In life, there are plenty of important things we must choose between that are mutually exclusive: which career path to take, where to eventually settle down, whether to watch reruns of Friends or Parks and Recreation on Netflix — you get the idea.
If you’re a particularly indecisive person like a good number of us out there, these choices might be even more difficult for you to make. However, there is one thing you should NEVER have to choose between: eating something sugary and sweet versus indulging in savory, salt-happy fare. Life is too short not to have both.
No more anxiously flipping through the menu at Sunday brunch, battling internally between sugary French toast or savory chicken. No more haunting the dining halls late at night during study breaks, trying to figure out what exactly you’re “feeling.” When it comes to making difficult life decisions, save your energy for the tough stuff — and embrace these nine sweet and salty food combination ideas that will give you the best of both worlds.
1. Caramel Corn
Photo by Alex Furuya
There’s something special (and downright addictive) about salty popcorn smothered and trapped inside a thin, crunchy caramel shell. Grab this as a quick snack or as an accompaniment to movies and friends.
2. Monte Cristo Sandwich
Photo by Jocelyn & Cathy at FoodishFetish
Who would’ve imagined that the combination of a fried ham and cheese sandwich dusted with powdered sugar and served with a side of strawberry preserves could encapsulate the combination of sweet and savory so perfectly? Originally inspired by the French ham and cheese croque-monsieur, we’re glad that this sandwich got its own unique American spin.
3. Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
Photo courtesy of rainydaygal.com
The perfect love child of bacon and cinnamon rolls — just roll some bacon in with ready-to-make dough, and bake.
4. Frosty and Fries
Photo courtesy of @Wendys on Twitter
If you haven’t tried this yet, you’re not living life. Ditch the ketchup and dunk your fries into a Frosty the next time you make a 2am pit stop to Wendy’s. This method also works beautifully with fries and a milkshake.
5. Sweet and Savory Doughnuts
Photo by Wally Gobetz
One of the best ways to satisfy a craving is with bacon-topped donuts, like The Flying Pig from Gourdough’s pictured below.
6. Classic PB&J
Photo by Tarika Narain
Salty peanut butter (preferably with some crunch) and your choice of jam or jelly. Keeping it simple, yet doing the trick.
7. Chicken and Waffles
Photo courtesy of @bangat_03 on Instagram
A waffle that’s crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside + fried chicken + generous amounts of butter and syrup = the perfect choice for any meal.
8. Nutella BLT
Photo courtesy of brunchnbites.com
A bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich gets a sweeter upgrade when you replace mayo with our good friend, Nutella.
9. Fruit with Salt
Photo by Alex Weiner
Give this a try: many swear by sprinkling salt onto fruit, whether it’s mangos and watermelon, or even apples and oranges. The reasoning behind it is that salt enhances the natural sweetness of fruit. So, next time you’re craving something salty and sweet, pull out that saltshaker and shake away.