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Not only do garnishes play the role of enhancing the visual appeal of a meal significantly, they also add complementary flavours, thus elevating the overall taste of the dish. Bright, colorful garnishes can make a dish more vibrant and interesting; helping define serving sizes and visually separate components on the plate. While some of these elements are traditional and can reflect cultural heritage and culinary history, others allow the cook to showcase their creativity and style, while also adding a personal touch to the meal.
Finding creative ways to incorporate ingredients as a way of beautifying a dish can be a great boost to the overall dining experience. From selecting garnishes that contrast with the main dish to enhance visual appeal to using fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables for vibrant colour and flavour, these finishing details are usually created with simplicity and minimalism for maximum effect. Using various knife techniques like juliennes or chiffonnades of ingredients provide texture and break away from the prospective monotony of texture.
Choose garnishes that complement or enhance the dish’s flavours rather than overpowering them is one of the keys to ensuring that your plates looks and tastes equally delightful. Touches of edible flowers, microgreens, salad leaves, chopped herbs, slices of apples or citrus are some of the ways in which one can add garnishes right before plating or serving a dish, in order to maintain freshness and prevent wilting. Arranging garnishes thoughtfully to create an appealing layout on the plate is one of the easiest ways in which a dish or drink can be elevated with minimal effort.
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Key Tips To Remember
- Fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro or basil add vibrant colour and a layer of freshness when chopped finely or used as whole sprigs.
- Create visual interest by using garnishes that contrast with the main dish; an example of which would be a bright red cherry tomato which stands out against a green salad.
- Add different textures with toppings like crushed nuts, breadcrumbs, crispy onions or microgreens to enhance the visual appeal and mouthfeel.
- Layering garnishes can create visual height and dimension, giving the dish a feeling of fullness when it arrives at the table. Stack ingredients or use a sprig that extends upwards for an elegant look.
- Avoid overcrowding the plate – a few well-placed garnishes can elevate a dish without overwhelming it, ensuring the focus remains on the main preparation.
