Trending flavors can change from week to week, which leaves some restaurant kitchens with a challenge—how can they consistently offer the options consumers are clamoring for without blowing their budgets on unique ingredients that provide new and exciting flavors?
Luckily, there’s an easy solution. Speed-scratch ingredients that offer all-day versatility and lend unique flavors, such as Apple Butter Fusions from Musselman’s, mean kitchens can use one product to create an array of delicious dishes—saving on food costs without scrimping on flavor. Here’s how.
From sweet to savory
Apple butter, known for its warm spices and smooth, rich texture, is often seen as an ingredient for sweet recipes. But it can be used in many other applications, too, ranging from sweet and indulgent to spicy and savory. For instance, put Sesame Sriracha Chicken Wings (made with Musselman’s Apple Butter Fusions Sriracha flavor) on the appetizer menu or offer a dessert LTO of Carrot Cake with Salted Caramel Apple Butter Drizzle.
From breakfast to dinner
Versatile ingredients should work across different dayparts as well—not only can this help on food costs, since it means product will be used quickly, lessening the risk of spoilage, but it can also help with labor costs. That is, if one ingredient can be used in multiple dishes, kitchen staff doesn’t have to do as much prep work.
Try menuing Spicy Cauliflower Breakfast Tacos in the morning, and use the same apple butter during dinner service as a savory, unique flavoring for Horseradish Apple Butter Marinated Steak Lettuce Wraps.
From main dishes to dessert
Finally, the most versatile speed-scratch ingredients work well not only during different dayparts, but also across the menu. For instance, Asian Chicken Salad with Apple Butter Dressing is loaded with veggies and topped with protein-packed chicken, making it a perfect lunch or dinner main, while Mango Habanero Apple Butter Cheesecake is a sweet, craveable dessert that’s perfect for diners who want to indulge.
Speed-scratch ingredients that work across the menu can help save time and labor in the kitchen while allowing cooks to create delicious dishes packed with flavor. Find out more about Apple Butter Fusions and how they can enhance the menu here.
This post is sponsored by Knouse Foodservice