FOOD NEWS
The Unexpected Alcohol You Need To Try Braising Chicken In
By Haldan Kirsch
There are plenty of recipes that call for alcohol, including the chicken dish coq au vin, made popular by Julia Child. This classic French dish is made by braising chicken in wine, but another alcohol that can easily substitute in dishes like coq au vin is vermouth.
Vermouth is simply a wine that's been fortified with a neutral spirit, and infused with a variety of herbs, botanicals, and aromatics. It can be substituted in equal parts for any recipe that would call for wine, and in the case of coq au vin, flavorful vermouth adds a herbaceous quality to the dish.
Floral and citrusy vermouths make the best flavor complement to the chicken, but be aware that vermouths with bittering agents like quinine and wormwood can overwhelm slow-braising chicken dishes. Also, just because your vermouth is bringing some of the herbal and earthy notes in a dish doesn't mean it can’t pair with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.