Make a Splash with Seafood and Wine
Coffee and cream, burger and fries, pasta and sauce –pairings that are so common we take them for granted. And here is another one: seafood and wine.
A pairing that is a no-brainer!
Wine pairs beautifully with seafood, whether you’re sipping it or cooking with it. Many people are intimidated by cooking fish at home, which can be a little daunting at first, but once you see how easy it is, you’ll want to do it more often. Undercooking seafood is not good, but another critical point is that overcooking seafood can leave you with rubbery or dry results, so it’s essential to follow the cooking times suggested. Let’s take a look at some recipes that are pretty simple yet very impressive.
From the Food Network, Rachel Ray has an easy recipe for Linguini and Clam Sauce. Be sure to use an excellent white wine – one that you’d enjoy sipping. It calls for a cup of wine that gets reduced slowly as the ingredients simmer. The recipe calls for some anchovies to give the flavors an extra kick. For those fearful of anchovies, give it a try! They cook down and melt into the olive oil, leaving a subtle, delicious flavor behind.
The wine gives this dish something a little special!
Want an easy seafood recipe that tastes like a million bucks? This Garlic-Butter Shrimp Scampi dish from Café Delites can be made in about 10 minutes. The recipe isn’t fussy. When choosing white wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay are all excellent options. Can’t decide? Cook with one and sip the others while enjoying dinner.
Usually, we think of white wine when creating a seafood dish. But this easy Cod in Red Wine recipe from the Food Network sounds amazing. (Kind of like going with the red Manhattan clam chowder instead of the white New England version.) The recipe does call for clam juice and plenty of cod cut into chunks. Choose a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon or a Pinot Noir for simmering the fish and drink the rest.
Martha Stewart has an excellent recipe for Salmon with White Wine Sauce that takes about 5 minutes of prep time and has only five ingredients besides the fish. The recipe calls for a cup of dry white wine, which is the best kind of wine for cooking salmon. We recommend a good Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, or Sauvignon Blanc.
Besides wine, many seafood recipes include capers, garlic, butter, and/or olive oil. Have these staples on hand and enjoy the delicious gifts from the sea.
Want to learn more about wine? Reserve your spot for Boston Winery’s wine-tasting events. We also have specialty pairing events throughout the month.
