Combining seemingly disparate ingredients into a magical meal can be the difference between eating and going hungry.
Students, YouTubers, and risk-takers often combine strange options with staples in order to get a meal in. Some fail miserably, but others become works of food art quickly picked up and copied for their taste and audacity.
For every nightmarish combination (I’m looking at you, pineapple on pizza) there’s a food favorite that works with something mind-boggling despite the logical part of your brain saying it’s a bad idea.
Check out this selection of weird food combinations that leave common sense at the door yet the result is flavorful and fun food for everyone to try.
1. Coca Cola Chicken Wings
Popular in South East Asian cooking, the mix of cola and chicken is increasingly utilized as a part of western cooking, especially with the range of tastes and flavors now available for braising chicken wings. Every bit of flair and innovation you can conjure certainly helps.
In this wing recipe, the iconic soda is mixed with soy sauce, spices, and brown sugar to give the bird a sticky texture, and a lovely tangy taste, however there are heaps of variations you can do.
Ingredients
- 2.5 ounces of chicken wings (separated)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 large onion finely grated
- 2 lemons, juiced
- ¼ cup light soy sauce
- 3-4 cups Coca Cola
Garnish: Chilli flakes, sesame seeds
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 300F. Combine the ingredients (bar wings) in a deep baking pan and stir before adding your wings. Top up with coca-cola until the wing pieces are submerged.
Roast for 3 ½ hours, turning regularly until the sauce is sticky and the wings are nice and juicy. Add some chili flakes or sesame seeds to taste, and serve immediately.
Check out this clip on how to wok-fry your coca-cola chicken wings. It’s just as easy!
Red Apple with Salt and Pepper
Buzzfeed did a reaction video of some crazy food combinations. You can check it out below.
I think from a cooking perspective, the “fancy appetizer” of red apple with salt and pepper would work for more people, and you could build the concept into other dishes, such as Asian salads or even kids’ foods.
3. Flaming Hot Cheetos and Milk
Another popular ‘dare’ for the Youtube crowd is flaming hot Cheetos and milk, with the whole experiment like a cross between a snack and cereal.
To me, it looks absolutely horrifying, but the combination of the fire from the chili pepper and more calming milk is often useful across a lot of situations so this makes a bit of sense.
4. Oreos and Orange Juice
While milk is often a go-to dunking option for the popular biscuit, a clearly underrated choice is using OJ.
There’s a bunch of different Youtube videos which seem to back up the idea that the OJ ocean is superior.
It keeps the biscuit from disintegrating into mush on dunking, but also offers a tangy counterpoint to the creamy filling inside the oreo.
I’m willing to give this a cautious tick of approval.
Below you’ll find Tasty’s take on the food combo reaction vid, which also has some interesting options.
5. The Elvis Sandwich
Elvis Presley had quite a few strange eating habits, with some of his sandwich options veering well into the disgusting range.
One that I’ve tried and found quite enjoyable is the Elvis Sandwich, which comprises three of my favorite things: crispy bacon, peanut butter, and an entire banana jammed between two chunks of white bread.
The King took it overboard in the quantity and frequency of this tasty combo (he used a whole jar of peanut butter and a pound of bacon), but in moderation, it tastes epic, the sweetness of banana matched by the salty bacon and peanut butter.
6. French Fries and Ice Cream
I love fries, and ice cream, but traditionally not together. But this works!
Next time you are at your favorite fast-food restaurant, grab a thick shake or soft serve and dip your fries in, it’s strangely enjoyable.
The downy sweetness of the soft serve works fantastically in contrast to the fries, helping cut through the greasiness and working well with the salt.
7. Avocado and Honey Toast
Apparently avocado and honey on sourdough toast is Kylie Jenner’s go-to breakfast food. I’m also now (over) informed that the Kardashian family has a whole host of strange food habits. Good times.
As an Australian with ample access to avocado and honey, I tried this toast immediately. It’s not bad, as the bland taste of the avocado meshes quite nicely with the sweet honey and flecks of hot pepper.
I prefer an alternative, more savory toast option though; vegemite, sliced cheese, and avocado with salt and pepper. That’s a toast masterpiece.
Here’s another Aussie with a glorious mullet trying the Kylie Jenner recipe, adding a lifetime’s supply of honey in the process. Definitely aim for a bit more balance!
Conclusion
Generally, if you work with opposing textures and flavors you can combine food with positive results, however, some options are just too horrifying to contemplate! What weird food combinations do you enjoy eating that could make this list?