Tomato based, but so much more… diced tomatoes, spring onions, black garlic, wild oregano, evoo, rice wine vinegar, dried Thai chili pepper, sweet onion sugar, and… ‘wait for it’ …. dried safflower flowers.
Safflower flowers are often maligned as being bland or called a poor man’s saffron, but this seasoning has an abundance of desirable characteristics that should not be overlooked. It contributes floral pungency, warm earthy aromas, and mild bitter [alkali] notes to a dish.
The sweetness of the tomatoes, dark fruit accents from red wine, heat from the Thai chili, nutty savory funk from the black garlic, and bitterness from the dried oregano and dried safflower flowers provided a North African flare for a couple of juicy and tender seared chicken breast.
I think an addition of black olives would transform this sauce [sans chicken] into a delicious warm tapenade.
I could not resist… This could become a holiday special. “Oooh, that’s champion, that is.” – Mr. Tweedy.
The Flavor Democracy 