The Original MSG

What food do you think of when you hear the word "savory"?

It can be a bit elusive. It's a lot easier to identify the other 4 flavors: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.

Even our word in English isn't very precise. Savory often simply refers to a non-sweet food option. So we borrow a more accurate word from Japanese: umami. I think of savory/umami as something that gives food more depth and satisfying flavor.

Great examples of umami: cheeseburgers, sautéed mushrooms, seared steak, bacon, and parmesan.

But there's another very accessible source of umami. Tomatoes! We can take one simple step to fully experience the savory goodness that tomatoes hold.

Tomatoes contain a high level of glutamic acid (the essence of umami), and when we add salt, the resulting water is rich in glutamates. (You might recognize these "G" words from MSG—MonoSodium Glutamate.) The salted tomato water is basically nature's MSG.

Try this with your child:​
1. Dice a medium tomato
2. Sprinkle it with 1/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt* (see footnote)
3. Place the tomatoes in a colander set over a bowl
4. Let it sit for 5 minutes
5. Taste the tomato water

What does it taste like? Does it remind you of another food?

This is just one of the 5 flavors we explore in Kids Cooking Club. Understanding how flavors work is what transforms kids from picky eaters into adventurous, healthy eaters.

Here are some great ways to use tomato water with your kids:

• Tomato-Mayo Dip: Mix tomato water with mayo for dipping raw veggies
• Bread Dipping Oil: Combine with olive oil and dip some crusty bread
• Cucumber Salad: Toss cucumbers with tomato water and fresh lemon juice

Action Steps

1. Try one of the recipe ideas (listed above) with your child
2. ​Watch this video on why I recommend Diamond Crystal kosher salt
3. ​Buy this salt!​

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​P.S. Click herefor 50% off your first month of Kids Cooking Club.
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Much love,
Chef Mark