Red wine is an exceptionally versatile cooking ingredient, and can be used in sauces, desserts, soups, and almost anything in between. Here are a few tips for cooking with it, as well as some ways to incorporate it into your cooking.
Use the Wine Flavors
The flavors of a red wine vary depending on its age, maker, the grapes it uses, and a variety of other factors. Because of this, some red wines will be better for one thing, while other wines will be better for something different.
Red wine is typically full of dark fruits, spice-like flavors, and richness. Match the flavors of the wine to the ingredients you are using, as this will not only accentuate these delicious tastes, but also not fight with them and ruin the taste of both.
Dry vs Sweet
Red wine can, generally, be classified as either dry or sweet. Dry wine is low in sugars and sweetness, and typically has a strong, rich flavor, which makes it great for hearty dishes like stews and sauces for red meat.
Sweeter red wines are ideal for desserts, such as poaching or syrups, or can be used to add a touch of red wine sweetness to something like bolognese.
Acid & Tannins
Acid in red wine can help to cut through and balance the fats in a particular dish, hence why red wine is often associated with rich, red meats. On the other hand, the tannins that you find in the wine make it pair well with hearty, “heavy” dishes.
Consider the Meal
Always think about the meal you are making when choosing the type of red wine you are going to use. As mentioned, not all red wines are made equally, and you need to pay attention to the wine you are using to ensure it doesn’t overwhelm the meal, or get lost.
Poaching with red wine, for example, will often see you use a fruit like a pear. Considering a pear has a subtle flavor, you don’t want to use a super-strong red wine as it will be the only thing you taste.
Add it Early
One golden rule of cooking with red wine is to add it early to whatever you are cooking. Firstly, the alcohol doesn’t taste the best, and you want to ensure you give the wine enough time to cook it off. You would have probably heard or read about this before; it’s a basic concept to always remember.
You also want to add it early as it will give the wine time to reduce and become more flavorful. This is why it is often used as a base, “first in the pan or pot” ingredient when making braises, stocks, etc.
Choose High-Quality Wine
Finally, another thing you have probably heard before is to always cook with wine you would drink. Cheaply made wine simply doesn’t taste good, and you wouldn’t and shouldn’t add it to a meal.
This is also why it is important to taste the wine you are cooking with before adding it, as you will get a clear indication of whether it is good enough to cook with. There is also no need to buy very expensive wine, as the most important aspect is the quality and taste, not the price tag.
What to Make
Now that you know how to cook with red wine, here are a few easy ways to use it in your cooking and implement it in more dishes.
Marinade
One of the easiest and most common ways red wine is used in cooking is in a marinade. Whether it be for a beef roast or ribs, the red wine adds a ton of flavor, and the acidity can help tenderize the meat and make it fall off the bone.
Sauces
You don’t need to be a chef extraordinaire to make a red wine sauce, as adding a few glugs to deglaze a pan is something anyone can do. After cooking a steak, for example, don’t clean out the pan. Instead, add some red wine to lift all the delicious bits on the pan, and reduce it to create a tasty sauce.
With Tomatoes
This isn’t a single thing, but red wine works really well with tomato or tomato sauce-based dishes. Red wine is perfect for adding a new layer of flavor to bolognese and also takes the humble marinara sauce to the next level.
Poaching
Poaching is another method you can do with red wine, most notably, with fruit. Poached pears are a super-simple dessert that combines the bold, rich flavors of red wine, with a dollop of sweet and light cream or ice cream.
You can also add some spices to the wine if you want to take that note up a notch. Cinnamon, for example, works very well in this instance.
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Red Wine Vinegar
Finally, if you love a red wine vinegar salad dressing, you can easily make it yourself by letting your wine ferment. Add equal parts white vinegar and red wine into a bowl, cover it, and wait. Taste it over the next few days and very soon you will have your own red wine vinegar ready to use.
