Why vanilla?

The African archipelago was initially colonized by France in the mid-1800s, which explains the presence of French influences in Comorian cuisine. Comoros is also recognized for its cultivation and export of high-quality vanilla. This is a significant aspect of the "vanilla islands," a marketing term introduced in 2010 to promote tourism, which encompasses other vanilla-producing regions in the Indian Ocean, such as Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Seychelles, and Mayotte. Considering these influences, it would be more surprising if the local cuisine did not feature savory dishes enhanced with vanilla.
While we often associate vanilla with sweet treats like baked goods and ice cream, its floral and occasionally spicy notes can complement savory dishes remarkably well. Feel free to incorporate it into a rich beurre blanc sauce to drizzle over lobster or scallops, highlighting the seafood's natural sweetness. You can also experiment by using vanilla to enhance the spices in tomato sauce, sweeten a summer salad with a vanilla vinaigrette, or glaze your pork tenderloin with a vanilla maple sauce.
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