The global population of vegans is growing with every passing day as more and more people embrace a plant-based diet. While just a few years ago, finding high-quality plant-based alternatives was tough, food in that sector is now pioneering the world of cuisine!
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But you don’t have to go out to
eat delicious plant-based meals. You can enjoy them at home too.
Throwing a vegan dinner party with friends is a fantastic
(and delicious) way to celebrate life.
But what about wine pairing?
After all, from a historic perspective, the food most often
paired with wine has been meat, seafood, and dairy-based. However, that doesn’t
mean you can’t enjoy the rich, complex flavors of wine alongside some
enchanting vegetable dishes. In fact, some plant-based combinations might even
be better.
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If you want to pair the perfect wine with your plant-based
menu, these tips will help!
1.
The
Weight Of Your Food Should Match The Weight Of Your Wine
One of the simplest and easiest ways to determine whether a
type of wine complements a dish is through its weight. By weight, we don’t mean
physical volume, but rather the degree of richness or heaviness you feel when
consuming it.
For example, a hearty, intense, full-bodied red wine would
not pair well with a light dish like a salad. But alongside a rich, indulgent
pasta dish, you’d have a match made in heaven.
On the other side of the coin, when serving up a bright
summer salad or refreshing poke bowl, you’d do well to pair it alongside a
similarly light wine. This creates a sense of compatibility and harmony with
your meal, where neither the dish nor the glass of wine overpowers the other.
2.
What
Grows Together, Goes Together
Another key indicator for food and wine compatibility is how
and where the ingredients have been grown. There’s a reason why so many famous
Italian wines continue to be consumed in the same regions where local produce
grows. They just taste better together.
If you live in an area that grows a lot of local produce,
serving up dishes made from ingredients grown in the same place that the wine
is fermented can create magical flavor pairings. Plus, it’s a great way to support sustainability and
reduce your carbon footprint!
3.
Go
For Similar Flavor Combinations
Another simple way to determine whether a type of wine pairs
well with a certain dish is to match their acidity, sweetness, and depth levels. For example, if you’re serving something with a sour, citrusy dressing,
pick a wine with similar levels of acidity to keep them on the same level.
Or if you are serving a spicy dish like Thai vegetable
curry, pick a wine that has similarly deep, spiced tones to create
synchronization. This gives your palate a way to connect the different flavors
and find common ground between the two.
4.
Go
For Contrasting Flavor Combinations
On the other end of the spectrum, you can opt for
contrasting flavors that create interesting balance and complexity.
So, instead of picking a wine that’s similar to the dish you
are eating, pick one that has a completely opposite flavor profile.
If you’re serving a fatty, rich dish like deep-fried hash-browns or creamy pasta, a particularly light and crisp white wine would help to cut through the grease, making a pleasant contrast. Alternatively, a mild bean soup could carry a full-bodied red wine quite well for a meal.
Another way to determine whether a type of wine pairs well with a certain dish is to match the acidity, sweetness and depth levels. For example, if you're serving something with a sour, citrus dressing, pick a wine with similar levels of acidity to keep them on the same level.
5.
High
Acidity For Savory, High Sugar For Sweet
Savory foods tend to pair better with high acidity wines due to their ability to cut
through bold, salty, or spicy flavors. But when it comes to sweet desserts or
appetizers, you’re better off with a dry, sweet wine that can properly compete
with the sugar levels.
If you drink high-acidity wine with dessert, it can dry out
your mouth and cancel out the delicate sweetness of your dish. Similarly, if
you drink a sweet wine with savory food, it can cause a strange imbalance of
flavors that fight for flavor domination on your palate.
6.
Taste
Test To Find Unique Flavor Pairings
Even though there are guidelines for how to pair food and
wine, it’s ultimately a matter of personal preference. If you’re not sure
whether your wine tastes right with your plant-based meal, give it a try and
make a decision based on your natural reaction.
If a flavor combination tastes good to you, chances are it
tastes good to others. Plus, experimenting with lots
of different wines and food is fun. Just remember to pour small
glasses!
Popular Plant-Based
Food And Wine Pairings
If you’re still unsure about what kind of wines to serve at
your next plant-based date night dinner party, here are some classic combinations
to get you started.
●
Tomato-based pasta – high
acidity, deep red wine
●
Roast vegetable salad – light
red wine, full-bodied white wine
●
Avocado sushi – medium
to high acidity dry white wine
●
Coconut cream ice cream – light, sweet, high acidity white wine
●
Asian stir fry – dry,
medium-bodied red wine
●
Thai curry – deep,
rich, high acidity red wine
●
Dark chocolate mousse – high
acidity, high sugar red wine
●
Butternut squash soup – crisp,
dry white wine
●
Vegan pizza – medium
depth, high acidity red wine
●
Red berry sorbet – sweet
red or white wine
You don’t need to be a wine or food expert to create
delicious, memorable flavor pairings at the table. Use this list as a guide.
But remember to keep an open mind and pick what feels right to you.
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Perfect The Art Of
Plant-Based Wining & Dining
Food and wine have been merrily consumed together for
hundreds of thousands of years. And even though animal products have been a
common pairing for the rainbow of wines produced throughout history, there’s no
reason plant-based dishes can’t bring the same joy and satisfaction.
From delicate vegetable tempura to refreshing strawberry
sorbet, there’s a winning combo for every plant-based food and wine
lover. With this list of tips, I guarantee that you’ll be throwing a successful
vegan dinner party in no time!
