The Pleasant Savory Taste That Is Umami

I’m no chef nor have any years of experience in the kitchen.  I discovered the art of cooking only when I got married and had babies to feed.   It really wouldn’t be wise to feed young children breakfast fare every meal every single day.  So I really made an effort to learn how to whip up nutritious meals and snacks to ensure that my children grow up healthy.   It certainly was a huge effort for someone who has never cooked anything other than hotdog, bacon, fried chicken and other fried food!

Aside from my Mom’s invaluable advice and watching dozens of cooking shows,  my cooking style has been greatly influenced by my husband’s taste.  This includes the use of Ajinomoto Umami Seasoning to make our meals delicious and flavorful.  I was hesitant at first to use it in cooking because of the many negative effects I have heard about monosodium glutamate.  Upon reading more about it though, I have learned that glutamate is naturally occuring in meats and vegetables such as potatoes and tomatoes.  It is in fact lower in sodium content than table salt.

I have since used Umami seasoning in cooking and have also used other Ajinomoto products.  I was even fortunate enough to have been chosen as a Foodie Mom in Chef Rosebud’s Quickfire where we cooked my recipes featuring Aji-ginisa.

My Quickfire Foodie Mom Recipe: Oatmeal Crusted Cream Dory with Garlic Baby Potatoes

Last November 22, Ajinomoto very generously gifted all attendees of the PMC 2nd Grand EB with giftpacks filled with their various products.   Aji-ginisa, Crispyfry, and Ajinomoto Umami Seasoning are staples in our pantry.  The rest of the products though I have never tried previously.

Thank you Ajinomoto for these wonderful products!

Since receiving the gift pack, I have already tried Aji-Shio Garlic, Tasty Boy All Purpose Breading Mix, and So-Quick Chicken Marinade.  I used the Aji-Shio to season fish, the Tasty Boy Breading Mix and So-Quick Chicken Marinade (in separate occasions) for fried chicken.   The So-Quick Chicken Marinade was great!  It had the perfect blend of tanginess, saltiness and sweetness. It also saved me cooking time since I didn’t have to blend the marinade myself.  The Tasty Boy Breading Mix was a bit salty though for my taste.  You may want to add a little more flour or cornstarch to it to balance the saltiness.  The Aji-Shio is also to be used sparingly.  It is after all a seasoning meant to enhance the taste of the food and not to overpower it with flavor.