What’s for Dinner Wednesday

What pairs with spicy food?

The obvious, classic pairing with spicy is sweet wines to offset the heat, and it does work. a Doktor Heyden Riesling Spatlese 'Oppenheimer Sacktrager' (2019) or Eroica Riesling 2022 are great, easy choices. Even a chilled bottle of Valckenberg Dornfelder (2020) - a German red wine - is great and easy.

I like to dig a little deeper. Spicy food hates tannin and alcohol (makes the burn worse all around) and loves sweeter (or sweeter fruit notes) and acid and even bubbles. I like to try Reisling, Gewurztraminer, off-dry sparkling, or youthful, fruit forward reds like Beaujolais, Valpolicella or Dolcetto.

How to make easy Thai Green Curry

Many years ago, when I first visited Oceanic Market in Tampa, I became fascinated by these hockey-puck sized cans of curry pastes. They have probably 20 different types and flavors. My favorite brand is Maesri and I always have a couple of cans in my pantry. They are amazing. Make a trip to Oceanic for all these ingredients, it is worth it.

As a base, start with this Thai Green Curry recipe from blogger Nagi. She agrees with me on my choice of canned curry pastes, but she also shares a recipe if you want to make your own. Swap the chicken for the protein of your choice - I am actually subbing in fish for my version - probably pollack, but I will see what the market has.

Dial Down the Heat

My need for heat changes day to day. Where she starts by frying off 4-6 tablespoons of curry paste, I start with 4, sauté it, and pull half of it out immediately - cooking the recipe with maybe half the curry paste and then adding back in more as I get things combined and can taste and test the heat. I don’t think any of these wines are going keep up with “Thai Hot”, but I will let you trust your taste buds.

Wines

I think the real reason I am hankering curry is to have a bottle of this Domäne Wachau Federspiel Terrassen Riesling 2018. This is the wine in the shop I am most excited about this week. We rarely get an opportunity to get high-quality Austrian Reisling at a good price. Years ago, Reisling from Austria was what all the somms were secretly drinking in the back, and I admit I am still an uber-fan.

Maybe throw in some bubbles.  Mondoro Sparkling Asti Spumante is off-dry, made with Muscat Blanc, and hits like orange zest. For the folks that must have red, try Nicolis Valpolicella Classico 2019 or Albert Bichot Chateau de Varennes Beaujolais-Villages 2021.

Lots of choices, but my line up is Mondoro Sparkling, Wachau Riesling, and Nicolis Valpolicella. Yum.

Get 15% Off

Spend more than $75 on any assortment of these bottles online and use code DINNER in check out and get 15% off.  You can order now for in-store pickup and pick up any time - don’t miss the deal! Or stop by the store and buy any 3 bottles of these wines and get 15% off.  Deal good until Saturday Mar 16.