Replacement for wine...
Assalamualaikum and Salam Sejahtera to all…
Cooking with alcohol, well as a Muslim, I am well aware of
limit in my food that I eat everyday or cooking, though there is always
temptation of wanting to try anything that is widely available in the market
and yet I still have to limit myself to do so. As my understanding, there is
always alternative/replacement ingredients, one close example is: Carbonara is never a
‘halal’ food and as replacement for bacon, we use smoked beef strip (which
taste almost the same I think).
This post topic is all about replacement for wine, more
specific is red wine. I dare to say that
about 40 to 60% blogs that I’ve been thru are talking about alcohol in their
food and for some, about 60-80% were highlighted. So, that makes me think
that for a Muslims, those who read blogs are not interested to read any post that
featured to non-halal food around (as for me those articles with pork featured
post, I’ll straight away skip them) but with wine or anything alcoholic in the
food, its still be considered just to add for knowledge.
There were period of time for me, where food is all about
taste, satisfaction for your appetite and whatever you eat/taste, regardless
religion, you will have to try to eat them especially foods that looks really
good, oh! so good!. I know that, it is wrong but for me, you live only once and if you never
try it you will never get the chance and I am glad that those periods has over
except under some circumstances, I think.
Red wine is used as marinations, flavoring and finishing. As
a replacement, I use red/white wine vinegar (you’ll have to be careful for
their amount cause of sour taste), sparkling grape juice and stewed grape
(usually home made). These are most available product in our limited market
here in Brunei
Maison Rose – Sparkling Grape Drink, this drink
has sweet taste and far from wine taste, so, I wouldn’t recommend to be used as
marinations.
As for marinations for meat or seafood, I would recommend
red/white wine vinegar (I don’t have pics for this, sorry)
Spaghetti Alla Mediterranean prepared by Chef Jimmy using
Rose – an improved version of his signature spaghetti
And here is his recipe…
1 tsp garlic (sliced)
1 tsp onion (diced)
3 nos asparagus (sliced)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Black olive (crushed)
Diced tomato
Dried tomato (diced)
Spinach
Chili (sliced)
¼ cup rose
100 gm cooked spaghetti
Salt and pepper
Method:
Heat up a pan, add in evoo, saute onion and garlic to fragrance. Add in chili, asparagus, dried tomato, stir and cook to a bit brown color. Put in rose and reduced, simmer for about 5 minute, add in tomato and black olive, cook for about 2 minute. Add in Spaghetti, spinach and seasoning. Serve hot.
Spaghetti Alla Mediterenean - I am not a Veggie dish fan but this one gets your appetite to top... and I think it would taste better if using wine... let me know...
Rose as a side drink, great combination right? - just like having your dish with wine...
Spaghetti with chicken in cream sauce with touch of Saffron and Rose - another dish that was prepared by Chef Jimmy
I have to highlight here that I still doubt non-halal-ness
of wine in cooking (can anyone give me a good answer to this) that alcohol
evaporated during cooking process, so, there is no more alcohol. My big question is, no more alcohol in that
so cooked food, is it still consider non-halal?...
Regards, Chef Nash
