The art of pairing food with gin is also fondly referred to as ‘Ginstronomy’. Technically, you can eat anything with gin as your chosen alcohol. But if you want the best and most flavorful experience for your food and beverage, you should get to know the best pairings for them. Gastronomes have done all the tasting and drinking for you, there’s no need to explore through the various mix of food with this juniper-based alcohol to match.
While a predominantly English thing, gin is just as enjoyed by many others across the globe. Walk into a pub, a bar, a restaurant, or a party, and you’re sure to find gin as staple alcohol chosen and well-loved by many. You can impress your guests even more by serving dishes that complement the best gins.
Below are some of the best gin and food pairings to help you know what to serve during your next gathering with your family or friends.
Smoked Salmon And Classic Gin
Smoked salmon is a no-fail appetizer or finger food on any occasion. It has a sweet taste with a spicy kick, perfect to pair with a classic gin & tonic. The things about smoked salmon that make it suitable with gin are its fat and seasonings. This helps to provide a richer taste when combined with gin.
There are so many different recipes of smoked salmon you can get inspired by on the Internet. It can be paired with anything from bread, herbs, greens, and even caviar.
Cheesecake With Gin
If you’re looking for something sweet with a minimal touch of sourness, a cheesecake would be your best option. It’s an indulgent and light dessert that can be made even more perfect with gin as your alcohol of choice.
If you love baking or trying out something new to whip up, cheesecake is one of the easiest recipes to try out. The cheesecake and gin combination is even more perfect during the warm summer months when you’re just looking for a light yet flavorful dessert.
Cucumber Sandwiches With A Side Of Gin
Cucumber sandwiches aren’t just for afternoon tea. For non-alcoholics, well, tea would definitely be a good pair. But if you have guests who love a drink or two, those cucumber sandwiches are best paired with gin as your drink.
If avocados are in season, they would be great as an add-on to your chosen cucumber sandwich recipe, topped with alfalfa.
Prawns & Shrimps And Gin
Any prawns and shrimp recipe would go well with gin. If you’re looking for a heavier dinner dish that will keep your guests full and satiated, prawns & shrimp is a great option. You can prepare it in multiple ways, such as grilling and mixing it into a salad, baking them with garlic and butter, or mixing them in pasta.
Tandoori Scallops With Lemon Gin
Another seafood making its way on this list is tandoori scallops. The taste profile depends on the way you cook your scallops and the type of seasonings you incorporate. If you have a penchant for some culinary magic in the kitchen, then going through some trial-and-error with your scallops will have you figuring out the best way to cook it–to your liking–to pair with gin.
Tandoori scallops and gin go perfectly because of their contrast in flavor. The spicy flavor of the scallops contrasts with the sharp lemon taste of gin yet still gives off that perfect, complementary set of flavors.
Fruit Salad With Gin And Tonic
Fruit salad can either be a dessert or an appetizer. The authentic fruity flavor goes well with gin, no doubt about that.
To serve with gin, however, it’s recommended to avoid making a fruit salad with cream. Keep the flavors untouched, as it is. The best fruit combo you may want to try out are strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, mango, grapes, and raspberry.
Shrimp And Pork Dumplings With Gin
Another dish making it to this list is a combination of seafood and meat. Shrimp and pork dumplings are not only for Friday Chinese take-out nights. They are also satisfying to pair with a glass of gin. If you have Asian guests over, now you know what to serve with your gin to get it right.
Conclusion
Pairing food with liquor has always been quite tricky to accomplish. But, getting it done right is an absolute must if you want to elevate your party hosting game. When you know how to serve and what to pair with your gin and tonic, you can impress your guests or family and friends who are coming over for a meal. And if you’re eating out, you now know what dishes are best to order with gin. Take a mental note of the food ideas above, so you can make no mistake with what to serve or what to have with gin.
Leave a Reply