The Wine Lover's Cookbook: Great Meals for the Perfect Glass of Wine
224
The Wine Lover's Cookbook: Great Meals for the Perfect Glass of Wine
224eBook
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781452141091 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Chronicle Books LLC |
| Publication date: | 12/15/2015 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 224 |
| File size: | 14 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
About the Author
Paul Franz-Moore is a San Francisco-based still-life photographer specializing in food.
John Ash is the coauthor of From the Earth to the Table. He lives in Northern California.
Read an Excerpt
Chapter One
A Road Map to Great Food and Wine Pairings
THE RULES THEY ARE A-CHANGING
The pairing of food and wine is a complex and highly inexact science. It is fraught with outmoded rules and a propensity for generalizations. Much of what has guided the understanding in the past emerges from the traditions of regional dishes that are eaten with regional wines, such as tomato-based pastas with Chianti (primarily Sangiovese) or beef bourguignonne with French Burgundy (Pinot Noir).
This world has been turned absolutely upside down in the past fifteen to twenty years due to the rapid globalization of both food and wine. In the United States, in particular, we have absorbed the traditions of other food cultures—European, Asian, and Latin—and we have found ourselves in a quandary from a wine standpoint. Our varied, new cuisine includes Asian ingredients, such as cilantro, star anise, shiitake mushrooms, and pickled ginger, intermingling with classic European, Latin, and native ingredients.
The old wine rules simply weren't created with this diverse, cross-cultural culinary palette in mind. These changes have forced us to broaden the way we look at pairing food and wine, to be more open and experimental.
THE BASICS
There are a few basic tenets that I apply to the food and wine pairing process: I first consider the body of the wine that I'm going to serve. What is the texture or "mouthfeel" (weight and feel in the mouth) of the wine and what types of foods will most enhance it? While most wine tasting revolves around the aroma,bouquet, and flavor of the wine, I can't emphasize enough how important "mouthfeel" is to successful food pairings.
Secondly, I consider the flavor of the wine. I think about the inherent fruit character that comes from the grape variety itself, as well as the flavors that are developed from aging the wine in oak barrels, if there's been any barrel aging. Zinfandel, for example, has a vibrant berry character that often meshes with a hint of spice from barrel aging. Chardonnay, in and of itself, contains apple, pear, and citrus notes; it's the barrel fermentation, malolactic fermentation (a process that converts harder acids to softer ones), and the aging process that contributes additional flavors to the wine, such as toast, vanilla, butter, and spice.
In addition to considering the body and flavor in both the food and the wine, I try to be aware of the level of intensity of each. Successful combinations come from creating relatively similar levels of intensity in both the food and the wine. An example would be a light, delicate white wine paired with fillet of sole with lemon-butter sauce, or a robust, heavy red with osso buco.
Lastly, I assess the basic taste of the wine. There are four basic tastes from which to choose: sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. (In fact, research dating back to 1909 in Japan has asserted that there is a fifth basic taste called umami, which refers to a savory taste, but this has never been uniformly accepted.)
Pairings work best when the basic taste (sweet, sour, bitter, salty) of both the food and the wine are relatively similar. This means making sure that a sauce doesn't get sweeter than the wine (see Mustard- and Sourdough-Coated Venison with Currant Sauce on page 195) or that the acid in the wine is sufficient to match the acidity found in a particular dish (see Mixed Greens with Thyme-Scented Goat Cheese Cakes and Balsamic-Dijon Vinaigrette on page 40). Occasionally, a contrast of basic tastes, such as a slightly sweet wine to offset saltiness in a dish (see Baked Ham with Spicy Apricot-Orange Glaze on page 91) will work quite effectively.
Sweetness, in the case of wine, is a reflection of its residual sugar. Any wine above about 0.6 percent residual sugar has some apparent sweetness, although most wines don't start tasting sweet to many people until they reach about 1.5 percent residual sugar. These wines are often referred to as "off-dry," and are typically Riesling, Gewürztraminer, or Pinot Gris/Grigio. Sweet versions (above 5 percent) of all of these varietals are also produced. The problem is that residual sugar is not always indicated on the front or back label, so it can make selection a little tricky. See the Riesling section (page 68) for an explanation of how to select German-style Rieslings based on their nomenclature.
Sauternes (made from Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc), sherry, and port are also produced as sweet wines. Some sweet dessert wines can be found in smaller, 375-milliliter bottles since a small taste of this liquid nectar goes a long way, particularly at the end of a meal that has included several other wines.
The basic taste of sourness as it relates to wine is experienced in the wine's natural acidity. Varietals that are particularly high in acid (Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Sangiovese, and Pinot Noir) can balance more acidic dishes beautifully.
The basic taste of bitterness in wine is noticed primarily in its tannin structure. Tannin is that searing, back-of-the-tongue jolt that is experienced in many young red wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and some Merlot, Zinfandel, and Syrah. This is one of the many reasons that wines are aged in the bottle, both prior to release and in the buyer's cellar. Over time, tannins evolve and soften as red wines go through the bottle-aging process, adding complexity and flavor interest to the wines and making them far more pleasurable to drink.
Certain foods have tannins as well, most notably walnuts and pecans. These ingredients can help lessen the apparent effect of tannin in young Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel.
Saltiness is not an element found in wine, therefore it can be largely omitted from consideration. However, dishes that are slightly salty due to their use of anchovies, olives, soy, or Thai fish sauce can complement lighter, fruity wines, such as Gewürztraminer, Riesling, dry rosé, and some Pinot Noir. On the other hand, tannic red wines and oaky whites fare very poorly with salty dishes, which create a noticeable increase in the wines' apparent tannin and oak levels.
In evaluating these components of body, flavor, intensity, and basic taste, we can choose to find either similar elements in the food and wine pairing or contrasting ones. Successful combinations come from both. A similar match of flavor, for example, would be the Shrimp-Scallop Pâté with Cilantro, Dill, and Pine Nuts (page 34) with Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc. Herbal flavors in the dish match herbal flavors in the wine.
On the other hand, a pairing of Roast Pork with Holy Mole Sauce (page 174) with a dry rosé (one of the possible marriages with this dish) relies on a contrast of body and intensity between the rich chocolate mole and the light, fruity wine that refreshes and cleanses the palate.
If this all sounds a little daunting, or perhaps a bit too cerebral for something as fun as drinking wine with delicious food, then we can move on. However, an understanding of why some food and wine pairings harmonize in crescendo while others clang in discordance is very helpful, particularly as you begin to create your own pairings. Maybe Tony Hendra said it best in an amusing Forbes FYI article: "While you can assess certain aspects of a wine's merits in isolation, its apotheosis is at the table.... Wine separated from food is like a boxer who never goes into the ring; you can speculate all you want watching him work out how good he might be, but you'll never know for sure, till the bell sounds for Round One."
Ultimately, it's personal taste preference that rightfully dictates successful food and wine combinations, not arcane rules.
THE UGLY STEPSISTERS (FOODS TO AVOID)
So many ingredients are wine friendly (see Bridge Ingredients included in each wine section) that it seems only fair to point the proverbial finger at a few that are not. These ingredients don't mean to be this way, and, in fact, each of these foods is delicious on its own. These "ugly stepsisters" are simply best avoided when exploring successful pairings with wine.
Asparagus
OK, let's just say it: Asparagus is generally awful with wine. Not impossible, just difficult. It contains phosphorus and mercaptan, two components that twist the flavors in most wines in the wrong direction. If you must drink wine with asparagus, try Pinot Gris/Grigio or Sauvignon/ Fumé Blanc as they have enough acidity to deal with this less-than-perfect wine food.
Artichokes
The enfant terrible of food and wine pairing, artichokes contain an acid called cynarin, which makes everything taste sweet after eating it. Think of your first sip of milk after eating artichokes. It tasted like someone poured sugar into it. With wine, artichokes simply notch up the apparent sweetness of the wine, and that's not such a good thing most of the time.
Chiles
The heat in chiles comes from a substance called capsaicin, which actually can be measured in what are called "Scovil units," named after the man who invented the process.
While small amounts of milder chiles, such as jalapeños, Anaheims, and poblanos, are not particularly problematic for wine matching, hotter chiles will wreak havoc with oaky white wines and tannic reds. Oaky wines will taste more oaky. High-alcohol wines will taste hotter, even burning. Tannic wines will seem more bitter. Overall, chiles numb the palate's ability to appreciate the subtleties of wine, particularly older reds. It's a pity, but it's true.
That does not rule out the possibilities, however, for successful wine pairings with chile-infused food. With spicier dishes, the best bets are fruity whites, such as Riesling, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc, and Gewürztraminer, and soft, fruity reds, such as Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Rhône blends, and dry roses. I hate to admit it, but white Zinfandel works well, too.
As much as I personally adore hot food, you'll find these types of recipes noticeably absent in this book, save for a few personal favorites, such as the Roast Pork with Holy Mole Sauce (page 174) and Clove-Infused Pork-Black Bean Stew with Tomatillo-Roasted Red Pepper Salsa (page 161), which marry well with a Syrah blend and Zinfandel, respectively.
Eggs
Eggs are notoriously difficult to match with wine because the yolks coat the palate and make it more difficult to taste wine. When eggs are used as part of quiches or hollandaise sauces, they are less intrusive. All in all, Champagne, Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc, Pinot Gris/ Grigio, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and fruitier styles of Chardonnay stand the best chance of working with eggs, but don't bet your entire meal on it.
Vinegar and Pickled Foods
Most vinegar is an enemy to wine, but there are exceptions: Balsamic vinegar, with its sweet, nutty character, can actually contribute complexity to sauces, but it must be used judiciously to avoid overpowering the wine. Other vinegars can rob wine of its fruit, making the wine seem astringent and unpleasant.
There are several salads in this book, which may come as a surprise due to popular thinking about not matching wines with salads. When matching salad dressings to wine, it's best to keep the ratio of oil to vinegar at least three parts to one. In general, white-wine vinegar works best with white wines and red-wine and balsamic vinegar with reds, but balsamic vinegar can adapt to white wine when used in salads.
Most pickled foods—save for capers, which I find to be an interesting complement when used sparingly with Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc and Pinot Gris/Grigio—present difficulty in pairing with wine, as well. The same can be said for pickled ginger, an ingredient so delicious that I go out of my way to find ways for it to work with aromatic, fruitier wines (Asian-Style Grilled Salmon with Fennel-Pickled Ginger Relish on page 78).
BRIDGE INGREDIENTS
Bridge ingredients are those which help connect the food and the wine through their interaction either in flavor, body, intensity, or basic taste (sweet, sour, salty, bitter). In each chapter, bridge ingredients are recommended to help make these connections come to life. Different varietals have different "friendly" ingredients; they can be very helpful in achieving harmony between food and wine.
It's amazing how slight adjustments of certain bridge ingredients (e.g., Dijon mustard added to a red-wine sauce or fresh herbs added at the last minute to a salsa or relish) can help accentuate the flavors of the dish and encourage greater affinity with the wine that is selected.
COOKING METHODS AS A FACTOR IN PAIRING FOOD AND WINE
While food and wine pairing is most often discussed in terms of how flavors, body, and basic tastes harmonize, there remains one more element to explore—the cooking method used. While not always obvious, the technique used in cooking a dish will often affect how well (or poorly) it will partner with wine at the table. The following methods of cooking are the ones that seem to heighten food and wine pairings, although it can be argued that deep-frying, poaching, and steaming all have their places, too.
Grilling
Besides being my preferred cooking method, grilling offers a great opportunity to partner seafood, poultry, meats, and vegetables with wine. The main reason is that grilling is done quickly with the meat or vegetable in direct contact with its heat source. A tantalizing smoky flavor results, depending on what type of fuel is used (charcoal, mesquite, oak chips, or gas grills with flavorizing bars). This occurs because the juices drip down on the fuel source and cause smoke to be released back up to the meat or vegetable.
This caramelization of sugars and protein through grilling is similar to the process of toasting the inside of oak barrels that are used for aging wines. Most red wines are aged in either French- or American-oak barrels from six months to as long as two years. During this time, the wine picks up subtleties of aroma and flavor from the barrel that are often described as "smoky" or "toasty." Some white wines, Chardonnay in particular, are also aged in oak barrels and display aromas and flavors that result from the process. Chardonnay, barrel-aged Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon all benefit from being paired with grilled dishes, making the connection seem more vivid and dramatic.
Roasting
Roasting is a dry-cooking method that browns the exterior of the meat while sealing the juices inside (assuming it's not overcooked). When roasting is done properly, it can have a very positive effect on wine pairing. The juiciness inside the meat, which is primarily protein and fat, helps coat the palate and soften the impression of both full-bodied red and white wines.
The browning of the outside skin also has a positive effect on wine pairing since this caramelizing process, whether it is accomplished by slow or fast roasting, helps connect the flavor of the meat to the barrel-aged characteristics of the wine.
Roasting meats, poultry, and certain seafood, such as salmon or sea bass, allows for the use of fresh or dried herbs, which can also help marry the meat to the wine. The flavor of the herbs is infused into the meat, adding depth that is the hallmark of simpler roasted fare.
Vegetables greatly benefit from roasting, which seals their moisture inside and dramatically intensifies their flavor. This has positive implications for wine pairing as it adds another element to a recipe that can support a pairing with a specific wine.
One of my favorite roasted ingredients is garlic. The caramelized, nutty character that develops when garlic is roasted (see page 164) seems to be a particularly friendly bridge ingredient to most wines. Because it is not nearly as sharp as raw garlic, I use roasted garlic in many relishes and sauce reductions as a helpful conduit to both red and white wines.
Sautéing
Sautéing meat, fish, or vegetables in a pan with fat (either butter or oil) also creates intriguing food and wine pairing possibilities. Because fat is being used in direct contact with the meat or fish, it adds a flavor and textural element that can help with some wines in particular.
Chardonnay, with its oily texture, is one very good example of a wine that can be helped by the sautéing process because it adds some fat (and "mouthfeel") to the dish. Cabernet Sauviguon and Syrah, with their higher tannin levels, will also often benefit from being paired with sautéed dishes containing some fat to help cut through the tannins. However, even delicate seafood (e.g., Zack's Pan-Seared "Spykick" Catfish on page 50) will benefit from quick sautéing that seals flavors and adds just a touch of fat to the fish.
The other benefit of sautéing is that it allows other ingredients and flavors to come in direct contact with the meat or fish during the cooking process. This allows flavors to become better integrated, which adds immeasurably to the success of the dish and to the wine with which it's being paired.
Braising
Braising is a cooking method that begins with the sealing of juices through a quick browning of the meat followed by the addition of a liquid, typically wine and/or stock. Once liquid is added, the dish simmers slowly under a covered top with all of the ingredients in one pot.
The obvious benefit of this type of cooking is the integration of flavors, which happens slowly but very surely. Specific flavors and ingredients are not the goal of braising, rather a merging and commingling of flavors and textures that views the whole as greater than the sum of the parts. Braising also allows wine to be used extensively in preparation of the dish, thereby suggesting a direct connection to a specific varietal.
Richer, more full-flavored whites such as Chardonnay and Viognier, as well as more full-bodied reds such as Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot harmonize beautifully with braised dishes. The fullness and weight of the wine are seemingly mirrored by the braising method (e.g., Braised Pork with Apples, Mushrooms, and Calvados, page 120, with a buttery Chardonnay). This makes good sense to the palate; it accepts both food and wine readily and with pleasure.
TEN TIPS TO SUCCESSFUL FOOD AND WINE PAIRING
1
Spicy, salty, smoked, and highly seasoned dishes are best paired with wines that are fruity and lower in alcohol such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris/ Grigio, dry rosés, and Pinot Noir. Avoid oaky and more tannic wines.
2
Richer, fattier foods pair best with heavier, full-bodied wines such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Syrah.
3
When pairing sweeter foods with wine, try to keep the sweetness in the dish less than the apparent sweetness of the wine. If necessary, sweetness in the dish can be curbed with a touch of citrus juice or vinegar.
4
Higher-acid foods, such as goat cheese, tomatoes, and citrus fruits, pair most effectively with higher-acid wines such as Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc, some Rieslings, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir. If the wine seems too tart for the dish, add a touch of lemon juice or vinegar to the dish.
5
In a meal progression where multiple wines will be served, serve lighter wines before more full-bodied ones. Serve dry wines before sweet ones, unless a dish with some sweetness is served early in the meal, in which case it should be matched with a wine of like sweetness. Serve lower-alcohol wines (Riesling, Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc, and Pinot Gris/Grigio) before higher-alcohol ones (Chardonnay, Viognier, Gewürztraminer, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah).
6
Help connect dishes to the specific wine you're serving by tasting a small amount of the wine as you're finishing a sauce or side dish so that the recipe can be "tweaked" to maximum effect. If the wine seems too tannic or bitter for the dish, a sprinkling of citrus zest or nuts can be added to the dish, for example.
7
When using wine in marinades or sauces, use a decent-quality wine. If possible, this should be the same varietal as will be matched with the dish, but it need not be the same exact wine if you wish to drink a better wine than the one with which you're cooking.
8
Grilling, roasting, sautéing, and braising are preferred cooking methods when matching dishes with most wines. Poaching and steaming are more delicate cooking methods that work best with more delicate wines such as Pinot Gris/Grigio and some Riesling. Smoking food works most effectively with lighter, fruitier wines—Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel.
9
Food and wine pairing is about synergy the food should not overpower the wine, nor should the wine overpower the food.
10 Great food and wine combinations come from finding similarities and contrasts of flavor, body (texture), intensity, and basic taste. This is a highly subjective, inexact endeavor. Taste, and trust your own instincts.
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Foreword, by John Ash
- Introduction
- A Road Map to Great Food and Wine Pairings
- The Rdles They Are A-Changing
- The Basics
- The Ugly Stepsisters (foods to avoid)
- Bridge Ingredients
- Cooking Methods as a Factor in Pairing Food and Wine
- Ten Tips to Successfdl Food and Wine Pairing
- WHITE WINES
- Foreword, by John Ash
- Champagne/Sparkling Wine
- DRY, LIGHTER-BODIED WHITE WINES
- Sauvignon/Fume Blanc
- Pinot Gris/Grigio
- FRUITY WHITE WINES
- Riesling
- Gewurztraminer
- DRY, FdlL-BODIED WHITE WINES
- Viognier
- Chardonnay
-
- RED WINES
- MEDIUM-BODIED RED WINES
- RED WINES
- Pinot Noir
- Sangiovese
- Zinfandel
- Sangiovese
- FdlL-BODIED RED WINES
- Syrah and Rhone Blends
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
-
- Dessert Wines
- Seasonal Menus
- Bibliography
- Table of Equivalents
- Index
- Dessert Wines
Recipe
Most wine lovers are familiar with the basic rules of pairing fine vintages with food (think red with meat, white with fish) and have their own ideas on how and when to follow them or break them. But not all wine aficionados would know where to start when designing a meal around a particular bottle or two. Enter The Wine Lover's Cookbook, a sleek and glossy new volume of appealing recipes specially conceived to go with particular varieties of wine. Author Sid Goldstein is an executive at California's Fetzer Vineyards and is the coauthor (with John Ash, who provides the foreword here) of the award-winning From the Earth to the Table— he's as knowledgeable about wine as he is about fine food.In this clever volume, he covers more than a dozen varieties of wine, including Champagne, Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Riesling, Gewürtztraminer, Viogner, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Syrah and Rhône Blends, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Port, and Sauternes. For each, he offers a list of the wine's typical aromas and flavors, tips for successful matching of the wine with food, and advice on which base ingredients and bridge ingredients (which help connect the food and wine through flavor, body, or intensity) in a dish tend to work well with the wine. Then he provides a number of recipes developed with the wine in mind. Some of the dishes Goldstein offers stick close to those old rules: With Chardonnay, for example, he suggests Broiled Monkfish with Fennel, Hazelnuts, and Orange Sauce and Cold Poached Salmon with Tarragon-Mint Aïoli. But others are a bit bolder: For instance, he also includes a recipe for Veal Roast with Dijon-Tinged Vegetable Sauce in the Chardonnay section. He pairs dishes like Grilled Ahi with Ginger-Black Bean Sauce and Thai-Style Grilled Lamb with Raspberry-Mango Relish with Pinot Noir, or Basil Fettuccine with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Olives, and Prosciutto and Grilled Flank Steak with Roasted Corn-Pancetta Salsa with Zinfandel. Any of the dishes in The Wine Lover's Cookbook would be a delicious part of a meal on their own, but to really make the most of them, pull out that bottle you've been saving and get cooking.
Recipes from The Wine Lover's Cookbook
Creole-Style Prawns
Recommended Wine: Riesling
Alternative Wine: Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc
This Creole-style prawn dish is a terrific showcase for an off-dry, fruity Riesling. The decidedly nongourmet ingredient of catsup (yes, humble bottled catsup), with its sweet-tart-tangy flavors, wraps itself around Riesling with unexpected grace. Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc is a tart, fruity contrast to the slightly sweeter qualities of the dish. Redolent of herbs and spices, the sauce provides a flavorful bed for the sweet succulence of the prawns. Serve over white rice.
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups fish or chicken stock
1 cup chopped green pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup chopped sweet onions
1 large tomato, seeded and diced, or one 14-1/2-ounce can chopped tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup catsup
1/4 cup pitted, chopped Kalamata olives
1/3 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
2 pounds prawns, shelled and deveined
Kosher salt and cayenne pepper
Garnish: chopped green onions
In a medium sauté pan or skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add flour and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth and slightly brown. Slowly add stock and stir until thickened slightly. Reserve.
In a large sauté pan or skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter and sauté green pepper, garlic, and onions for 3 to 4 minutes, until onions are translucent and green pepper is tender. Add tomatoes, catsup, olives, cayenne, paprika, and herbs and simmer for 5 minutes. Add reserved stock mixture to onion-pepper mixture and stir until well blended. Add prawns and simmer for 20 minutes, covered. Season to taste.
To serve, spoon white rice into large soup bowls. Divide prawns and sauce over rice. Sprinkle green onions over top.
Serves 4 as an entrée.
Penne with Sausage, Porcini and Portobello Mushrooms, and Syrah
Recommended Wine: Syrah
Alternative Wine: Zinfandel
This pasta offers intense flavors through the combination of sausage, earthy porcini mushrooms, portobello mushrooms, and the tomato-based red wine sauce, making it an ideal partner for the full-flavored intensity of Syrah. Try it on a cold winter night when you need to warm your insides. Zinfandel works here as it offers much the same forward berry and stone fruit flavors to complement the intense sauce.
2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms
12 ounces Italian sausage, cut into 1/2-inch slice
1-1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1-1/2 cups chopped portobello mushrooms
3/4 teaspoon crumbled dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1-1/2 cups Syrah
2 14-1/2-ounce cans chopped tomatoes, drained
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper or red pepper flakes
1 pound dried penne or other small dried pasta
Garnish: shredded Asiago cheese, chopped parsley
Soak porcini in hot water for 2 to 3 hours. Drain.
In a medium, nonstick sauté pan or skillet over medium-high heat, sauté sausage for 6 to 7 minutes, turning to brown on both sides. Remove with slotted spoon, place on paper towels, and pat dry.
In a large sauté pan or skillet over medium-high heat, sauté onions and garlic for 4 to 5 minutes, until onions are translucent. Add porcini, portobellos, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper and continue sautéing for 3 to 4 minutes. Add wine and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer to reduce by half. Add tomatoes and tomato paste and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Add reserved sausage and heat through. Season to taste.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Carefully add penne and cook according to package directions or until it is al dente. Drain and return penne to pot. Add sauce to pasta and mix thoroughly. Reheat, if necessary.
To serve, divide pasta among 4 large pasta or soup bowls. Top with cheese and parsley.
Serves 4 as an entrée.
Fig and Raspberry Clafouti
Recommended Wine: Sauternes
Alternative Wine: Port
Clafouti is not a terribly well-known dessert. Its origins are in the south central part of France where a batter cake, typically made with black cherries, is a traditional and much loved delight. This version resonates with the lush, honeyed sweetness of late summer figs and slightly tart raspberries, a truly magical combination that wraps its flavors around the honey-like quality in aged Sauternes. Port is a suitable alternative that works well with the fig flavors.
2 cups quartered figs
2 cups raspberries
1/2 cup sliced, blanched almonds
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons port
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
Preheat oven to 400° F. Arrange figs cut side up in buttered 8-by-8-by-2-inch baking dish and sprinkle in raspberries. In a blender or food processor, finely grind the almonds with the flour. Add 1/3 cup sugar, eggs, milk, and port and blend well. Stop occasionally to wipe down sides as necessary. Pour the custard over the fruit, dot with butter, and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden and the custard is set. Let cool for 20 minutes. Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Serves 6.
Recipes from THE WINE LOVER'S COOKBOOK, copyright c 1999 by Sid Goldstein. Photos copyright c 1999 by Paul Moore. All rights reserved.