I've never tried it by itself...it's just a thing.... you are correct tho, salt and pepper do it to some dishes...sugar to many...even vinegar to a vindaloo.
mid you have to put that in your Chinese/Thai dish then you haven’t done it right. It’s what makes all the glue like sauces in Chinese takeaway food here in U.K.
That's the potato/corn starch that does that. I had msg in my egg fried rice yesterday. Not sure what it added tbh. Most likely couldn't tell because the curry sauce overpowered the rice.
Gonna do a carbonara at lunch, but break from tradition and have some thin slices of mushrooms. Can I borrow a plate?