Some combinations are a no-brainer. Chocolate and caramel. Pretzels and cheese. Peanut butter and jelly. And others are a little mind-boggling yet for those adventurous enough to let go and give it a try, they’ve found great pleasures for the palate in some unconventional sweet and savory food combinations.
These food trends have become so popular, you’ve likely seen them on menus near you. Break out of the norm and give these hybrids a chance to win you over.
- Sea salt and caramel
Out for ice cream or buying chocolates? You’re bound to see salted caramel as a selection. Before you scoff though, try it. The overpowering sweetness of the caramel is perfectly tamed by the sea salt, making it a winning team.
- Maple bacon donuts
If you’ve ever had a plate of pancakes loaded with syrup that crept over onto your crisp slices of bacon, you’ve probably already discovered how fantastic those flavors work together. That was likely the inspiration for the newly-popular maple bacon donut, which looks like it’s here to stay.
- Chocolate-covered bacon
As the demand for bacon everything has taken over, covering that bacon in chocolate seems to quadruple the demand. Crispy, salty bacon makes the perfect vessel for chocolate.
- Raspberry hot wings
Sticky, fruit-slathered wings are one of the best combinations on the planet. Raspberry is popular though you’re bound to find them with apricot, peach, and other fruits all on top of spicy, sriracha-infused wings. Bonus: they go amazingly with cold beer.
- Donut burger
Instead of using a bun for your burger, try slicing a glazed donut in half like a bagel. Somehow this unholy creation hits all the right notes, pleasing every sensor on your tongue.
- Prosciutto-wrapped melon
Even fancier fare isn’t free from hybrid sweet and savory combinations. A beautiful pairing that looks elegant for your wine tasting is sweet cantaloupe wrapped with prosciutto. It’s simple too, and will wow guests even more than your famed cheese plate.
- Fries and milkshakes
Perhaps you had that one friend in college that would raise eyebrows by dunking his fries into his milkshake. Salty fries are pure heaven when dipped into a thick, creamy chocolate or vanilla shake.
- Ham and pineapple pizza
Hawaiian pizza as it’s more commonly known features ham and pineapple on top. If you’ve ever made a ham and baked it with pineapples, you know exactly why this combination works so well. It might not be anything new, but it’s been on pizza menus for decades and for very good reason!
Step outside your food comfort zone and try a sweet and savory pairing today. Who knows…you might just create the next big foodie trend!