Bake potatoes in beer? You really should try it
We already knew that you can cook and bake perfectly well with and in beer. Sausage in beer, for example: a golden combination. And what about potatoes in beer? Just look at how that somewhat dull AVG meal suddenly gets a completely different image. A more exciting image, we would say.
These are exciting times for beer anyway. Last year, there was widespread panic when it turned out that beer could suddenly become unaffordable. And so beer and potatoes suddenly become a luxury meal.
Insanely delicious beer potatoes
Beer and potatoes. That combination really isn’t strange at all. Just think of all those times you drank beer and ate fries. And what about patatas bravas with a beer on the side? Super delicious, right? Cooking or baking potatoes in beer is therefore a great idea, if you ask me. The earthy flavor of the potatoes is brought out even more by the malt in the beer. An extra delicious dimension, one that might just make you start dancing on the table. Especially if you open another beer to go with it.
Braising and roasting
There are 2 ways to go about it. The easiest way is to braise potatoes in a mixture of beer and water. First fry your potatoes with some butter, oil and herbs to give them some flavor. Then add a can of beer and some water. The potatoes only need to be covered with a small layer of liquid. Let everything simmer until the potatoes are tender.
Another way is to roast the potatoes in beer. Parboil the potatoes first so that they become nice and crunchy while roasting. Pat them dry after parboiling and drizzle them with oil and herbs. Then put the potatoes in a deep roasting pan and ‘brush’ them with beer. They don’t need to be submerged in a beer bath; a small layer is sufficient. Then roast the potatoes in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes.
Beer on the side?
Of course, the question is: which beer? Do you need to get an über-fancy specialty beer, or will your old, trusted yellow supermarket-brand brew do just as well? It’s best to choose a light beer that isn’t too ‘hoppy’. Lager actually works really well. It isn’t too bitter, so it won’t overpower the flavor of your potatoes.
Extra tip: your beer potatoes pair fantastically with herbs such as parsley, garlic, rosemary, oregano, thyme, smoked paprika and Cajun seasoning. And the real golden tip is a crispy cheese crust. Just think of the combination of potatoes, beer and Parmesan… The next dinner party is at your place. Put the beer in the fridge now.
Also read:
- What’s the difference: lager is always beer, but beer isn’t always lager
- Buying specialty beer at the supermarket: what to look out for
- Recipe: crispy garlic potatoes with Parmesan cheese
Source: Tasting Table
