Cooking with Alcohol

Alcohol's unique chemical properties make wine, beer, champagne, sake, and liquor more than just a complementary drink to your meal. Recipes like beer-steamed crabs, tequila hot sauce, rabbit braised in red wine, and more are (if you'll pardon the pun) proof that booze has a true home in the kitchen.

French Canadian Trifle

(Bagatelle) The typical bagatelle in La Beauce is a child’s delight of Jell-O, white cake, and strawberry jam. We prefer this grown-up version, with fresh fruit, custard (instead of Jell-O), and a drizzle of marsala.

Venison Sausage Braised in Beer

Venison sausage takes on a rich, yeasty flavor when braised in lager-style beer with carrots, leeks, apples, and savoy cabbage. See the Recipe for Venison Sausage Braised in Beer»

See the Recipe
Chocolate Brandy Hazelnut Torte

Crisp, crunchy ladyfingers and toasted hazelnuts mold together with sweet raspberries, chopped chocolate, and brandy for the perfect biscotti-like, freeze-made treat. See the recipe for Chocolate Brandy Hazelnut Torte »

80 Sweet and spirited

See the Recipe

Pork Loin with Apples, Cider, and Calvados

Inspired by Norman cuisine, we married a hearty pork loin with apples and the classic beverages of the Calvados region of Normandy, France—hard cider and calvados.

See the Recipe
See the Recipe
Tipsy Pudding With Mulled Wine
Tipsy Pudding With Mulled Wine

This recipe is based on one in Gerry Galvin’s Drimcong Food Affair (McDonald, 1992), a collection of recipes from his now closed restaurant. Get the recipe for Tipsy Pudding With Mulled Wine »

Beef and Guinness Pie
Beef and Guinness Pie

This is a hearty Irish variation on steak and kidney pie, made with the island’s most famous beer. Get the recipe for Beef and Guinness Pie »

Syllabub

Oloroso sherry and cognac add a little zing to a classic whipped dessert–try adding a little raspberry purée or a few chopped white peaches. See the recipe for Syllabub »

See the Recipe
Black-Bottom Pie

Creamy, chocolaty, and with a touch of rum is how we would describe this popular dessert. The buttery chocolate-cookie crust used for this pie is our favorite of the options offered by Woman’s Day Encyclopedia of Cookery (Fawcett Publication, Inc. 1965). See the recipe for Black-Bottom Pie »

See the Recipe
Oyster Fritters
Oyster Fritters

These oyster fritters are meltingly tender with a beer batter that is surprisingly airy.

Coq au Vin

This dish is made from a recipe in The Country Cooking of France by Anne Willan. A blend of red wine, various vegetables and herbs, and chicken, this dish is savory all year long. See the recipe for Coq au Vin »

Pork Kebabs with Cucumber-Mint Yogurt Sauce
Pork Kebabs with Cucumber-Mint Yogurt Sauce

Redolent of oregano and cinnamon, these pork kebabs owe their tenderness to a red wine marinade. Get the recipe for Pork Kebabs with Cucumber-Mint Yogurt Sauce »

Beer-Steamed Crabs

In this dish, fresh blue crabs are steamed in a flavorful mixture of chile, garlic, lime, and beer. See the recipe for Beer-Steamed Crabs »

See the Recipe
raspberry trifle
Raspberry Trifle

This classic dessert is moistened with the sweetened, wine-spiked cream known as syllabub. See the recipe for Raspberry Trifle »

Rabbit Braised in Red Wine

The hearty flavor of lean game meat pairs wonderfully with a simple red wine sauce. See the Recipe for Rabbit Braised in Red Wine»

See the Recipe
Figs in Brandy

Preserving figs in citric acid and brandy helps prevent the growth of microorganisms in the fruit, and boiling the mixture in canning jars produces an airtight seal. If you have leftover fig syrup when you are finished canning, strain and refrigerate it to drizzle over ice cream or to stir into iced tea. See the recipe for Figs in Brandy »

See the Recipe
Spicy Guinness Mustard

Our favorite mustard recipe uses brown mustard seeds and Guinness beer (which lends a malty character and hints of sweetness). See the recipe for Spicy Guinness Mustard »

Wine-Simmered Collard Greens

Houston chef Bryan Caswell simmers collard greens in chicken broth and gewürztraminer, a slightly sweet white wine, to deepen their flavor. See the recipe for Wine-Simmered Collard Greens »

Pasta with Spicy Tomato-Beer Sauce

Based on a dish served at Birrificio Italiano, a brewery and restaurant in Italy’s Lombardy region, this puttanesca-style pasta sauce is enriched with Bibock, the brewery’s bock-style beer.

Squash Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce
Squash Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce

This Mexican take on a Cajun-style bread pudding is studded with cubes of squash and plump raisins.

Butter Saffron Cake
Butter Saffron Cake

Steeping the saffron in vodka helps boost the flavor of the spice throughout the cake.

Mussels in White Wine

Serve these garlicky mussels with crusty bread. See the recipe for Mussels in White Wine

Poached Pears
Port Wine Poached Pears

Poaching Bosc pears in port wine turns them a beautiful, vibrant red. Get the recipe for Port Wine Poached Pears »

Fish Tacos
Fish Tacos

Adding beer to the batter helps the fish for these tacos fry up golden brown and lightly crispy.

Ma You Ji

TAIWAN Mild and faintly sweet, Chinese rice wine is the standard cooking liquid and sauce for this sesame oil chicken dish. See the recipe for Ma You Ji »

Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée
Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée

These simple gelled fruit desserts made with rosé champagne are an elegant way to serve summer berries. Get the Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée »

Japanese-Style Linguini with Clams

This Japanese take on the Italian classic, made with sake-steamed littleneck clams, shiitake mushrooms, and julienned yakinori, is our new favorite way to eat pasta. The mushrooms and seaweed lend the umami notes provided by pancetta in the original dish.

Classic Meatballs
Classic Meatballs

“The meatballs were left on our porch in a Farberware pot with a loaf of Italian bread and a note that said: ‘Figured you wouldn’t have time to cook.'” Get the recipe for Classic Meatballs

Apple Tart
Torta di Sant'Antonio (Sant'Antonio Apple Tart)

Cooks in the Italian Alpine village of Oulx flavor this tart with red wine and cinnamon to honor the town’s patron saint, Sant’Antonio. Get the recipe for Torta di Sant’Antonio (Sant’Antonio Apple Tart) »

Decadent Trifle
Decadent Trifle

The trifle is a very old concoction—by some accounts, more than 300 years old—but twentieth century variations have turned it into a classic, occasion-ready centerpiece. Drenched in sherry and kirsch, our version features layer upon layer of ginger cake, custard, berries, chocolate, and cream.

See the Recipe
Brasato Vitello (Braised Veal)

Tender veal shoulder soaks up the rich wine sauce in this slow-cooked dish. See the Recipe for Braised Veal»

BOOZY HOT SAUCE

Chef Elizabeth Karmel of Hill Country Barbecue in New York City serves this infused tequila drizzled over everything from grilled fish to grilled peaches. See the Tequila Hot Sauce recipe »

See the Recipe
ANDRÉ BARANOWSKI
Techniques

Cooking with Alcohol

Alcohol's unique chemical properties make wine, beer, champagne, sake, and liquor more than just a complementary drink to your meal. Recipes like beer-steamed crabs, tequila hot sauce, rabbit braised in red wine, and more are (if you'll pardon the pun) proof that booze has a true home in the kitchen.

French Canadian Trifle

(Bagatelle) The typical bagatelle in La Beauce is a child’s delight of Jell-O, white cake, and strawberry jam. We prefer this grown-up version, with fresh fruit, custard (instead of Jell-O), and a drizzle of marsala.

Venison Sausage Braised in Beer

Venison sausage takes on a rich, yeasty flavor when braised in lager-style beer with carrots, leeks, apples, and savoy cabbage. See the Recipe for Venison Sausage Braised in Beer»

See the Recipe
Chocolate Brandy Hazelnut Torte

Crisp, crunchy ladyfingers and toasted hazelnuts mold together with sweet raspberries, chopped chocolate, and brandy for the perfect biscotti-like, freeze-made treat. See the recipe for Chocolate Brandy Hazelnut Torte »

80 Sweet and spirited

See the Recipe

Pork Loin with Apples, Cider, and Calvados

Inspired by Norman cuisine, we married a hearty pork loin with apples and the classic beverages of the Calvados region of Normandy, France—hard cider and calvados.

See the Recipe
See the Recipe
Tipsy Pudding With Mulled Wine
Tipsy Pudding With Mulled Wine

This recipe is based on one in Gerry Galvin’s Drimcong Food Affair (McDonald, 1992), a collection of recipes from his now closed restaurant. Get the recipe for Tipsy Pudding With Mulled Wine »

Beef and Guinness Pie
Beef and Guinness Pie

This is a hearty Irish variation on steak and kidney pie, made with the island’s most famous beer. Get the recipe for Beef and Guinness Pie »

Syllabub

Oloroso sherry and cognac add a little zing to a classic whipped dessert–try adding a little raspberry purée or a few chopped white peaches. See the recipe for Syllabub »

See the Recipe
Black-Bottom Pie

Creamy, chocolaty, and with a touch of rum is how we would describe this popular dessert. The buttery chocolate-cookie crust used for this pie is our favorite of the options offered by Woman’s Day Encyclopedia of Cookery (Fawcett Publication, Inc. 1965). See the recipe for Black-Bottom Pie »

See the Recipe
Oyster Fritters
Oyster Fritters

These oyster fritters are meltingly tender with a beer batter that is surprisingly airy.

Coq au Vin

This dish is made from a recipe in The Country Cooking of France by Anne Willan. A blend of red wine, various vegetables and herbs, and chicken, this dish is savory all year long. See the recipe for Coq au Vin »

Pork Kebabs with Cucumber-Mint Yogurt Sauce
Pork Kebabs with Cucumber-Mint Yogurt Sauce

Redolent of oregano and cinnamon, these pork kebabs owe their tenderness to a red wine marinade. Get the recipe for Pork Kebabs with Cucumber-Mint Yogurt Sauce »

Beer-Steamed Crabs

In this dish, fresh blue crabs are steamed in a flavorful mixture of chile, garlic, lime, and beer. See the recipe for Beer-Steamed Crabs »

See the Recipe
raspberry trifle
Raspberry Trifle

This classic dessert is moistened with the sweetened, wine-spiked cream known as syllabub. See the recipe for Raspberry Trifle »

Rabbit Braised in Red Wine

The hearty flavor of lean game meat pairs wonderfully with a simple red wine sauce. See the Recipe for Rabbit Braised in Red Wine»

See the Recipe
Figs in Brandy

Preserving figs in citric acid and brandy helps prevent the growth of microorganisms in the fruit, and boiling the mixture in canning jars produces an airtight seal. If you have leftover fig syrup when you are finished canning, strain and refrigerate it to drizzle over ice cream or to stir into iced tea. See the recipe for Figs in Brandy »

See the Recipe
Spicy Guinness Mustard

Our favorite mustard recipe uses brown mustard seeds and Guinness beer (which lends a malty character and hints of sweetness). See the recipe for Spicy Guinness Mustard »

Wine-Simmered Collard Greens

Houston chef Bryan Caswell simmers collard greens in chicken broth and gewürztraminer, a slightly sweet white wine, to deepen their flavor. See the recipe for Wine-Simmered Collard Greens »

Pasta with Spicy Tomato-Beer Sauce

Based on a dish served at Birrificio Italiano, a brewery and restaurant in Italy’s Lombardy region, this puttanesca-style pasta sauce is enriched with Bibock, the brewery’s bock-style beer.

Squash Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce
Squash Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce

This Mexican take on a Cajun-style bread pudding is studded with cubes of squash and plump raisins.

Butter Saffron Cake
Butter Saffron Cake

Steeping the saffron in vodka helps boost the flavor of the spice throughout the cake.

Mussels in White Wine

Serve these garlicky mussels with crusty bread. See the recipe for Mussels in White Wine

Poached Pears
Port Wine Poached Pears

Poaching Bosc pears in port wine turns them a beautiful, vibrant red. Get the recipe for Port Wine Poached Pears »

Fish Tacos
Fish Tacos

Adding beer to the batter helps the fish for these tacos fry up golden brown and lightly crispy.

Ma You Ji

TAIWAN Mild and faintly sweet, Chinese rice wine is the standard cooking liquid and sauce for this sesame oil chicken dish. See the recipe for Ma You Ji »

Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée
Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée

These simple gelled fruit desserts made with rosé champagne are an elegant way to serve summer berries. Get the Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée »

Japanese-Style Linguini with Clams

This Japanese take on the Italian classic, made with sake-steamed littleneck clams, shiitake mushrooms, and julienned yakinori, is our new favorite way to eat pasta. The mushrooms and seaweed lend the umami notes provided by pancetta in the original dish.

Classic Meatballs
Classic Meatballs

“The meatballs were left on our porch in a Farberware pot with a loaf of Italian bread and a note that said: ‘Figured you wouldn’t have time to cook.'” Get the recipe for Classic Meatballs

Apple Tart
Torta di Sant'Antonio (Sant'Antonio Apple Tart)

Cooks in the Italian Alpine village of Oulx flavor this tart with red wine and cinnamon to honor the town’s patron saint, Sant’Antonio. Get the recipe for Torta di Sant’Antonio (Sant’Antonio Apple Tart) »

Decadent Trifle
Decadent Trifle

The trifle is a very old concoction—by some accounts, more than 300 years old—but twentieth century variations have turned it into a classic, occasion-ready centerpiece. Drenched in sherry and kirsch, our version features layer upon layer of ginger cake, custard, berries, chocolate, and cream.

See the Recipe
Brasato Vitello (Braised Veal)

Tender veal shoulder soaks up the rich wine sauce in this slow-cooked dish. See the Recipe for Braised Veal»

BOOZY HOT SAUCE

Chef Elizabeth Karmel of Hill Country Barbecue in New York City serves this infused tequila drizzled over everything from grilled fish to grilled peaches. See the Tequila Hot Sauce recipe »

See the Recipe

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