By Strong bitter flavours like dark chocolate, coffee and even mackerel are the best seasonings for a leg of lamb, a new study has revealed.
Food scientist and flavour expert Dr Rachel Edwards-Stuart, who collaborated with Simply Beef & Lamb, looked at the molecular make-up of meat to find similar flavour compounds in compatible foods.
She discovered mint and rosemary aren't the best partners to our lamb Sunday roast because the high cocoa content in dark chocolate brings out the flavour of the meat best. Coffee, mackerel, brie, shrimp and grapefruit also pair perfectly with the red meat.
And, when it comes to what to drink with that lamb dish, science says red wine is out. Whiskey and sake were the tipples that enhanced the taste the most.
"While many of these ingredients are common in cooking, people can often be afraid to put bold flavours together," Dr Edwards-Stuart explained.
"This research shows that the traditional pairings of rosemary or mint may not be the best food to bring out all of the flavours lamb has to offer. People can therefore afford to be a bit bolder in their choices."
