Pairings | Margarita
Some great food pairings for tequila
Despite the recent increase in interest in Mexican street food like tacos consumers in the UK still have to take to tequila (maybe because they’re too busy drinking gin) but in fact it’s an attractive and versatile spirit to pair with food
The style you’re most likely to come across is silver tequila, the type that’s most often used in a margarita, but you may also come across reposado tequilas which are aged in wood and anejo, older tequilas which are ideal for after-dinner drinking. (Think of them like rum: Silver is like white rum with a herbal twist, reposado like a golden rum and anejo like an aged sipping rum).
Obviously the natural starting point is Mexican food but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t drink tequila with other cuisines such as Latin American, Caribbean and newly fashionable African.
Here are the type of dishes that I think work best
Tacos
The street food of 2017, especially fish tacos which with a white or silver tequila. Try a reposado if you’re eating meatier tacos like pork
Raw fish
Particularly ceviche and punchily seasoned fish tartares but there's no reason why you shouldn’t try a silver tequila with sushi or sashimi
Grilled seafood like squid or prawns
Especially with garlic or a touch of chilli. Silver, again
A wide range of vegetables especially asparagus, green peppers and tomatillos (silver) and corn (reposado) Also avocado which of course is technically a fruit but counts as a veg in my book - guacamole being the obvious option
Recipes with fresh herbs especially coriander
Again this appears regularly in Mexican food but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t sip a silver tequila with Indian street food like samosas or puris and green chutney. It should go with middle eastern grills and salads too.
Recipes with citrus especially lime and orange
Citrus works particularly well with the flavour of agave (the plant from which tequila is made)
Pork
Pulled, grilled, served with corn (like posole) - all good with a reposado. Think also empanadas with a pork filling
Steak
You can partner a good steak or burger with a reposado or an anejo. Even fajitas though I probably wouldnt drink anything tooo fancy with them.
Chocolate
Like most aged spirits anejo tequila goes well with dark chocolate - or even milk chocolate if it’s Mexican which has a particularly delicious fudgy texture.
There's a useful longer article on pairing food with tequila here.
Six of the best drinks to pair with tacos
Image © anaumenko @fotolia.com
6 of the best drink pairings for avocado toast
Judging by my Instagram feed practically everyone is eating avocado toast at least once a day but what do you drink with it?
If you’re not on Instagram - or one of the 10 million people who has apparently searched for avocado toast on Google* - you may even wonder what it is.
Smashed up avocado on toast - or bread. That’s it.
Well, more or less. There are all sorts of fancy variations but purists like to keep it simple
Fans are as likely to have it for breakfast as they are for lunch or supper so my six pairings include 3 non-alcoholic drinks:
Green tea
Not just a colour thing, the slight herbiness of green tea is great with avocado. Better than coffee IMHO. By the way don’t make it with boiling water - that’s why it tastes bitter.
Homemade lemonade or - if you haven’t got time to make it - lemon and lime Juicy Water. Citrus and avocado is a no-brainer
A Virgin Mary (in other words a Bloody Mary without booze)
Tomatoes and avo are also great. This looks a good recipe
Witbier
A well-chilled Belgian-style wheat beer served with a slice of lemon. Much more interesting than lager.
Sauvignon Blanc
Definitely the wine that comes to mind. Great with guac - equally good with avocado toast.
A classic margarita
If you want to pay tribute to avocado’s Mexican origins there can be no better cocktail. Do make it with fresh lime though rather than a Margarita mix
*twice as many as fried chicken, would you believe?
If you liked this post you might enjoy What to drink with chicken wings
Image by FoodieFactor from Pixabay
The 5 best wine (and best cocktail) pairings for garlic cheesy bread
I wouldn’t have thought of proferring wine pairings for garlic cheesy bread had I not stumbled across the fact that it was the most re-pinned image on Pinterest.
I would have assumed you would eat it with other dishes that would have more impact on the wine you were drinking but it seems for garlic cheesy bread fanatics nothing must get in the way of their favourite food.
But you still need something to drink and here’s what I suggest
Sparkling wine
Assuming you’re tearing it apart in front of the TV a glass of bubbly should go down rather well. Doesn’t have to be champagne (although why not?) - a glass of prosecco would do nicely. Or even - gulp! - a moscato if that rocks your boat. (Bit sweet for me.)
Sauvignon Blanc
If GCB is everyone’s favourite snack why not drink everyone’s favourite white with it? Citrus flavours are always great with garlic.
Pinot Grigio, Gavi or other dry Italian whites
A good choice because the flavour is not too assertive - it won’t get in the way of that garlicky, cheesy bliss-out.
Riesling
Bit of a left-field choice this but a crisp fruity young riesling would really hit the spot. Especially if riesling proves to be the new Sauvignon Blanc
Merlot
White wine is better with GCB than red, I reckon but if red’s what you enjoy, red is what you should drink. I toyed with pinot noir but I frankly think Merlot would be better with all that garlic.
A margarita
I like the idea of a cocktail with GCB and what could be better than a margarita? A classic one I’d suggest not one of those fancy ones with strawberry or passionfruit. Though please don’t let me stop you ...
Image ©Brent Hofacker at shutterstock.com
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