How to come up with a dish.

When planning a dish you always have to have great balance. There needs to be a balance of sweetness, saltiness, umami, spice, and fat. Fats are great holders of flavors and need to be cut by acid. Acid cuts the richness and makes the dish feel less heavy. Salt is the most importnant ingredient in cooking. Salt makes everything, yes everything, taste better. This includes sweets as well. You don't believe me. Take a piece of chocolate and taste it. Then add a sprinkle of kosher or sea salt and you will gaurantee like the chocolate with salt better. Salt opens up your taste buds so the flavor can be more pronounce. Also, adding salt to coffee improves the flavor tremendously.
When composing a dish you have to start with a main ingredient and then think of components that go well with the main component and each other. Lets say you start with Pork Chops. Then you think bacon, apple, brussel sprouts, onion, garlic, maple syrup, salt, and black pepper. That dish would work if prepared correctly because there is a balance and cohesiveness throughout.