12 Tasty Beer Recipes to Make this Weekend
Chefs and home cooks are increasingly using their favourite brew as an ingredient in their cooking and are creating seriously tasty beer recipes. The great thing about cooking with beer is that, unlike wine, when cooked, beer retains a lot of its flavour. It’s great as a liquid to use for braising tough cuts of meat, or, if you’re looking for a flavour injection, beer makes a great marinade. Let’s not forget using it to create a great airy batter (we’re looking at you beer battered onion rings).
For a long time though, beer was considered as the unclassy counterpart to wine, perceived to be consumed by cavemen with beer bellies and exclusively paired with biltong or peanuts at braais and dodgy pubs. However, with the rise of the craft beer movement, there’s been an elevation of the status of beer and the people who drink it. It’s no longer reserved exclusively for one gender (hooray!) it’s enjoyed by everyone – beer is finally getting the respect it deserves.
When it comes to cooking with beer the possibilities are endless, to get the best out of your beer and try these beer recipes. Bottoms up!
Our Favourite Beer Recipes
Beer Recipe 1: Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Ale Beer Bread
This is our go-to beer bread that never fails to impress. The pumpkin ale is what makes it so special and it’s brewed with an interesting mix of pumpkin, butternut, cinnamon, coriander and nutmeg. It’s great as a side at any braai or on its own with thick slabs of butter.
Beer Recipe 2: Bacon & Beer Jam
This jam pairs perfectly with the pumpkin ale bread. Top with mature cheddar cheese, rocket leaves and a squeeze of lemon for ultimate caveman heaven.
Beer Recipe 3: Amber Ale Sticky Lamb Shanks
In this dish, the basting sauce for the shanks is made with Jack Black Lumberjack Amber Ale. It’s a roasted malt amber ale with a rich red colour, and is perfect for washing down roasted and caramelised meat.
Beer Recipe 4: Schweinshaxe With Beer Gravy
A delicious German classic, the haxe is steeped with yummy flavour from the beer. Serve with our bacon sauerkraut to cut through all the richness.
Beer Recipe 6: Beef & Mushroom Stout Stew With Colcannon
This dish will have your mouth exploding with umami goodness from the star ingredients bacon, mushroom and anchovies.
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Beer Recipe 6: Spanish Spiced & Beer Marinated Prawns with Chorizo
Beer and seafood, trust us this recipe is a real zinger!
Beer Recipe 7: Asian Beer Braised Pork Tacos
Golden ales, with their fresh fruity flavours and subtle hop kick, are best mates with the complex sweet, sour and savoury flavours of the East. This beer-braised pork is fall-apart tender and with some coconut-wasabi cream, it’s the perfect topping for a fusion taco fiesta.
Beer Recipe 8: T-Bone Steak with Indian Pale Ale Onion Rings
IPA is one of our favourite styles of beer – it’s floral, fruity and seriously hoppy. It’s got enough bite to stand up to the heaviest of foods and it makes the perfect coating for crunchy onion rings.
Beer Recipe 9: Sriracha Amber Ale Hot Wings with Blue Cheese Dip
Hot wings are always a crowd pleaser and this easy oven-baked version ensures a crispy skin and succulent centre. Our sauce is made with amber ale which has enough body to stand up to the heat of the Sriracha.
Beer Recipe 10: Beer & Cheese Fondue
This retro-style dish gets a contemporary makeover with the addition of beer.
Beer Recipe: 11 Guinness & Peanut Butter Ice Cream Float
Ice cream floats that’ll take you back to your childhood, but remind you why it is great being an adult.
Beer Recipe 12: Guinness Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Icing
There is something quite special about the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, they are just meant to be together.
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Love these tasty beer recipes and want to know more? Check out our Crafted Channel of beer content.
Look out for Beer Country, a TV show all about beer, braai and the open road. Coming to your screens in December 2017.
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