Monday, October 2, 2023

Braising ABCs

 braising is a great way of cooking any kind of meat.It adds a tenderness to it along with giving it flavor.It;s also an easy cook perfect for  those novice chefs Even better is that any meat can be braised.

To start with you need a good braising pan.Who has a good braiser? le Creuset is the best. it has a spacious cooking surface, a large lid knob for easy grabbing and easy to grip handles. Any Le Creuset surace is perfect for cooking. It is expensive with the price varying from $380  on Amazon to $290 on Amazon. A nuch cheaper one is Crock Pot Artisan.It's almost the same as Le Creuset but has a smaller cooking surface. yet it's only $67 at Wayfair and $62 on Amazon. You can also score a $50 one at Target too. Keep in mind that the cheaper ines have trouble with the enamel eroding. Braisers can be used for other types of cooking too.it's greati for browning chicken wings and thighs as well as such roasts as London Broil.The pans are not delicate. You can easily put one in your dishwasher witout any worry of scratches ro nicks.

What meats are perfect for braising? Beef short ribs and chuck work. As for pork think the shoulder also known as  Boston Butt. You could also braise lamb shoulders or shanks as well as chicken thighs or legs. You should season your meat first, usually just sea salt and freshly ground pepper will do. You could add some herbs such as thyme or oregano  along with either onion or garlic powder for flavor. Add oil to your braiser. Both Italian and Greek olive oil work the best. These are the most flavorful and will enhance the meat's taste. You can add veggies  such as carrots and peas. Braising requires some kind of liquid in the second part in the cooking.Red wine works rhe best with braising. Stock is also necessary. Beef or chicken works the best. Use beef broth for both the lamb and the pork too. The lid is then put on the the meat and veggies are cooked for a good hour to an hour and a half.

Braising is an easy way to have a delicious hot meal. All it takes it  a good braiser and a great cut of meat. Put them together for a tasty dinner.