Flavor Bombs: The Umami Ingredients That Make Taste Explode

The founder of the national empires Umami Burger and 800 Degrees Pizza shows how to detonate flavor in beloved dishes using ordinary ingredients high in umami
 
Why does everyone love burgers and pizza? When Adam Fleischman investigated, he discovered what they—and many other ultra-flavorful dishes—have in common: umami. A renegade self-taught cook, Fleischman deployed this savory “fifth dimension of taste” to ratchet up flavor using ingredients naturally rich in umami, such as Parmesan, tomatoes, caramelized onions, and anchovy paste. In so doing, he created ultimate versions of icons, including Umami Burger with Port and Stilton, Sweet and Savory Brisket, and Parmesan Fondue. All the recipes are made from the same “umami pantry” ably explicated in the front of the book.

ADAM FLEISCHMAN is the creative force behind Umami Burger and 800 Degrees Neopolitan Pizza, restaurants with more than 40 locations in California, Chicago, Las Vegas, Dubai, and Japan. He has been profiled in The New Yorker, the New York Times, Wired, and the Wall Street Journal.