"Many cooks have a tried-and-tested tomato sauce recipe that they don't like to mess with, but sometimes it can be nice to spice things up. If you feel like experimenting, there is one underrated combo you need to try: pork and fennel seeds. The pairing might not be new to you - many pork dishes out there highlight fennel like roast pork tenderloin - but the duo isn't typically found in a lot of tomato sauce recipes."
"This is because the slightly sweet, anise-like flavor of fennel seeds helps balance the richness of pork, and it pairs beautifully when making a tomato-based ragu. The spice not only works well with the acidity of the tomatoes, adding a pleasant fragrance without overpowering the natural flavors, but it also adds a layer of complexity not typically found in a quick tomato sauce."
Pork and fennel seeds create a complementary pairing in tomato-based sauces, balancing rich pork flavors with fennel's slightly sweet, anise-like aroma. Fresh fennel and fennel seeds have different tastes; seeds are more aromatic and are commonly used in Italian kitchens, especially Sicily. Fennel seeds commonly flavor soups, salami, and cookies and can be introduced to sauces through toasted seeds, ground seeds, or fennel-flavored sausage. Toasting seeds in olive oil or grinding them releases oils and softens the bite. The seeds work with tomato acidity to add fragrance and complexity without overpowering natural flavors. Only a small amount is needed due to their pungency.
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