There’s just something fun about having a secret ingredient. Maybe you want to tease friends who are dying to know the recipe by never telling them. Maybe you want to drop that secret ingredient into the conversation at the perfect time. Whatever the case, having an unexpected ingredient in reserve is always fun. Try these 15 recipes with a surprising secret ingredient to find something to serve at your next gathering.
Carrot Cake Waffles
These carrot cake waffles taste like carrot cake and are sure to be a popular favorite. What diners won’t know is that they are getting a load of extra veggies due to the baby food in the mix.
You need: 200 g flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 egg, 250 ml milk, 100 g grated carrot, 2 tbsp sugar.
- Mix batter with carrot.
- Cook in a hot waffle iron 4 min.
- Serve with cream cheese frosting.
Cherry Cheesecake Smoothie
This cherry cheesecake smoothie is loaded with sweet flavors to please the palate. They also cover up the cauliflower, which gives a full serving of veggies with each smoothie.
You need: 150 g frozen cherries, 100 g cream cheese, 200 ml milk, 1 banana, 1 tbsp honey.
- Put everything in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve cold.
Apple Cider Scones
These apple cider scones just bottle up the taste of fall so perfectly it’s hard to believe. But the secret behind them is lime juice, which gives a much more tart flavor than apples can manage on their own.
You need: 250 g flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 50 g sugar, 80 g cold butter, 100 ml reduced apple cider, 50 ml cream.
- Rub butter into the dry ingredients.
- Add cider and cream to make a dough.
- Cut into wedges, bake at 200°C for 15 min.
7 Up Biscuits
Sure, Grandma would call it heresy, but there is a very easy way to make scratch biscuits. Any lemon/lime soda will make light, fluffy biscuits that are easy to make and taste great.
You need: 300 g self-raising flour, 150 ml lemon-lime soda, 150 ml sour cream, 2 tbsp melted butter.
- Mix flour, soda and sour cream.
- Shape into rounds on a buttered tin.
- Bake at 220°C for 12 min.
Loaded Burger Salad Bowl with Special Sauce
Instead of hopping in the car to grab a takeout burger, try this loaded burger salad bowl. The cashews in the special sauce let you cut out the mayo for a healthier option.
You need: 500 g minced beef, mixed salad leaves, 2 tomatoes, pickles, cheese, 3 tbsp mayo, 1 tbsp ketchup, 1 tsp mustard.
- Shape and grill beef patties, chop.
- Layer salad, tomatoes, pickles and cheese.
- Top with beef and sauce of mayo, ketchup and mustard.
Eggless Carrot Cake
Have you ever gotten halfway through a baking recipe only to realize you are out of eggs? Applesauce is actually a great substitute for eggs, as in this eggless carrot cake recipe, for example.
You need: 250 g flour, 150 g sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 200 g grated carrot, 120 ml oil, 120 ml milk, 1 tsp cinnamon.
- Mix dry ingredients, then wet and carrot.
- Pour into a lined tin.
- Bake at 180°C for 35 min.
Thai Chicken Salad With Peanut Dressing
Thai dishes have a certain flavor profile that most people will recognize, with things like peanut dressing always making an appearance. What people won’t be expecting is for fresh peaches to make an appearance.
You need: 300 g cooked chicken, 1/2 red cabbage, 2 carrots, coriander, 3 tbsp peanut butter, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 lime, 1 tbsp honey.
- Shred chicken and slice vegetables.
- Whisk peanut butter, soy, lime and honey with warm water.
- Toss together.
Sun Dried Tomato Quiche with Spinach and Goat Cheese
This quiche recipe features classic flavors like spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and mayonnaise. Yes, mayo appears here, keeping things light and fluffy.
You need: 1 pastry case, 4 eggs, 200 ml cream, 40 g sun-dried tomatoes, 100 g spinach, 100 g goat cheese.
- Wilt the spinach and spread in the case with tomatoes.
- Pour over whisked eggs and cream, dot with goat cheese.
- Bake at 180°C for 30 min.
Gluten Free Apple Crisp
Nothing is more comforting on a fall day than a good apple crisp. But to really elevate the flavor, add orange juice.
You need: 4 apples, 80 g gluten-free oats, 50 g almond flour, 50 g butter, 3 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tsp cinnamon.
- Slice apples and toss with cinnamon.
- Rub oats, flour, butter and syrup into crumbs.
- Top and bake at 180°C for 35 min.
One-Pot Mac ‘n Cheese
This good old mac ‘n cheese recipe is hiding two secrets. It’s gluten-free, and the hidden carrots provide a whole serving of veggies.
You need: 250 g macaroni, 500 ml milk, 250 g cheddar, 1 tbsp butter, 1 tsp mustard.
- Simmer pasta in the milk and 250 ml water until tender, stirring.
- Stir in butter, mustard and cheese.
- Serve when creamy.
Vegan Cotija Cheese
Vegan cheese, as a concept, is already pretty surprising. But this one jumps the shark by adding pickle juice for a flavor like no other.
You need: 150 g cashews, 3 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tbsp water.
- Soak cashews 2 hours, drain.
- Pulse with remaining ingredients to crumbs.
- Store chilled.
Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Nothing is like a good, cheesy broccoli casserole on a cold night. This recipe mixes things up just a little by adding Dijon mustard for a flavorful kick.
You need: 500 g broccoli, 250 ml cream, 150 g cheddar, 1 egg, 50 g breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp butter.
- Steam the broccoli 4 min.
- Mix with cream, egg and half the cheese in a dish.
- Top with crumbs and cheese, bake at 180°C for 25 min.
Lemon Blueberry Yellow Squash Muffins
Okay, the secret to this one is right there in the name, but it’s still pretty surprising. One doesn’t usually think of squash alongside lemon blueberry muffins.
You need: 250 g flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 120 g sugar, 1 egg, 100 ml oil, 150 g grated yellow squash, 150 g blueberries, 1 lemon.
- Mix batter with squash and lemon zest.
- Fold in berries.
- Fill a muffin tin and bake at 190°C for 22 min.
Homemade Genovese Pesto
Call me crazy, but most people don’t think about spinach when picking up ingredients for homemade pesto. It helps keep things green and hearty without corrupting the flavor.
You need: 60 g basil, 40 g pine nuts, 40 g parmesan, 1 garlic clove, 120 ml olive oil, salt.
- Blend basil, nuts, garlic and cheese.
- Stream in oil.
- Season and store under oil.
Apple Cider Breakfast Doughnuts
Apple cider doughnuts are a delicious and comforting breakfast option. But adding in butternut squash makes them healthier and moister, too.
You need: 300 g flour, 7 g yeast, 60 g sugar, 150 ml reduced apple cider, 50 ml milk, 40 g butter, oil, cinnamon sugar.
- Make a dough with cider and milk, rise 1 hour.
- Cut rounds and rise 30 min.
- Fry golden, roll in cinnamon sugar.
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