How to Cook With Port Wine

Cooking with port wine will intensify the flavor of most andy dish, and will release a wonderfully pungent aroma. Port wine should never mask the flavor of the food, but should enhance it. Cooking with port wine isn't difficult, and only requires a willingness to experiment. Chances are, you will be pleased with the result. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

1. Purchase a good quality port wine. An expensive wine isn't necessary, but a cheap wine won't bring out the flavors in your recipe. Save an expensive port wine to serve on its own.

2. Use non-reactive cookware when cooking with wine, and avoid aluminum and cast iron, which can cause a metallic taste. Enamel or glass cookware is a good option.

3. Allow the port wine to cook off if you are using it in a sauce recipe. Otherwise, it may leave a bitter, alcohol-tinged flavor to the sauce. Add the wine, cover the saucepan, and simmer the sauce until it reduced by half. The alcohol will cook away, leaving the concentrated flavor behind.

4. Limit the use of port wine to one dish per meal, as the flavors can become monotonous. If it won't enhance the flavor of the dish, leave it out.

Tips & Warnings

• Go easy when adding port wine to your recipes, if you are a novice at cooking with wine, but don't be afraid to experiment and have fun. In time, you will learn how port wine interacts with your recipes. Try just a splash of wine in your favorite spaghetti sauce or meat recipe. Port is rich and sweet, making it especially delicious in meat-based dishes

• Cook with a port wine that's flavor you enjoy. If you don't like the port wine, you won't like the flavor in your dish.