Tasty. Easy. Looks impressive….
Check, check, check. It’s been intermittently cold, or gray, or dreary. Or all of the above here in Walla Walla. Carbonnade and wine for dinner solved my comfort food needs.
It’s a simple stew with crusty bread that we ate with a classic Washington Syrah. Yes, Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. But I can cope now.
How It Went
The hardest part was buying the Belgian beer. In a wine country town – it’s harder than I thought. But it’s worth it to make the recipe right the first time. Recipes then say use any dark beer, but you should know what the Belgian beer taste is first.
The next hardest part was caramelizing the onions. IT TAKES TIME PEOPLE. And putting the lid on it for a while. But you want dark, dark, dark. While the Carbonnade recipe I used said 15-20 minutes, I found 30-45 minutes much better.
After that, just wait while it simmers. You have to start early, but then you can let it hang out and cook. Which is another reason why the wine pairing helped – one glass to start the evening. The key to carbonnade’s rich, deep flavor is its slow simmer after caramelizing the onions. Served over egg noodles and with crusty bread to mop up the sauce, the sauce had a rich dark flavor.
Cold Weather, Carbonnade, and Wine Pairing
The pairing? A bold Washington Syrah. The dark fruit and smoky undertones of the Syrah played beautifully with the rich dish.
It was great comfort food that also works for a fancy dinner with friends. with friends. But it was the perfect wish-we-had-a-fireplace meal for this winter weather.
So, what’s your go-to gloomy weather food and wine pairing that restores your faith in sunny days coming soon?
Past Pairings
Pico de Gallo and Wine Pairing – Why Not?
Homemade Mac and Cheese with Washington Chardonnay
What Makes a Great Pizza? (plus pair it with rosé)
Relax with Simple Spaghetti and Washington Sangiovese
Comfort Food: Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup, and a Washington Syrah (but try the alternate version with jalapeno!)
Leftovers Supreme Crunch Wrap and a Washington Petit Verdot
Jambalaya and a Washington Cabernet Sauvignon
Cashew Chicken and a Washington Red Blend
Mushroom Puff Pastry Pizza and Washington Sauvignon Blanc
Cheese and Charcuterie Edition
ICYMI: More ABR Wine and Food Pairings
And don’t worry. We’re spending the rest of our time finalizing everything needed to actually bring you these small production Washington wines. Soon, you can try them along with us.