Ghee Roast Meets Cocktails: Here Are Top 5 Drinks To Serve With This Classic
Smoky, spicy and unapologetically rich in its flavour composition, the ghee roast is perhaps one of the finest recipes to emerge from the southern Indian provinces abutting Mangalorean coasts. This recipe – known for its spicy masala that is literally coated in quite the sumptuous amount of ghee – has now proliferated across different culinary cultures in southern India. In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, ghee roast is prepared with a lot of love that is apparent in the generous amounts of clarified butter which are used to roast meats and vegetables marinated in robust, aromatic masalas made using a whole host of spices.
Now, the ghee roast has become a delicacy across culinary spaces which try to emulate (even as they fall short many times over!) the original recipe. And such ghee roast is almost always had by itself or sometimes served with a side of appam or lachha paratha.
At a dinner party or cocktail evening, it can also serve as the first course which is accompanied by a cocktail or two that manages to compliment the earthy and luxurious flavours of this preparation. Read on below to know more about some of the cocktails that can be paired with different kinds of ghee roasts prepared for such home hosting endeavours:
Tamarind Whisky Sour
Recommended Pairing: Chicken Ghee Roast
A cocktail which is full of a sweet undertone and a startlingly tangy quality, the tamarind whisky sour first appears to be a relatively simple mix only to later reveal its complex flavour profiles. Pair this desi twist on the classic cocktail made using 30 ml Johnnie Walker Black Label or any other premium whisky of choice with a chicken ghee roast made in the classic Mangalorean style filled with a peppery spice. The tanginess of the cocktail undercuts some of the spiciness in the chicken so you can taste the recipe without breaking a sweat!
Curry Leaf Gin And Tonic
Recommended Pairing: Coastal Prawn Ghee Roast
In a classic fusion of desi flavours and western-inspired mixology, curry leaf gin and tonic brings together this popular, aromatic herb with 30 ml Tanqueray No. 10 Gin or any other premium gin of choice and about 60 ml Gordon’s tonic water. This flavour mix creates an herbaceous, curry-like effect reminiscent of southern Indian coastal culinary flavours which unscrupulously pair with a ghee roast made using prawns.
Also Read: 6 Easy Drinks That Pair Well With A Roast Turkey Dinner
Smoked Jaggery-Infused Old Fashioned
Recommended Pairing: Mutton Ghee Roast
Jaggery builds a syrupy, sweet quality into any drink in which it is incorporated. Smoked jaggery infused old fashioned prepared using 30 ml Johnnie Walker Gold Label or any other premium whisky of choice introduces an earthy depth which echoes similar flavours of a classic mutton ghee roast. Filled with succulent pieces of perfectly cooked mutton coated in robust masalas, this dish is a culinary wonder waiting to take your home hosting game to the next level.
Dirty Martini Cocktail With Pickled Pepper Brine
Recommended Pairing: Mushroom Ghee Roast
Ever tried making a dirty martini cocktail using pickled pepper brine? You’ll be in for a real treat because the peppery, spicy and tangy notes of this blend tend to turn the drink prepared using 30 ml Tanqueray No. 10 Gin or any other premium gin of choice into a thoroughly flavourful experience. Such a drink can be paired with the similarly peppery and slightly deep notes of the mushroom ghee roast known for its rich and thick masala.
Coconut And Kaffir Lime Daiquiri
Recommended Pairing: Paneer Ghee Roast
What coconut and kaffir lime daiquiri – prepared using 30 ml Captain Morgan Dark Rum or any other premium rum of choice – brings to a culinary and mixology pairing is a creamy flair and an aromatic nuance which comes from a mix of these coastal flavours. For vegetarians, this daiquiri variation when paired with a paneer ghee roast, becomes a totally fresh and creamy drink which mimics the ghee’s richness even as it undercuts the masala’s spicy effect.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
