When someone refers to a dish as tangy, what does that mean exactly? Is tangy the same as sour? Tangy is an adjective given to foods that have a sour, acidic or citrus taste. Yet tangy is not exactly the same as sour; it’s actually a combination of sweet and sour. When we say a food is tangy, we might be referring to the slight pucker it gives us, along with a refreshing taste. Think of ranch dressing, yogurt, cream cheese, tomato sauce, sourdough bread, grapefruit, and limes.
Tangy dishes might include fermented and pickled dishes which we know are as healthy as they are delicious. Read How to Add More Pickled Foods to Your Diet and Fermented and Pickled Foods are Healthy and Delicious —Try These. Adding foods like kimchi, sauerkraut and kombucha can give our dishes tang along with all the health benefits. Of course, we all know that apple cider vinegar is good for a million things, both in the kitchen and out. Read Why You Should Use This Health-Promoting Tonic Every Day.
Are you ready to add some tang into your meals? Then take a look at these 15 recipes that are tangy and delicious.
1. Cauliflower Crisps and Tangy Tahini Dressing
These Cauliflower Crisps are so amazing. Cauliflower florets are coated in cornmeal and Mediterranean spices like oregano and sesame, then served with a tangy tahini dressing flecked with fresh parsley. It would make a really lovely appetizer, side dish, or snack. We suggest a double batch because these will not last long.
2. Lentil Loaf With Tomato Glaze
This Lentil Loaf with Tomato Glaze has layers and layers of flavor. It starts with a base of carrot, celery, onion, and garlic sautéed in olive oil and goes all the way to the sweet and tangy glaze on top. This is a filling and delicious comfort food meal that will make everyone happy.
3. Sweet and Tangy Green Chile-Chipotle-Cilantro Dressing
This Sweet and Tangy Green Chile Chipotle Cilantro Dressing has tons of flavor with no added oil. Adding nuts to a basic oil-free dressing creates a nice, creamy richness and takes the edge off of the tangy vinegar. Lots of spices and fresh herbs adds so much flavor, you’ll never miss the oil.
4. Tangy Mushroom Skewers
Far from being a boring cliché, mushrooms are a versatile barbecue option … if you add a little something extra to them; The marinade on these Tangy Mushrooms Skewers is savory, tangy and sweet all at the same time. These are big on flavor as well as texture!
5. 5 Ingredient Lemon Cheesecake
You will love how simple it is to make this 5 Ingredient Lemon Cheesecake. In fact, you probably already have all of the ingredients you need in your kitchen, right now: almonds, dates, bananas, a lemon, and coconut oil. In no time at all, you can be enjoying a tangy, creamy slice of cheesecake. Let everyone think you worked all day on it. Your mouth will be too full to set them straight.
6. Zucchini Poppy Seed Cake With Lemon Drizzle Icing
If you have a surplus of zucchini or other summer squash you don’t know what to do with, this Zucchini Poppy Seed Cake with Lemon Drizzle Icing is the recipe to make! The zucchini adds untold moisture and subtle sweetness, poppy seeds add a little crunch, and the lemon icing gives it a tangy kick. It’s a really pretty cake too, so enjoy a slice with a cup of your favorite tea. How sophisticated!
7. Cauliflower Rice Paper Samosas With Tangy Mint Chutney
Move over deep-fried, potato-laden samosas – Rice Paper Samosas are here to stay! Rice paper bakes up like a dream – it’s crisp, thin, light and definitely samosa-worthy. The traditional starchy potato filling is replaced by cauliflower, which is a uniquely lighter alternative. Dipping them in tangy mint chutney really seals the deal!
8. Home-Style Andean Cabbage Curry
What this humble Home-Style Andean Cabbage Curry lacks in beauty, it makes up for in flavor like you wouldn’t believe! Peanut butter gives it a great creamy texture, and the addition of ginger and citrus cut through the richness with a delicious tangy flavor. It’s definitely something to write home about!
9. Tangy Vegan Curried Chickpea Salad
This Tangy Vegan Curried Chickpea Salad is perfect for sandwiches, a snack or wrapped in a tortilla. It’s made tangy from the lemon and curried flavor adds some balancing spice. It travels well so you can put some in a jar or bring bread and munch on it anywhere you go.
10. Kimchi and Brussels Sprouts Stir-Fry
You probably wouldn’t think that kimchi and Brussels sprouts would go well together, as Brussels sprouts aren’t exactly a traditional Korean food. But since they’re both part of the cabbage family, it’s actually a no-brainer! This Kimchi and Brussels Sprouts Stir-Fry is comforting, spicy, tangy and absolutely delicious and you could eat it with most anything, like rice, noodles, or even by itself!
11. Sesame Ginger Marinated Portobello Burgers With Asian Slaw
Beat the weekday dinner boredom with this mouthwatering Sesame Ginger Marinated Portobello Burger and Asian Slaw. The burger is savory which balances perfectly with the tangy slaw. With less than 10 simple ingredients needed to make both the slaw and the burger, this makes a fuss-free weeknight meal and a great excuse to keep firing up the grill!
12. Spreadable Herb Cashew-Hemp Cheese
Who says great cheese can’t be plant-based? This creamy, dreamy Spreadable Herb Cashew-Hemp Cheese is made from raw cashews and hemp seeds and flavored with fresh herbs and a touch of lemon juice for tang. It’s a perfect spread for crackers, sandwiches, bagels, or a dip for veggies.
13. Kimchi Poutine
This marrying of a Canadian favorite and a Korean digestion-enhancing, healthful flavor bomb might seem a bit strange but once you taste this Kimchi Poutine, you’ll be convinced. They’re hot, soft sweet potato fries seasoned perfectly with fragrant, garlicky, gingery, and impeccably spiced kimchi plus a hint of a tangy and cheesy hemp sauce. Do we really need to say more? We didn’t think so.
14. ‘Stuffed’ Artichoke Soup in the Slow Cooker
This ‘Stuffed’ Artichoke Soup celebrates all the amazing flavors of stuffed artichokes without any of the hassle it takes to make them. Both the artichokes and the cashew cheese add tangy flavors. This is a simple soup – one that cooks itself while you’re at work or snuggled fast asleep in bed.
15. Jackfruit Banh Mi Tacos
Whoever first thought of turning a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich into a taco was a certified genius. But even the work of a genius can be improved upon, and the result here is these entirely plant-based and gluten-free Jackfruit Banh Mi Tacos. Tender jackfruit is coated in a sweet and sour teriyaki sauce, all topped with crunchy, tangy pickled veggies, creamy Sriracha mayo, and enrobed in a soft corn tortilla. Now that’s one epic Vietnamese taco.
We always talk about savory food and satisfying our sweet tooth. Now it’s time to concentrate on the tangy side of food that will make our lips pucker up.
Lead image source: Cauliflower Rice Paper Samosas With Tangy Mint Chutney
