Salted egg yolk appeals to consumer demand for indulgent, sophisticated flavorsSalted egg yolk appeals to consumer demand for indulgent, sophisticated flavors

A staple in Chinese and Southeast Asian cooking, salted egg yolks — egg yolks cured in salt —  are now trending on restaurant menus in the United States as a flavoring agent in snacks, pastries, and sauces.

Salted egg yolks’ rich, umami-forward profile appeals to the ongoing consumer demand for indulgent and sophisticated flavors.

According to market research firm Datassential, salted egg yolks are found on 0.5% of restaurant menus, up 71% over the past four years, primarily at midscale and independent operations. While nearly half of the population knows of salted egg yolks, only 23% have tried them.

Click through the above gallery to learn more about salted egg yolks and to see how one California restaurant is using them on the menu.