Unexpected Flavour Combos You Need to Try

Everybody knows there are certain tried and tested flavour combinations that just work. Whether they balance between sweet and savoury, or bring out the best of each ingredient, there are lots of common flavour pairings that you can rely on, and turn to time and time again. 

If you fancy a change from the perfect blend of cheese and onion, lamb and mint, or chocolate and orange, we’re here to convince you to try some rather unexpected flavour combos!

It’s no secret that we love getting creative in the kitchen, and sometimes we stumble on some flavour combinations that are a little less conventional. Don’t be afraid of the bold flavours on this list! We promise you’ve not lived until you’ve tried all of these recipes….

Banana Ketchup Curry

We’re starting big with this Banana Ketchup Curry! If ketchup in a curry isn’t controversial enough, we’ve made our own Banana Ketchup to give the base of our sauce an unmissable sticky, fruity tang. 

The ketchup recipe is inspired by the kinds of flavours you’d find in Thai-style chilli sauce or mango chutney. Sweet and tangy, you can make it as spicy as you like by adding more chilli – a good fiery kick works so well with the sweetness of the bananas. 

It’s no wonder then, that this ketchup turns into the most flavour-packed sauce when it’s simmered with a tin of chopped tomatoes. Use it to coat your chicken and veggies, then dish it up with a side of fluffy rice. We guarantee it’ll be a welcome change on fakeaway Friday!

Scotch Egg Curry

If you can get on board with banana in a curry, you’re definitely brave enough to give this Scotch Egg Curry a whirl. Topping a curry with eggs is nothing new – and you might even have tried a curried Scotch egg before – but combining the two is a flavour revelation.  

We’ve paired our homemade Scotch egg with a creamy, mild curry sauce made from butternut squash and a handful of store cupboard spices. 

You’ll save loads of calories simply by making your own Scotch eggs from scratch – and it’s nowhere near as tricky as you might think. Wrap up the eggs in your perfectly-seasoned beef mince mixture, and bake them in the oven until they’re ready to serve with the sauce and a scoop of rice. 

Fish Finger Pie

Fish fingers…in a pie? Don’t knock it ‘till you try it! This Fish Finger Pie might be simple and mega budget-friendly, but it’s also seriously tasty. 

There’s no unexpected flavours in this one: instead, we’ve combined all the family-favourite bits of a reliable midweek dinner into an easy-peasy oven bake. That means beans, mashed potatoes and – of course – those all-important fish fingers, layered up and baked together. 

With plenty of cheese sprinkled on top, this hearty pie gets gorgeous and golden as it cooks, ready to be scooped out and served on its own or with a spoonful of fresh veggies. 

Smoked Salmon Carbonara

Sometimes straying from tradition and playing with unconventional ingredients turns out to be unexpectedly delicious. This Smoked Salmon Carbonara recipe is a prime example, filling your plate with a tasty twist on the usual Italian-inspired classic. 

Instead of pancetta, we’ve picked up some hot smoked salmon and flaked it into our creamy-yet-light pasta dish. A handful of frozen peas add colour and sweetness, and we even like to serve our portion with a sprinkle of chilli powder on top, for a little kick of spice. 

From pan to plate in 15 minutes, you’ll save calories as well as time – you can sit back and enjoy your quirky carbonara for just 314 calories per serving. 

Creamy Marmite Chicken

What happens when you take a controversial ingredient and use it in a (slightly) unusual way? We’ve melted Marmite into a creamy sauce, and simmered tender chicken in it to create this next dish. 

It might not be a flavour pairing that you’ve come across before, but our Creamy Marmite Chicken deserves a try. Love it or hate it, the Marmite adds a rich, savoury depth to the sauce, and you can be more or less generous with it, until it suits your tastes. 

Trust us, you’ll be spooning extra sauce over your Creamy Mashed Potatoes in no time!

Savoury Cheesecake

Hear us out on this one: ever tried a Savoury Cheesecake? It might sound weird and wonderful, but when you think about it, it makes so much sense! Instead of a sweet, buttery biscuit layer, we’ve made a base out of crushed up oatcakes and mixed in some dried basil for a lovely herby flavour. 

The silky smooth, creamy cheese layer is the main event, but the balsamic-roasted tomatoes are the cherry on top of the (cheese) cake. They bring the whole dish together, adding a sweet, moreish tang. 

We’d take a slice of this over a cheese board any day!

Cheese and Apple Toastie

While we’re on the subject of cheese boards, you might have paired cheese and apple before, but never like this! For an unexpected lunchtime treat, make yourself this simple and speedy Cheese and Apple Toastie. 

The sharpness of a crisp Granny Smith apple is more than a match for the creamy Cheddar cheese, making this so much better than your usual toasted sandwich. If the idea of fruit in a toastie feels strange at first, one bite will be enough to have you convinced!

Best of all, you can munch your way through this 10-minute lunch for only 284 calories…

Cheeseburger Quiche

It’s no secret that we love a recipe mash-up. Some of our favourite dishes have come about from a little kitchen experimentation and a dash of Pinch of Nom magic: we’re talking about recipes that give the best of two worlds, like Hunter’s Chicken Meatballs, Chicken Korma Pie and this Cheeseburger Quiche. 

Now, we know what you’re thinking – cheeseburgers and quiche aren’t the most likely pairing! What we’ve created is a tasty base of richly seasoned mince, topped with homemade tomato sauce, caramelised onions and a cheesy egg mixture. 

Looks like a quiche, tastes like a cheeseburger – what more could you want?

You’ll find the full recipe on pages 118/119 of our Quick and Easy cookbook. You can pick up a copy here if you’re missing it from your Nom collection!

Diet Coke/Pepsi Max Chicken

Our Diet Coke/Pepsi Max Chicken recipe has been around since the early days of Nom, but if you’re new here, it might be new to you! Pouring a can of cola into your chicken dinner is bound to seem a little strange at first, but if you love a sweet and sour takeaway, this is the recipe for you. 

We prefer to use Pepsi Max in ours, as we think it thickens the sauce a little better. When it’s done simmering away, you’re left with a sweet, sticky sauce to coat your chicken and veggies. 

Super quick, low in calories and oh-so-scrummy, it’s no surprise this is one of our most popular fakeaway recipes. 

Mushy Pea Curry

If you’re a fan of a chip shop curry (but don’t love the cost and the calories) this Mushy Pea Curry is a real game-changer. While you probably won’t want to put mushy peas and a tin of beans in every curry you make, they’re the magic ingredients to getting the taste and consistency right for this one. 

You won’t notice the peas one bit, so don’t be tempted to leave them out. The rest of the ingredients are up to you: you can use whatever vegetables you like, and even switch to a hotter curry powder if you like a bit of heat. 

Spoon it over a portion of Homemade Oven Chips for the full chip shop experience!

Will you be trying any of these unexpected flavour combos?

We’d love to hear from you! We’re always chatting all things Nom over in our Facebook group, and it’s a great place to show off what you’re cooking, get some advice from the community or ask us any questions. Don’t forget there’s SWAG up for grabs if you share photos in our Gallery too!

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