Everyone knows that making a specialty mixed drink with vodka produces flavorful results, but did you know that you can use vodka to bring out the flavor of some of your favorite foods?
If you’re not sure how to incorporate vodka into your cooking, the North Beach Fish Camp crew has you covered. This blog will cover some of the best ways you can start using vodka in your kitchen for scrumptious results.
Vodka Brings Out the Flavor and Aroma of Your Favorite Sauces
Perhaps the most common use of vodka in cooking is incorporating it into your sauces, especially pasta sauces. But why is that? Vodka emphasizes the flavors already contained within the sauce without adding its own. Other types of alcohol, such as rum and white wine, add their own distinct flavors to foods, but vodka heightens the flavors of your food. This is especially true for tomato-based sauces.
Vodka also helps increase your food’s aroma as long as you cook out 95% of the alcohol content. Increasing your sauce’s aroma contributes to your dish’s tastiness, and you’ll be able to tell right away when you have a bite of some delicious vodka penne or rigatoni. The most effective way to cook out the alcohol in the vodka is to stir it into your sauce and let it simmer for two hours.
In addition to pasta, vodka sauce also pairs perfectly with chicken, shrimp, and even pizza.
Vodka Can Help Meats Absorb Your Marinade and Become Even Tastier
Adding vodka to your favorite sauces produces tasty results, but sometimes we’re in the mood for something smokier and even more savory. When that craving hits, try using vodka in your marinade for your steak, chicken, fish, and so much more. The acidity of vodka will help the meat soak up the flavors of your marinade, leaving your favorite dishes even more mouth-watering.
When marinating your food with vodka or with other acidic substances, make sure not to over-marinate. Some foods such as steak, fish, and shrimp can begin to lose texture and color if marinated too long. For steak, chicken, fish, or whatever you’re marinating, be sure to look up how long it takes to produce the tastiest results.
Vodka Can Make Your Pastries Flakier and More Delicious
After you’re done eating your delicious main course, try adding vodka into your pastries and baked goods. Adding vodka into your dough makes your baked product flakier and all the more delicious.
But what is it about vodka that will make your dessert flakier? Adding vodka rather than water to your dough prevents gluten from forming during the baking process, leaving your tasty treat flaky and delicious rather than tough and chewy. Adding vodka to your baking is especially important when making pie crusts. Just add a ¼ cup of vodka, and you’re on your way to a savory pie with a perfect, crumbly texture.
Vodka Can Make Your Favorite Foods Even Better
Vodka offers a variety of ways to turn your favorite foods even more delicious. Be sure to add it to your sauce, marinade, or dough the next time you’re feeling adventurous in the kitchen!
And when you’re done experimenting with these fun and delicious uses of vodka, give yourself a cooking break and come on over to the North Beach Fish Camp. While you’re here, you can try our delicious vodka-based specialty drinks, including our Laid Back and our Beachside Mule. Our Laid Back features Crop Cucumber Organic Vodka, agave nectar, blueberries, mint, and our house-made sour while the Beachside Mule contains Wheatley Vodka, agave nectar, ginger beer, Domaine de Canton, and orange bitters.
Book a reservation today if you’re ready to enjoy mouth-watering drinks and delicious food.