. In the spirit of the fifth taste, here are 10 healthy Primal-minded meals that are sure to satisfy that spot:
9. Clam chowder
Primal tip: forget the spuds and cornstarch; substitute carrots and parsnips and thicken things up with a package of Neufchatel or full-fat cream cheese.
8. Roast beef with vegetables
Primal tip: forget potatoes and go with whole grilled fennel bulbs.
7. Old fashioned tuna fish salad on a bed of greens! Add in celery and fresh dill or tarragon and enjoy that mayo! We recommend making your own chemical-free mayo at home, however.
6. The lazy gourmet: sliced ham, sliced Swiss, and Dijon mustard. Simply roll and enjoy. It beats string cheese!
5. Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon.
4. A Denver omelet with a side salad of fresh tomato and avocado slices.
3. Spinach-Artichoke dip
Primal tip: forget the toast points or chips and serve this cheesy, delicious dip with cubes of baked chicken breast instead.
2. John Dory with chard.
1. Caesar salad with grilled shrimp.
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