Bring me your zany food pairings!
July 4, 2013 9:23 AM

What are your favorite innovative or "odd couple" food combinations?

I don't devote a huge amount of attention to food, but over the years I've discovered some food pairings/combinations I would never have thought up but really enjoy:

- chocolate and chili
- caramel and sea salt
- strawberries, balsamic vinegar and cracked black pepper
- tart apple wedges dipped in whole-grain mustard
- bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese

I would love more inspirations like these! I'm not looking for anything hugely complicated, just unexpected winning combinations of three ingredients or fewer.

Bonus question: I'm also up for things served at unexpected temperatures or in contravention of "the rules", like savory popsicles or micheladas (beer with ice cubes! gasp!).
posted by stuck on an island to Food & Drink (76 answers total) 60 users marked this as a favorite
I like cheddar, apple, and fried egg sandwiches.
posted by ActionPopulated at 9:27 AM on July 4, 2013


(fresh) mint lemonade :9
endive, blue cheese, and candied walnut
caramelized bacon
posted by sexyrobot at 9:28 AM on July 4, 2013


Peanut butter and mayo on a BLT.

Previously!
posted by phunniemee at 9:30 AM on July 4, 2013


In the thick of peach season I make salads with ripe peaches and cucumbers (and maybe some balsamic vinegar and cracked pepper.)
posted by needs more cowbell at 9:31 AM on July 4, 2013


Watermelon, feta, and mint.

Here's a neat list from someone looking into molecular gastronomy.
posted by punchtothehead at 9:35 AM on July 4, 2013


Bleu cheese and pears. Also, throw in some cinnamon with your chocolate and chili. Peep at the menu at Las Paletas (here in Nashville) for some of the combinations they use for their legendary popsicles.
posted by jquinby at 9:36 AM on July 4, 2013


The Thais put red chili flakes on their pineapple.
posted by seemoreglass at 9:37 AM on July 4, 2013


I can't speak for Las Paletas above, but I'd also take a peek at the menu of Little Baby's Ice Cream here in Philly for unusual flavor combo inspiration. I can vouch for the earl gray sriracha, which is delicious.
posted by ActionPopulated at 9:42 AM on July 4, 2013


Burger with peanut butter, bacon, and fried banana, which I had at Boston Burger Company.

My first thought upon seeing "the King" burger on the menu was that it was one of the grosser combinations I had come across in my extensive foodie adventures. (Peanut butter on a BURGER?!) The waitress agreed with me that the combination sounds weird, but said that the burger is actually pretty popular. I was feeling adventurous so I gave it a shot.

Heart attack on a plate? Oh yes.

Worth it? Yes, yes, inexplicably YES.
posted by The Girl Who Ate Boston at 9:49 AM on July 4, 2013


Hot dog in a waffle. It's a regional specialty in parts of Norway. This guy created the dish in the late 1960s, while working at his uncle's hot dog stand at the local soccer arena. One day he was out of hot dog buns, but had stacks of unsold waffles... A few years later, he started a restaurant that eventually received two stars in Guide Michelin.
posted by iviken at 9:52 AM on July 4, 2013


Watermelon gazpacho. Not completely incongruous, but unusual in the sense that the flavors blend together absolutely seamlessly and the resulting taste is unlike either watermelon or traditional gazpacho.
posted by googly at 9:54 AM on July 4, 2013


Mustard and pakoras, samosas, and naan. Mmmmmmm.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 9:55 AM on July 4, 2013


Also, this isn't exactly what you're asking for, but check out The Flavor Bible if you're looking to develop your own creative food pairings. The book is a "flavor thesaurus": look up an ingredient and see a (very long!) list of complimentary flavors. Should give you some fun ideas!
posted by The Girl Who Ate Boston at 10:03 AM on July 4, 2013


I recently made maple rosemary ice cream, and the flavor combination was perfect.
posted by neroli at 10:06 AM on July 4, 2013


Peanut butter, mayo, Vegemite and a cabbage leaf on soft white bread. You can replace the cabbage leaf with apple slices. OK that's 4 ingredients but if you are in the US it's still pretty good without the Vegemite.

Apple pie or thin slices of fruit cake with a strong aged cheddar cheese.

Grilled fruit like peaches with steak.

Macdonalds french fries dipped into a Chocolate milkshake/thickshake or a sundae.

Peanut butter and pesto on hot toast.

Potato chip and Vegemite sandwiches.

Temp wise I love chilled red wine with ice in.
posted by wwax at 10:08 AM on July 4, 2013


Doritos and cottage cheese.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:09 AM on July 4, 2013


Tuna and chile (sorta like pureed salsa) sandwiches. Yum. :)
posted by luckynerd at 10:10 AM on July 4, 2013


Peanut butter & Tang powder (as a sandwich)

Cottage cheese and pears (canned pears in lite syrup, dump into bowl of cottage cheese, eat with spoon)
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:25 AM on July 4, 2013


Ground peanuts are pretty good in hamburgers or ground beef recipes, too. That's kind of covered above but it's really quite tasty and versatile. Add some soy or tamari sauce for extra wow.
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:27 AM on July 4, 2013


Blue Cheese and dried apricots with hazelnuts on a salad. Amazing.
posted by gemmy at 10:30 AM on July 4, 2013


-chocolate and cheese
-strawberries, balsamic vinegar and chickpeas in a salad
-goat cheese around grapes, rolled in crushed nuts (amazing)
posted by randomnity at 10:33 AM on July 4, 2013


When I was a kid I liked to have pickles and orange juice together.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:39 AM on July 4, 2013


... as I said previously. I really should try them again.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:41 AM on July 4, 2013


It's been mentioned in various combinations already, but in my book nothing beats a good plain old peanut butter and bacon sandwich - preferably after a cycle in the toaster oven so the bread gets toasty, peanut butter melts, and the bacon gets hot and crisp.

Melon wrapped in prosciutto is pretty delicious. (I don't know how "off the wall" as it seems to be a standard hors d'oevre item... but I had never encountered it until about a year ago.)
posted by usonian at 11:09 AM on July 4, 2013


Ground black pepper in red wine (originally suggested to me by a food history professor who is also an oenophile)
posted by donut_princess at 11:16 AM on July 4, 2013


Flygande Jacob. Recipe. Surprisingly awesome casserole of chicken, whipped cream, chili sauce, bananas, roasted peanuts and bacon.
posted by blob at 11:18 AM on July 4, 2013


Regional hot dog variations are good for this. (Pastrami! Cream cheese! Pineapple! Mayo! Sweet corn! Avocado! Mashed potatoes!)

There's no reason stuff like this should sound weird, since hot dogs are just meat-and-allspice flavored and those flavors go with basically everything. But most people seem to have a real strong sense that their local verion is The Right Way and everything else is just fucked up.
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 11:20 AM on July 4, 2013


Cream cheese, apple slices, sunflower seeds, and sprouts (a delicate sprout, not the giant bean-like ones) on pita.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:20 AM on July 4, 2013


Also, cream cheese, Really Good Tomato, anchovy and black pepper is a shockingly wonderful sandwich combination. Unless you're one of those weird sub-humans who doesn't like anchovies.
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 11:26 AM on July 4, 2013


Peanut butter on a banana. Or PBS and banana sandwich.
Salt on fruit, or chili powder.
Chili and lime on potato chips. Or popcorn.
Plain yogurt on scrambled eggs.
posted by SLC Mom at 11:27 AM on July 4, 2013


Peanuts in Coke.
posted by jgirl at 11:32 AM on July 4, 2013


Pickled ginger (like the kind you get at sushi restaurants) on pizza.
posted by jcatus at 11:36 AM on July 4, 2013


The recipe for this bread (almost cake, which is to say bread like banana bread) made the rounds of many food blogs a few years back and it's quite amazing. Rosemary, olive oil, and chocolate (recipe here).
posted by tractorfeed at 11:59 AM on July 4, 2013


Peanut butter seems to be the duct tape of a lot of zany combinations - I once had an appetizer that was pickled jalapenos (the kind in the can) sliced in half, seeded, and stuffed with peanut butter. It was really good, kind of like the adult version of "Ants on a log" (celery slices stuffed with peanut butter with raisins on top).
posted by drwelby at 12:05 PM on July 4, 2013


Cottage cheese and raspberry preserves.
posted by drlith at 12:09 PM on July 4, 2013


- Beer and ice cream (bitter beer, simple ice cream - probably my favorite thing ever)
- Balsamic vinegar on vanilla ice cream
- Sliced grapes on buttered bread
- Peanut butter and pickle sandwich
- Savory oatmeal - soy sauce, sautéed leeks - there's a Mark Bittman article somewhere
- Watermelon with a twang of salt
- Prosciutto/melon antipasto

A friend of mine had a theory about pairing "masculine" and "feminine" flavors - though it didn't really make sense, he was great at coming up with odd combinations.
posted by domnit at 12:16 PM on July 4, 2013


Water chestnuts wrapped in bacon.
Apple pie with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese on top (the way my grandparents normally ate it).
Beer and clamato or tomato juice (50/50).
posted by snorkmaiden at 12:24 PM on July 4, 2013


Lemon and liquorice (preferably lightly salted aka Finnish salmiaki). This is easily achieved if your local ice salon is sensible enough to make liquorice icecream.

Just slightly different, anise and orange (aka Pernod or Sambucca with orange juice), or of course fennel with orange.

Sauerkraut and blue cheese in a toasted sandwich.
posted by pipstar at 12:41 PM on July 4, 2013


strawberry sorbet with tarragon
posted by scody at 12:44 PM on July 4, 2013


Branston's pickle and cheddar (sandwich)
Melon and proscuitto
Melon and red pepper flakes
olive oil gelato is surprisingly amazing
posted by bunderful at 12:51 PM on July 4, 2013


Munchos chips and apple sauce
Root beer and chocolate milk
Vermicelli and ice cream
chicken breast and eggs
Sugar dipped tomatoe
posted by mrgroweler at 12:52 PM on July 4, 2013


Junior mints and popcorn, a cinematic masterpiece.
posted by lois1950 at 1:09 PM on July 4, 2013


Cream cheese and peanut butter sandwich.

Cream cheese with candied jalapenos, on crackers.

Goldfish and M&Ms.

Cheese is a very big theme in my life
posted by tooloudinhere at 1:11 PM on July 4, 2013


Balsamic and canteloupe
posted by Fig at 1:17 PM on July 4, 2013


Medjool dates dipped in tahini.
posted by veids at 1:52 PM on July 4, 2013


Jam and cheese sandwich.

Soy sauce, brewer's yeast, and butter on popcorn. (Or with oil on salad.)

Brewer's yeast*, honey and yogurt on French toast.

*I see that I probably was fed brewer's yeast as a child because: vegetarian. I still love it's weird flavor.
posted by Margalo Epps at 2:25 PM on July 4, 2013


Most fresh apple pie receipts call for a tablespoon of flour added to the filling, along with a few pats of butter topping the filling before the top crust is put on, to make a bit of apple flavored "sauce" out of the excess juice that baking apple bits always release. Screw the flour, use a couple teaspoons of arrowroot dissolved in a ounce or so of microwave warmed sweet vermouth, and mix it up with all the apples. Then, before assembling the top crust on the pie, drizzle an ounce or two of bacon drippings around the perimeter, and into center.

Stand back a bit when you serve slices to strangers. That happy, shocked, confused look on their faces is often followed by hugs, dancing and marriage proposals.
posted by paulsc at 3:00 PM on July 4, 2013


Marmite and marmalade on thick white toast. Spread the marmite thinly, then top with marmalade. Inexplicably delicious - a perfect balance of sweet, bitter and savoury.
posted by pipeski at 3:07 PM on July 4, 2013


Oh, speaking of apple pie - I think it's a New England/northeastern thing but not many people I know around here actually do it: A slice of nice, extra sharp cheddar cheese on top of your slice of apple pie is a thing of beauty.
posted by usonian at 3:15 PM on July 4, 2013


As is extra sharp cheese on pumpkin pie!
posted by MayNicholas at 4:28 PM on July 4, 2013


Lemon and sage is a highly underrated sweet combo. Had some lemon and sage gelato in Florence a few weeks ago that knocked my socks off. In the same vein, lemonade flavored with traditionally savory herbs (sage, rosemary, basil, etc.) can be fantastic.
posted by Diagonalize at 4:34 PM on July 4, 2013


Cheez-its and vanilla yogurt. No joke.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:44 PM on July 4, 2013


Mayo and lime juice on corn-on-the-cob, preferably roasted or grilled. Miso on same, definitely grilled with the miso on.

Fish sauce in guacamole.

Sweet curry powder mixed in a sour cream/mayo sauce, served over cold steamed cauliflower. A Danish thing I've only seen at one place in Solvang. I liked it. Not everyone does.

Cucumber and strawberry in water (possibly lightly sweetened). Technically an agua fresca.

Similar to your michelada, a margarita served on the rocks with beer in it.
posted by WasabiFlux at 5:07 PM on July 4, 2013


Horseradish and orange marmalade, mixed and spread on soda-bread.

"...really?"
Yes, really :)
posted by 2oh1 at 5:45 PM on July 4, 2013


I like salt and vinegar chips with canned oysters and a drop of Tabasco on top.

My grandparents put salt and pepper on cantaloupe and watermelon.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 6:03 PM on July 4, 2013


I recently tried adding a little salsa to my natto before stirring, instead of the soy and mustard. It was pretty great.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:10 PM on July 4, 2013


Ooh! From the bottom up: saltine, dollop of Kewpie mayo, smoked oyster, thin jalapeno slice, fried shallots. Similar creative combinations work with canned sardines and mackerel.
posted by WasabiFlux at 7:09 PM on July 4, 2013


Peanut butter, mayo, & strawberry jam

chocolate ice cream in coke (like a rootbeer float, only much better)
posted by belladonna at 7:55 PM on July 4, 2013


Chocolate cake with barbeque sauce.
posted by kassila at 8:25 PM on July 4, 2013


Sliced banana with fresh ground black pepper. Stick a fork in it!
posted by piyushnz at 8:33 PM on July 4, 2013


I made an ice cream of persimmons and a black pepper syrup a while ago that was fantastic (also the syrup was fascinating, both sweet and super peppery).

A friend made figs wrapped in prosciutto and goat cheese, baked, and it was as close to heaven as I'll ever get.
posted by emcat8 at 8:36 PM on July 4, 2013


Loaded mashed potatoes and kimchi

Thousand island and steak.
posted by astapasta24 at 9:04 PM on July 4, 2013


Double-dipped steak bites. (1) Dip in soy sauce (2) Dip in creamy bleu cheese dressing (3) Eat.
posted by maggieb at 9:44 PM on July 4, 2013


Ritz crackers dipped in any flavor yogurt.
posted by upatree at 12:13 AM on July 5, 2013


Wendy's Frosties and french fries. Cold/sweet + hot/salty = yes.
posted by Rhaomi at 2:02 AM on July 5, 2013


Pastrami and mustard with a gherkin on a bagel - but a cinnamon and raisin bagel.

Also, if you are having houmous on a piece of bread, splash balsamic vinegar on it before you spread on the houmous.

ALSO - put honey on the bread before you put your bacon sandwich together. Might not seem too weird to USians as you tend to maple glaze stuff, but it was a flavour party in my mouth,
posted by mippy at 7:04 AM on July 5, 2013


Cream cheese and bacon sandwich (preferably on a good, seedless, Jewish rye.)

A little chopped cilantro and lime or lemon zest added to plain and basic Italian tomato sauces at the end of cooking/heating.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:25 AM on July 5, 2013


Steak + Maggi soy sauce = unexpectedly yummy
Soy sauce really brings out the flavour of steak

My friend loves chocolate pasta

Adding a pinch of sea salt to hot chocolate makes it extra amazeballs

Cooking spaghetti in campbell soup

Sausage and bacon chunks mixed in with salted oatmeal, topped with a sunny-side up egg
posted by dinosaurprincess at 8:58 AM on July 5, 2013


Grapefruit and watermelon are even better with a sprinkling of salt. I just realized that is a bit unclear, so let me add that I've never thought to eat grapefruit and watermelon together, but I'm up for trying it now.
posted by Daddy-O at 10:09 AM on July 5, 2013


cracker with strawberry jam, sharp cheddar and a slice of pickle
posted by TestamentToGrace at 12:02 PM on July 5, 2013


Arugula and roasted beets go really well together, even for this person who likes neither on their own.
posted by lunasol at 12:05 PM on July 5, 2013


grapes and cheerios.

so good.
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 2:15 PM on July 5, 2013


Nutella on saltines

Crumble saltines into a mug, then pour in cold milk and eat with a spoon. It's like savory cereal.
posted by bunderful at 5:17 PM on July 5, 2013


If you're from California/Hawaii this may be boring to you, but it blew my mind: slice of grilled pineapple on a cheeseburger.
posted by naoko at 7:29 PM on July 8, 2013


Raspberries on top of mint chocolate chip ice cream. I was like whaaat and then I was like, yum.
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 6:22 AM on July 11, 2013


Pineapple plus pickled jalapeño. Charcoal grilled corn on the cob rubbed with a mix of of paprika and salt placed on top half a lime. Bread, butter and chocolate powder (crunchy bournvita). Peanuts with ice-cream.
posted by cynicalidealist at 11:28 AM on July 13, 2013


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