Hibiscus And Grilled Meats: 5 Ways To Balance Tart And Savoury Flavours At Cocktail Parties
One of the activities most looked forward to during vacation season is a summer barbecue. Meats, veggies, corn and even certain fruits are charred on an open flame or on the grill and barbecued so they achieve smoky flavours and earthy, umami notes. Barbecued meats are also paired with a number of different cocktails which either compliment their smoky notes or contrast the meat’s charred texture with their own sweet and crisp qualities.
Floral ingredients make a prominent appearance in these summertime drinks because they undercut some of the deeper notes of the barbecue, leading to a fine flavour break. And while planning a cocktail party, one of the floral elements often incorporated into drinks is hibiscus. Complete with slightly tart notes and a light acidity, hibiscus is an interesting addition to cocktails with sweet and sour profiles. These flavours of the hibiscus also go well with the notes of grilled meats when added to drinks in a tasteful manner.
Read on to know more about some of the ways in which the tart notes of hibiscus and the smoky and savoury flavours of grilled meats can be balanced at cocktail parties:
Add Sweetness To Hibiscus Infusions
A straightforward way to introduce balance into hibiscus cocktails and grilled meats is by adding sweet flavours to floral infusions. Many times, hibiscus is introduced in drinks in the form of an infused syrup or is added to various fruit purees. When hibiscus is thus incorporated into drink elements, also add sweeteners like honey, simple syrup or agave as their sweet notes undercut some of the overly tart flavours of the flower. Once these tasting notes are balanced, it also becomes simpler to pair the floral effect of hibiscus infused drinks with smoky charred meats for an interesting flavour contrast.
Use Savoury Herbs And Spices As A Flavour Bridge
One of the ways to tie the flavours of hibiscus with those of grilled meats is by using savoury ingredients and herbs. This could mean introducing earthy anchors like thyme and sage or even just a hint of dried chillies in drinks to echo the spiciness of the grilled meats. It is possible to transpose this onto sauces like the chimichurri as well, that can be infused with hibiscus along with parsley, garlic, red pepper and vinegar. Savoury herbs and spices become a flavour bridge which creates a pathway for the floral notes of hibiscus to meet with the spicy profile of barbecued meats.
Baste Meats With Butter
Another way to create this flavour balance between tart and savoury notes is to baste meats with butter. One can use tahini or a yogurt drizzle to create a creamy and salty layer over the barbecued meats. This will compliment the tartness in a hibiscus dressing or a hibiscus infused cocktail to achieve a balance of light acidic flavours with the earthy notes of cooked meats that acquire a soft exterior because of the butter or yogurt drizzle.
Use Hibiscus In Marinade Or Glaze
Crafting a hibiscus marinade or glaze involves combining a hibiscus tea concentrate with citrus juices, garlic and honey, all of which is reduced until it becomes a sticky glaze drizzled over cooked and grilled meats. Using hibiscus infusions as barbecue garnishes tones down some of the flower’s overpowering acidity and tartness, to leave behind a deep and pleasant floral note that blends into the flavours of the charred meats.
Complimentary Cocktail Pairings
Finally, while hosting a cocktail party complete with hibiscus infusions in cocktails and culinary preparations, one of the finest ways to balance the flavours of grilled meats and floral ingredients is to come up with cocktail pairings that complement the barbecue. Pair grilled meats with drinks like a hibiscus martini cocktail or a hibiscus mule that contain subtle floral flavours that tone down the earthy and potent flavours of grilled meats.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
