"As someone with his own obsession with flavor, I find Nik Sharma's take on it totally fascinating. It is deep and illuminating, fresh and highly informative. That, combined with his always-sumptuous food and staggering photographs, makes The Flavor Equation a most brilliant achievement."
–Yotam Ottolenghi
Go beyond recipes in this groundbreaking and bestselling guide to elevating elemental ingredients to make delicious dishes that hit all the right notes, every time. From Nik Sharma, author of Season and Veg-table, host of America's Test Kitchen's Flavor Forward, and winner of the 2023 IACP Trailblazer Award.
"The Flavor Equation deserves space on the shelf right next to Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat as a titan of the how-and-why brigade."The New Yorker
Aroma, texture, sound, emotionthese are just a few of the elements that play into our perceptions of flavor. In a completely unique and accessible way, Nik Sharma takes readers on an in-depth exploration into the science of taste and demonstrates how to convert approachable spices, herbs, and commonplace pantry items into tasty, simple dishes.
With more than 100 recipes paired with illustrations, anecdotes, and Sharma's evocative, trademark food photography and styling, The Flavor Equation is a knockout volume that provides inspiration and essential knowledge to both home cooks and seasoned chefs.
Recipes, divided into seven sections, include:
- Brightness: Lemon-Lime Mintade
- Bitterness: Chocolate Miso Bread Pudding
- Saltiness: Roasted Tomato and Tamarind Soup
- Sweetness: Honey Turmeric Chicken Kebabs with Pineapple
- Savoriness: Blistered Shishito Peppers with Bonito Flakes
- Fieriness: Chicken Lollipops
- Richness: Coconut Milk Cake
A cookbook that offers a new way of looking at food, this is the perfect gift or self-purchase for home cooks who are interested in the science of food and flavor.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM: Named one of the Best Fall Cookbooks upon its release by The New York Times, Eater, Epicurious, Food & Wine, Forbes, Saveur, Serious Eats, The Smithsonian, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, CNN Travel, The Kitchn, Chowhound, and NPR. Winner of The Guild of U.K. Food Writers (General Cookbook) and finalist for the 2021 IACP Cookbook Award.
HAILED BY CULINARY SUPERSTARS: Yotam Ottolenghi calls The Flavor Equation "deep and illuminating, fresh and highly informative … a most brilliant achievement." J. Kenji López-Alt proclaims it "a beautiful and intelligent book." Nigella Lawson calls it "original, thought-provoking, and illuminating. It is a book that will change the way you think about food and cooking, and will help to make all your other cookbooks make sense."
FOR BEGINNERS & SEASONED HOME COOKS: The science of flavor is made accessible to every reader in these pages, with more in-depth information offered in a comprehensive appendix. Sharma dives deep into the most basic of our pantry items—salts, oils, sugars, vinegars, citrus, peppers, and more—artfully explaining the science behind why each flavor component works.
Perfect for:
- Home cooks who want to learn more about food and flavor
- Those interested in the science of food
- Birthday, holiday, housewarming, or graduation gift for food enthusiasts
- Readers of Lucky Peach, Serious Eats, Indian-Ish, and Koreatown
- Add it to the shelf with cookbooks like The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science; Ottolenghi Flavor: A Cookbook; Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking; and On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen
"As someone with his own obsession with flavor, I find Nik Sharma's take on it totally fascinating. It is deep and illuminating, fresh and highly informative. That, combined with his always-sumptuous food and staggering photographs, makes The Flavor Equation a most brilliant achievement."
–Yotam Ottolenghi
"If you're interested in flavor-and every cook is, that's what we constantly think about-this book is for you. I haven't learned so much from a single book in a very long time. I'm now cooking my way through it. "
–Diana Henry, James Beard award-winning author of A Bird in the Hand
"In The Flavor Equation, Nik marries the art and science of cuisine. It offers a holistic approach to cooking at home; one that celebrates both chemistry and emotion, in both the creation and enjoyment of our meals."
–Stella Parks, pastry chef and author of BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts
"Curious, science-minded cooks who want to know the why behind the food will delight in Nik Sharma’s The Flavor Equation Mr. Sharma, who has written for The New York Times and is the author of Season, puts his background in molecular biology to good use in this fascinating, deeply researched book."
–The New York Times
"Whatever your skill level in the kitchen, with its more than 100 recipes, illustrated diagrams, and Sharma’s own evocative photography, The Flavor Equation is an engrossing guide to elevating simple dishes into holistic experiences."
–Eater
"If there’s one book out this fall that I think has true lasting power—you know, Joy of Cooking-level lasting power—it’s this one... Sharma is a cook’s cook. He’s able to elucidate even the most fancy techniques."
–Epicurious
"In another life, Nik Sharma was a molecular biologist—but just because he traded his lab coat in for a chef’s coat doesn’t mean he’s no longer a scientist. Sharma’s recipes are thoroughly researched and meticulous in their execution."
–The Kitchn
“As with his previous book, recipes are easy to follow and the photographs are mouth-watering. Helpful diagrams, charts, and illustrations are presented throughout. This book will appeal both to those who want to expand their Indian cooking repertoire and those who want to know more about the scientific background behind cooking itself.”
–Library Journal
"Whether you’re a science geek, flavor lover, or both, this book by molecular biologist and cookbook author Nik Sharma is for you."
–The Boston Globe
"Everything Nik Sharma touches is suddenly more delicious, and I’d say it’s magic, but he’s more than delighted to have you know it’s science—and generous enough to share the knowledge."
–Food & Wine