diff --git a/23-Cooking/Role Substitution Logic.md b/23-Cooking/Role Substitution Logic.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a70a697 --- /dev/null +++ b/23-Cooking/Role Substitution Logic.md @@ -0,0 +1,82 @@ +# Role Substitution Logic + +When an ingredient isn't available, think in **categories, not products**. Ask: *what role does this ingredient play, and what else plays that role locally?* + +See [[Flavor Profile Formulas]] to match available ingredients to a profile. See [[Flavor Sense]] to understand why each role matters. + +--- + +## Acid + +The goal is brightness and palate reset. Anything with a sour, mouth-watering quality works. + +Fresh citrus (lemon, lime, orange) → other citrus → mild vinegar (rice, white wine) → strong vinegar diluted with water (1:1) → fermented liquid (pickle brine, yogurt whey, kombucha) → sour dairy (yogurt, crème fraîche, sour cream) + +**Dry acid:** Sumac or tamarind powder add sourness without any liquid — useful when you don't want to add moisture to the dish. + +--- + +## Fat + +The goal is flavor dissolution and heat conduction. Any fat works for cooking; flavored fats add profile character. + +Neutral high-smoke oil (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, avocado) → animal fat (lard, ghee, tallow, duck fat) → olive oil (use at lower heat only — not for searing) → coconut oil (adds tropical character, shifts profile toward South Asian or Southeast Asian) + +**Note:** Coconut milk is both a fat and a liquid — it creates a sauce rather than a searing medium. Use it for braises, not for high-heat cooking. + +--- + +## Aromatic + +Garlic and onion are available almost everywhere on earth and form a valid aromatic base for any profile. Secondary aromatics add regional specificity. + +**Primary (universal):** Garlic + onion in any form (fresh, dried, powder as last resort) + +**Secondary aromatics and their profiles:** +- Ginger → East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian +- Lemongrass → Southeast Asian (no real substitute; omit if unavailable) +- Shallot → French, Southeast Asian (substitute: white part of scallion, or mild onion) +- Leek → French, Eastern European (substitute: white part of scallion) +- Cumin → Latin American, Middle Eastern, South Asian +- Dill → Eastern European (no real substitute; omit if unavailable) +- Caraway → Eastern European (substitute: fennel seed, a milder anise note) + +--- + +## Umami + +The goal is depth and a sense of completeness. Layer sources when possible — the effect compounds. + +Brown your protein well (Maillard) → add a fermented condiment → add concentrated tomato (paste or canned) → add dried mushrooms (rehydrate in hot water; use both mushrooms and soaking liquid) → finish with aged or hard cheese + +**Regional fermented condiments you might encounter:** +- East / Southeast Asia: soy sauce, fish sauce, miso, shrimp paste, oyster sauce +- South Asia: tamarind paste, achaar (pickled condiment) +- Middle East / North Africa: preserved lemon, harissa +- Europe: Worcestershire, Dijon mustard, anchovy paste, aged cheese (parmesan, pecorino) +- Latin America: chipotle in adobo, mole paste +- West Africa: dawadawa, ogiri, fermented fish paste + +--- + +## Starch + +The goal is volume and satiety. Any carbohydrate that absorbs liquid and flavor works. + +Any grain cooked by absorption (rice, millet, farro, bulgur, quinoa, couscous) → root vegetables (potato, sweet potato, yuca, taro, plantain) → legumes as starch (beans, lentils, chickpeas) → flatbread or commercial bread → pasta or noodles + +**Fastest starches:** Couscous (boiling water + lid, 5 min), instant noodles (discard seasoning packet), pre-cooked grain pouches + +--- + +## Protein + +The goal is substance and the primary browning opportunity. Any protein that can be seared works. + +Fresh meat → fresh fish or shellfish → eggs → firm tofu or tempeh → canned protein (tuna, chicken, sardines, chickpeas) → nuts and seeds (texture + fat + protein, no browning needed) + +**Budget hierarchy within meat:** Chicken thighs → pork shoulder or belly → beef chuck → chicken breast → any offal (liver, heart — highly nutritious, very affordable) + +--- + +*Return to [[Weekly Planning Template]] · See profiles: [[Flavor Profile Formulas]] · See mechanisms: [[Flavor Sense]]*