Delicious food often happens to be the highlight of your day. Whether you’re planning to go out with friends for some fine dining, or you’re an avid amateur chef who loves to surprise others with home-cooked dishes, there are ways to elevate this experience by enhancing it with proper food and drink pairings. But what does it mean in practice?
For instance, you can impress your guests by serving them a fish dish with a glass of champagne or some fizzy wine, light-colored beer, or even a soft drink such as lemonade. Most people match fish with dry white wine, but this combination can get boring pretty quickly and won’t help cleanse your palate after eating an oily fish. It’s all about looking for an interesting contrast and finding pairings that balance more robust flavors in the food.
If this sounds like something you’d like to learn more about, continue reading this article. Before you start shopping for wines, looking for a Beerwulf discount code, and preparing lemonade, below, you can find more details about matching food and beverages and their benefits.
Hot & Spicy
Do you love spicy food but have a mouth that can’t handle it? Then you should start paring your chili-infused dishes with drinks that will cool and neutralize your palate. Since spice tends to enhance drinks’ flavor, usually, it’s best to pair them with something more neutral.
For instance, white beer and its creaminess will cut through spice and complex flavors. If you want to pair your spicy dish with wine, opt for something sweet and fruity, as sweet wine helps your palate process things a little bit better, making the spice less harsh. The acidity of the wine is going to make you salivate, which cleanses your palate and makes for a good “reset.” You can search for the right bottle among red wines. However, if you don’t want to serve alcohol, you can also try lemonade or mango juice – cool them beforehand for a perfect way to balance the spiciness.
Oily & Filling
Oily fish – such as salmon and sardines – is high in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to keep your heart healthy, among other health benefits. In general, fish and shellfish are also good sources of many important vitamins and minerals. Most people should have more fish in their diet, including more oily fish. But how to pair these heavy and filling dishes with the right drink?
As mentioned above, you can try to serve the oily fish with light beer – look for something subtle or opt for a caramel taste. The bubbles in the beer will cleanse your palate perfectly. When it comes to stronger alcohols, champagne should work great, as well as any other fizzy wine. To keep the dinner experience friendly for those who don’t drink alcohol, you can also match your dish with sweet and bubbly lemonade.
Salty & Savory
White meat dishes often need a lot of salt and spices to bring out their flavors. They also go well with acidic-based drinks, as this helps balance the fat in the meat and cleanse your mouth.
In the wine department, you can choose from white or medium-bodied red wines. When it comes to the former, a Chardonnay, Garganega, or Godello might be a good idea. In the case of the former, try Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Sagrantino. Furthermore, soft drinks, such as fruity juices, should help balance the saltiness of the well-seasoned white meat and enhance the flavor of plain dishes.
Aromatic
The taste of the aromatic dishes often comes from an abundance of strong and fragrant herbs and spices that need something to complement these overwhelming flavors. Fruit-based drinks can make for an excellent choice.
Fruit beer should go well with all the fragrant ingredients in aromatic dishes. Earthy red wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, or Tempranillo, will balance any excessive spiciness. Soft drinks made with a base of mango or pineapple are another great and refreshing option. You can also try to serve a cooled ice tea to balance the fragrant herbs in the food.
Smokey
Whether it’s fish, meat, or a slab of cheese, smoky flavors in food are delicious. However, they need proper company, as some drinks simply can’t stand up to the bold flavors of smoky food.
When it comes to alcoholic beverages, you can feel free to pair the smokiness of your dish with something stronger, such as fine bourbon or sweet sherry. Dark and amber beers will also work great, as well as chilled red wines, such as Zinfandel or Sauvignon. The last one might sound surprising, but, in fact, a can of good old Coke will also pair incredibly well with a smoky dish.
In Conclusion
There are few things better than enjoying your favorite foods with the right drinks. Placing equal importance on your drinks by carefully matching them with your dishes can elevate the entire dining experience and help you experience flavors you’ve never tasted before.
Whether you’re a fan of oily fish, like to eat something that’s hot and spicy, prefer saltines of white meats, enjoy cooking with aromatic herbs, or don’t mind a good old piece of smoked meat, there’s a way to enhance every dish. Next time, try to follow the tips mentioned above and enjoy your favorite foods in a completely new way!
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