Order your next bottle of Scout & Cellar wine TODAY!
If you’re familiar with the complexity of Indian food then you know that it can be a challenge to pair it with wine. The fact is, many of these Indian dishes have intricate flavor profiles and unique textures that demand precise pairing.
Luckily, there are certain varieties of wine out there perfectly suited for an unforgettable experience when dining on classic Indian cuisine. In this post, we’ll discuss everything from helpful tricks to overall guidelines so that you can select the perfect bottle for your next curry meal!
Tips on How to Pair Wine and Many Indian Dishes
Indian cuisine is characterized by its vibrant flavors, fragrant spices, and unique dishes. To enhance the flavor of these delicious dishes, you need to choose the perfect wine pairing. It can be a daunting task when faced with such an array of options, so here are some tips on how to pair wine and Indian food.
Choose a Wine That Compliments Your Dish
When selecting a wine for your Indian dish, make sure it complements the flavors of the meal rather than competing with them. For example, if you are serving a spicy curry dish with lots of bold flavors, opt for a crisp white like Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling that will help balance out the heat.
On the other hand, if you are serving a milder dish such as tikka masala or korma, then choose a full-bodied red like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot that will bring out the richness of the flavors.
Match Acidity Levels
Acidity is key when it comes to pairing food with wine. You want to avoid having either one overpowering the other in terms of flavor or texture. If your dish is highly acidic (such as lemon rice) then opt for an acidic wine such as Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay that will help balance out the flavors without being too overwhelming.
Conversely, if your dish is low in acidity (like dal), then go for a less acidic red like Shiraz or Malbec that won’t clash with the subtler flavors in your meal.
Sweet vs Dry Wines
The sugar content in wines can either enhance or detract from your meal depending on what type of wine you’re drinking and what type of food you’re eating. For example, sweeter wines such as Moscato work well with creamier dishes such as saag paneer while drier wines like Cabernet Sauvignon go better with spicier dishes like vindaloo curry.
When it comes to sweet vs dry wines, just remember this rule: sweet pairs with sweet and dry pairs with spice!
Korma Curry Sauce With White And Sparkling Wines
If you’re looking for the best wine to serve with Indian food, your search is over. The perfect pairing for korma curry is a full-bodied white wine (like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc) or a light red (like Pinot Noir).
Both these wines offer the right balance of sweetness and acidity to complement this mild, creamy dish. Let’s take a closer look at why these wines pair so well with korma curry.
What Is Korma Curry?
Korma curry is a popular Indian dish made from cashew nuts, yogurt, cream, and spices. It has a unique flavor that combines nutty sweetness with mild heat. The texture is creamy, smooth, and slightly thick sometimes considered a curry paste. It also tends to be less spicy than some other curries, making it great for those who don’t like too much heat in their food.
Why Do These Wine Pairings Work Well With Korma Curry?
The key to finding the perfect wine to pair with korma curry is to find one that can match its subtle yet complex flavors without overwhelming them. White wines like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc are ideal because they have enough acidity to cut through the richness of the dish while still being light enough not to overpower it.
Light red wines like Pinot Noir are also great choices because they have just the right amount of tannins and fruitiness that complements the flavors of korma curry without being too heavy on the palate.
Tikka Masala and Riesling
Indian cuisine is often thought of as an exotic, spicy affair. But if you’re looking for the perfect wine to pair with your favorite Indian dishes, there’s no need to go out on a limb. In fact, one of the best wines to pair with Indian food is actually quite familiar: Riesling!
Let’s explore why this wine can be such a great complement to Indian cuisines such as tandoori chicken, Thai green curry, and chicken tikka masala.
The Spice Factor
Indian food is renowned for its use of spices, from milder flavors like cumin, turmeric, and coriander to more intense ingredients like red pepper and chili powder used to create a very spicy food. While some may shy away from pairing white wine with Indian food, Rieslings can actually stand up surprisingly well against these bold flavors.
This is due in part to their high acidity levels that help cut through the spiciness and bring balance back into the dish. The sweetness of the Riesling serves as an ideal contrast to the heat of the spices while still allowing it to be appreciated on its own merits.
The Right Balance
When pairing wine with any type of cuisine, it’s important that you find the right balance between both elements so they don’t overpower each other – or worse yet, clash completely. For instance, a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon would likely overwhelm most dishes served at an Indian restaurant; its boldness could easily drown out all other flavors on your plate.
A Riesling offers just enough body without taking over your meal or making it too acidic. It also has enough sweetness to work synergistically with many of the sweeter ingredients used in Indian cooking such as coconut milk or cardamom.
Flavors Galore
Rieslings offer a wide array of flavor profiles ranging from dry and mineral-driven styles from Germany and Austria to sweeter versions from Alsace in France and Washington State in America.
Each style brings something unique to your palate when paired with an Indian dish – dry expressions are great for pairing with richer meats like tikka masala while off-dry styles tend to work best with vegetarian dishes featuring complex spices such as curries and dal makhani.
Final Thoughts About Indian Food Wine Pairing
If you’re familiar with the complexity of Indian food then you know that it can be a challenge to pair it with wine. The fact is, many of these Indian dishes have intricate flavor profiles and unique textures that demand precise pairing.
Luckily, there are certain varieties of wine out there perfectly suited for an unforgettable experience when dining on classic Indian cuisine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is butter chicken?
A: Butter chicken is a widely popular, delicious dish found in Indian cuisine. It originated in the northern Indian state of Punjab and has since become popular all over the world.
The traditional version of butter chicken is prepared with boneless marinated chicken cooked in a creamy tomato sauce that is rich and savory, thanks to additions like cream, spices, and clarified butter (called ghee). This combination creates an incredibly flavorful dish that pairs perfectly with naan bread, basmati rice, or any other type of flatbread.
