Scotch And Spice: 6 Indian Dishes That Pair With A Fine Dram
From a single malt whisky to a Scottish blended malt, Scotches are among some of the most exquisitely prepared spirits complete with smoky, peaty and slightly spicy notes. These robust notes which seem to embody Scotch whisky are in fact flavours that tend to complement the similarly spicy, earthy and rich flavours that Indian cuisine offers.
It comes as no surprise then that gastronomes and home hosts curating delicious repasts for their guests often combine Scotch whiskies with luxurious Indian spreads, featuring a flavour trajectory that blends the robust, deep notes of these spirits with the intricate and complex flavours of a rather rich cuisine. This pairing, when done right, can in fact raise the tone of a dinner gathering by several notches.
Read on below to know more about some of the Indian delicacies, both sweet and savoury, that tend to pair in a balanced fashion with a dram of premium Scotch whisky:
Tandoori Chicken
Pairs With: Islay Single Malt
Known for its smoky flavours, slightly charred quality and spicy profile, tandoori chicken carries an earthy finish and many complex flavours. It pairs wonderfully with the peaty and smoky notes of an Islay single malt, produced in one of the finest Scottish whisky-making regions. The smoky peat of the whisky matches the char of the tandoor in which the yogurt-marinated chicken is cooked, crafting a dense mix of robust flavours.
Rogan Josh
Pairs With: Highland Scotch
A Kashmiri curry famous for its use of aromatic spices and a hint of dried fruits and spicy masalas, rogan josh can be coupled with the complementary sweet-spicy notes of a Highland whisky. The thick gravy, complete with chunks of succulent, perfectly-cooked mutton is rich and exquisite and tends to go well with a whisky which echoes such depth. When matured in a sherry cask, Highland whisky carries slightly fruitier notes too that build right into the spicy and luxurious effect of the rogan josh.
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Chaat
Pairs With: Lowland Malt
One of the more interesting elements in Indian cuisine, chaat recipes, including aloo chat, dahi puri and papdi chaat can be rather quirky pairings with a lowland Scottish malt. Chaat is a tangy, sweet, spicy and crunchy mix of vibrant flavours which pair well with a light, clean whisky that carries subtle tasting notes, albeit with a rich finish. Combine crunchy, chewy chaat with a lowland malt whisky for a fresh, flavour-forward food and Scotch coupling.
Goan Fish Curry
Pairs With: Coastal Highland Malt
Complete with a briny edge, a smoky touch and a slight spice, a coastal Highland malt is the perfect pairing with a spicy Goan fish curry or prawn curry. The whisky manages to work well with the spice in the dish and the slightly sweet, salty flavours of the seafood. Spicy, tangy Goan fish curry and rice coupled with the peppery effect of a coastal Highland malt can be an excellent pairing at a dinner party.
Dark Chocolate Burfi
Pairs With: Spicy Highland Malt
Finishing off a meal with a luxurious dark chocolate burfi? Carry your whisky dram forward from the main course into your dessert course by serving a spicy Highland malt with this sweet treat. The rich flavours of the smoky malt tend to bring forth the chocolatey nuance of the dessert in a combination of rather luxurious flavours.
Moong Halwa
Pairs With: Sherried Scotch
Filled with the dense flavour of ghee and the slightly earthy depth of different spices that go into its making, a traditional moong halwa is the perfect pairing with the slightly sweet notes of a sherried Scotch. The slightly caramelised effect of the halwa perfectly blends into the toffee-like, dried fruit-ish notes of the sherried whisky, to produce a maturely sweet finish and a rich depth, befitting an exquisite dessert and whisky pairing.
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