I tried to like N-Zorbit (this is the product name), an interesting ingredient from National Starch which is also known as tapioca maltodextrin. The product is an extremely light powder which when mixed with liquid fats turns the fat into a powder. We first made powdered almond butter which we served with espresso ice cream and licorice. The dish was tasty and the powdered almond butter fun as it melted back into a smooth paste in your mouth. After the success of the almond butter we tried chorizo oil and a few other liquid fats. I was just not happy with the results. The flavors were alright and the taste adequate. We put our N-Zorbit back on the shelf.
Today I pulled the N-Zorbit off the shelf. We have some incredible yuzu oil in our pantry and I just thought why not give it a shot. The yuzu oil is the byproduct of preserving fresh yuzu and when we mixed it with the tapioca maltodextrin we were treated to an intense floral and flavorful powdered yuzu. It was well worth taking off the shelf today. I came to the realization that sometimes it is best to be patient and wait for an opportunity to present itself.
