Professional chef and MasterChef judge Anna Haugh has revealed five simple ingredients that can transform ordinary mayonnaise into a 'really nice dip'. The Irish chef, who co-judges on MasterChef alongside food critic Grace Dent, shared her tip in an interview with the Daily Mail.
Five Ingredients to Upgrade Mayonnaise
Haugh explained: 'Mayonnaise gets a bad rap because of the fat, but to make a really nice dip you can add Tabasco, sun-dried tomato paste, poppy seeds, a squeeze of lemon juice and a little bit of garlic.' These additions, she said, elevate the condiment to a more sophisticated and flavorful accompaniment.
Salad Tips and Culinary Inspirations
In the same interview, Haugh offered advice on making salads more engaging. 'I think beans and pulses bring a salad to life. They grab hold of a vinaigrette, so in every single bite you have a really tasty vinegary explosion. I also put plenty of vinegar in my vinaigrettes with a teaspoon of honey or sugar, which creates a better emulsion,' she said.
Haugh, who produces cookbooks inspired by Irish food, also spoke about her career origins in an interview with Image magazine. 'It was always going to be my career, really. I went into a kitchen one day and I knew I wanted to do it, so I enrolled in a professional cookery course. Once I was on the cooking train, the rest was history,' she recalled.
Influences and MasterChef Role
She cited three main culinary inspirations: her mother, Myrtle Allen, and every chef she has worked for. Myrtle's impact was so profound that Haugh paid tribute to her in a significant way.
Regarding her role on MasterChef, Haugh addressed whether she and Grace Dent felt pressure to save the BBC programme, which has been airing since 1990. She told the Guardian: 'No. The team that work behind the show are absolutely superb. Grace and I are on camera, but there is a whole brigade of people lifting us up, taking care of us, encouraging us to be the best version of ourselves. Nobody wanted us to be anything but authentic and focusing on the different.'
