Sunday Art of Flavour readers may have noticed that we often pair Turmeric and Ginger in our recipes, so it was nice to see a note from reader Paul Theo building on this and suggesting a new flavour Trilogy: Turmeric, Ginger and Cinnamon

Why flavour in our culinary world should come in three's I can't tell you. I can only assume there must be some divine purpose for our eating enjoyment that counts three as important.

French Mirepoix

Look at the classic French Mirepoix, a legendary threesome of Onion, Carrot and Celery. And who could deny Tomato, Basil and Lemon or Apple, Cinnamon and Nutmeg ? Note each with a set of three.

We should stay focused on this. You can imagine it is important for home cooks around Australia, so we should take the remaining space available in this post to look and understand this business of three in our recipes.

The Holy Trinity

To start we should note that we are not alone in suggesting that flavours x three is unique. Learned food writers from across the world often speak of a Holy Trinity of flavours (see Cajun Holy Trinity recipe) so our divine interjection theory seems to have some credence.

Returning to Paul's suggestion, consider the health benefits. Google can give you the full detail but we should note that the health benefits of all three spices are substantial, especially when viewed for their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

A Flavour Counter Point

For the home cook creating a recipe, Ginger provides a wonderful natural counterpoint to excessive sweetness or richness. Think of the many pork recipes that need the fatty richness tightened up and bought into line.

The Turmeric is from the same family as Ginger. It is slightly bitter, adding depth to the other flavours and excels in a marinade, bringing the other flavours together.

And the vivid colour, if not over used, adds excitement to the dish.

The third, Cinnamon, unlike its other two partners is pretty laid back, adding a gentle citrusy warmth and sweetness.

A Trilogy Recipe

So, to all home cooks, Paul's Trilogy recipe will give you the warm, sharp, complex pungency of Ginger, beautifully paired with the subtle bitterness of Turmeric and the Cinnamon steadying everything with a sweet, slightly spicy warmth. Easy flavour perfection for a busy evening.

To see how a trilogy works, you might like to try this recipe: One Pan Chicken with Ginger, Turmeric and Cinnamon and Coconut Cream Sauce. See Recipes Chicken

Stay well everyone Arthur Huxley