Beef tastes great on its own, but knowing what to pair with beef can really bring out some WOW flavors! To understand the art of pairing, it is important to first recognize the differences between taste and flavor. Taste refers to the five basic food receptors: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami (the one we didn't learn about in school). Umami: [oo-MOM-ee], is described as meaty and savory or delicious, and is derived from umai, the Japanese word for delicious. Flavor is a combination of taste plus the other sensations that influence our perception of food such as aroma, texture, juiciness, mouth feel and color.

Like beef, certain ingredients contain the umami compound. When two umami compounds meet, synergism occurs creating a flavor explosion! Many of these ingredients are found in popular beef dishes, which explains the delicious pairings of steak and mushrooms, and wine or tomato sauces with beef. Following are some additional umami flavors to pair with beef: tomatoes, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sour cream, aged cheeses, wine, mushrooms and bacon. Other flavors that may not be considered umami, but are still great with beef are peppercorns, garlic, bell peppers, thyme, onions and mustard.

Create your own flavor explosions with great beef dishes found on txbeef.org - why not try an umami meal tonight!