Borderless Cuisine
Ingredients to watch
Borderless cuisine is a celebration of international ingredients,
flavours and dishes, combining techniques and formats from
around the world to create something that truly is greater
than the sum of its parts.
From fermentation methods that cross cuisines to diaspora-
led pantry ingredients that are becoming mainstream, there
are some stand-out ingredients making their mark within this
trend.
Harissa
A North African chilli paste, harissa is often made with roasted
red peppers, garlic and spices such as cumin and coriander.
More recently, its smoky, spicy flavour has gone mainstream,
and it is now used to elevate roasted vegetables, meats and
pasta dishes.
Calamansi
A small Southeast Asian citrus fruit that delivers sharper acidity
than lime with a slightly floral finish,calamansi works
beautifully in dressings, marinades, seafood dishes and grilled
chicken, delivering brightness without overpowering other
flavours. For chefs, it offers an easy way to add freshness and a
distinctive citrus profile to fusion-led dishes.
Wattleseed
This native Australian ingredient provides deep roasted, nutty
flavours that work across savoury and sweet applications—
think spice rubs and sauces to breads and desserts—making it
one of the most versatile native ingredients available to chefs.
Wattleseed adds provenance and a distinctly local sense of
place, which is especially valuable in borderless cooking.
Toum
Toum is a traditional Levantine garlic sauce made by
emulsifying garlic, oil, lemon juice and salt into a thick,intensely
flavoured spread. As a dip, burger spread, shawarma
accompaniment, sauce or grilled meat finish, toum delivers
trong flavour impact with familiar ingredients and excellent
crossover into casual dining formats.
Black Tahini
Black tahini comes from black sesame seeds, giving it a deep,
earthy flavour and a striking dark colour compared with
standard tahini. It works well in dressings, desserts, brunch
dishes, sauces and premium plating where flavour and visual
contrast matter. It offers chefs a refined evolution of a familiar
ingredient, helping menus feel current without requiring major
operational change.
Cacioricotta
Cacioricotta is a southern Italian cheese that sits somewhere
between a hard ricotta and an aged grating cheese, offering a
savoury and slightly tangy flavour. Its versatility makes it well
suited to borderless cooking, where it can be shaved over grilled
vegetables, paired with Middle Eastern spices or used to add
richness to modern fusion dishes. For chefs, it delivers familiarity
and premium appeal while offering a point of difference from
more established cheeses.
From trend to table
More ways to put this trend into practice
International ingredients are crossing culinary boundaries, with global flavours, fermentation techniques and diaspora-led staples entering the mainstream.
Discover Borderless Cuisine Recipes
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