Have you ever thought about combining alcohol with your cooking? Alcohol actually adds a lot of flavor to your recipes. Just think of vanilla, an alcohol-based extract that provides intense flavoring. By incorporating alcohol into your cooking you can create a palate-pleasing taste.

Some recipes require alcohol in order to achieve their full flavor. In the case of breads and batters, beer contains yeast, which helps to leaven batter. In some marinades, tough fibers can be broken down with certain alcoholic beverages. Alcohol also adds pizzazz to flaming dishes, known as flambé.

Types of Alcohol

There are many different types of alcohol that can be used in a variety of recipes. Some of the more common types used in cooking include:

• Whiskey – There are three common types of whiskey. Straight whiskey is no less than 80 proof and is aged for at least 2 years. Bottled-in-Bond whiskey is no less than 100 proof and is aged for a minimum of 4 years. Light whiskey is between 161 and 189 proof. It is mixed with less than 20% straight whiskey.
• Bourbon – Bourbon is also known as “corn whiskey,” as it is a variation of whiskey. It is aged for at least 2 years and contains at least 51% of corn.
• Grand Marnier – This is a cognac brand which has orange flavoring.
• Tequila – At least 51% of this liquor is obtained from agave sap sugar. The remaining 49% is usually made up of corn or cane sugar.
• Beer – Beer is a beverage made by fermenting cereal(s) and flavored with hops.
• Amaretto – This is an almond flavored cordial, which surprisingly, is not made from almonds. It is mostly made from apricot pits with a number of additional flavorings and spices.
• Champagne – Champagne is a sparkling wine with the following primary grapes being used: Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Pinot Meunier.
• Rum – Considered hard liquor, rum is made from fermented sugar. It also includes molasses and other by-products of sugar production.
• Wine – This is an alcoholic beverage that is made of fermented grape juice.
• Kirsch – Short for Kirschwasser, a clear brandy with a cherry flavor, often used in Swiss fondue.

Cooking With Wine

Wine draws out some wonderful flavors and aromas in recipes. If you are adding wine to your favorite sauce, be sure to allow most of it to cook off. This eliminates a boozy taste and instead, allows enough flavoring to come through to create a delicious dish.

The best way to cook off wine is to add some wine and then cook the sauce until it reduces by about half. Be sure to keep the pan uncovered. As the wine burns away, the flavoring of the sauce becomes more concentrated.Some flavors in dishes can be enhanced with the right wine. For instance, if you are cooking a recipe that contains mushrooms, you might add in some Pinot Noir, which has the flavoring of mushroom. A salad which includes some citrus might benefit from a citrus flavored wine such as Sauvignon Blanc. Chardonnay works well with cream sauces.

Beer-Battered Fish

Friday nights are notorious for being a great night to have a fish fry. Beer-battered fish are delicious. All you need to create the perfect meal is to fry up your favorite fish fillets in this simple batter recipe:

Ingredients:

• Flour (the amount depends on how much you are making)
• 2 eggs, beaten (for each cup of flour)
• 1, 24 oz. can of your favorite beer
• Salt and pepper, to taste

In a large bowl combine the beaten eggs, flour and beer. The batter should be thick like pancake batter. You may need to adjust the amount of flour or beer in order to get the right consistency. In a fryer or pan filled with enough vegetable oil to cover your fish, fry each side of the fillet until it is golden brown.

You might also want to squeeze some lemon juice over your beer-battered fish for extra flavoring and serve tarter sauce as a condiment.

Shrimp Marsala

Marsala sauce can be used to enhance the flavor of virtually any type of meat, be it poultry, fish or pork. It can also be used in any type of pasta dish. The key ingredient to Marsala sauce is Marsala wine. Try this delicious shrimp Marsala recipe.

(Adapted from the recipe from Cooks.com)

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. deveined shrimp
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 tablespoons chopped scallions
• 6 tablespoons chopped onions
• Pinch of minced garlic
• Pinch of rosemary
• 1 cup Brown Sauce (see below)
• 1/4 cup Marsala wine
• Salt and pepper, to taste

If shrimp is not deveined, then you will need to devein it. Heat oil in a pan and add the shrimp, scallions, onions, garlic and rosemary. Cook on high heat until shrimp turns pink. Add the brown sauce and Marsala wine. Simmer for 10 minutes and then add salt and pepper.

Brown Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 tablespoon flour
• 2 cup stock

Combine the butter and flour in a pot until it turns brownish. Add the stock and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Best Brands of Brandy and Cognac

You are ready to create a delicious meal using alcohol but may be wondering what some of the best brands are. Top-shelf liquor is the cream of the crop when it comes to picking the best brands. Clear Creek, Don Pedro and Azteca de Oro are some of the best brands of brandy. For Cognac, you can’t go wrong with Hennessy X.O., Martell Cordon Bleu and Meukow X.O.

Best Brands of Wine

Wine is the most popular choice when it comes to both drinking and using in cooking. The most important thing to remember is that the alcohol cooks out and all that is left is the wine’s actual flavor. So when cooking, choose a wine with a flavor you really enjoy as this flavor will intensify through the cooking process.

Best Brands of Beer

Americans know their beers and some brands seem to outshine the others. Budweiser is one of the more well-known and used brands but some other good brands are Anchor Steam, Guinness and Red Stripe. As with cooking with wine, you need to choose a beer you enjoy as a beverage since the flavor will intensify while cooking.

When cooking with local ingredients, try to ditch the big brands and look for local microbrews in your area for a perfect pairing.

Although there are alcohol substitutions available for cooking, nothing really beats the real thing. Experimenting with some dishes and your favorite choice of liquor is the best way to discover what pleases your palate.