COOKING WITH RUM
Cooking with rum…
Cooking with rum is flavoursome. It gives rich and delicate flavours of molasses, caramel, and spices. So, it gives a new dimension to your cooking as it gives to desserts and cocktails. Thus far, it is perfect with pork dishes, delicate seafood, and spicy dishes. It tastes great in masala chai too. Cooking vindaloo dishes with rum is out of this world. Perhaps because rums work well with vinegar and spices in the recipes; especially aged rums.
Rum origins
Rum is a distilled alcoholic drink mostly produced from sugar by-products, molasses. Honey and juices make flavourful rum too. The belief is that rum originates from West Indies. Apparently, slaves discovered molasses fermenting into alcohol. In fact, it is believed rum was the first branded spirit ever produced. Hence, it is known as the spirit that pirates drank in the Caribbean.
It was common to provide rations of rum to Royal Navy along with lime juice. Rum and lime juice as remedies for the scurvy epidemic. Rum flavours may be sweet or dry. It depends on the ageing process, type of sugarcane, and the type of barrels in use to produce rum. Thus far, dark rum provides a more robust flavour to your favourite dishes. For a more subtle taste, use light rum.
Rum choices
Choosing the right rum is important. So, pick the right type of rum for appropriate dishes. Mature, aged, and dark rums are perfect for cooking dishes with strong flavours. For example, to cook goat, beef, and pork dishes. Hence, light or white rums are good to use to cook seafood and poultry. One of the simplest ways to blend rum into your recipe is using it to deglaze the cooking pan. Especially after sautéing meat or fish.
Thus far, you may achieve a stronger or later flavour after evaporating the alcohol. Flavours depend on the rum too. However, you may not burn off all or for that matter any of the alcohol. You may use rum to sauté food with short cooking times too. Hence, it gives a delightfully different and unique aroma. Thus far, you may use rum in a cold sauce and dressing too. However, start with a few drops until you achieve the flavour you like.
Rum marinades
The unique effects of an aged rum make a robust paste. It is perfect to marinate pork or chicken. You may use it as a rum spice rub too. Hence, it helps to bring out some of the notes ingrained in the rum. So, brown sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest are good combinations. Other spices such as cumin, coriander, and chilli work well too.
Another creative way to use rum is rubbing cured ham with a mixture of molasses, ginger, and rum before smoking. So far, rum has so much flavour that may suit your recipes. Aged rum consists of caramel notes whereas white rum gives a subtle alcohol bite. Thus far, spiced rum is great for cakes and desserts. Rum mostly melds with natural juices of the meat to create incredible flavour.
Delicate rum toddy
Hot toddy has been a natural remedy for common colds, aches, and pains for centuries. It is a drink mixture of spirits, hot water, sugar, and spices. You may use rum, bourbon, or whiskey. Furthermore, you may incorporate a mix of tea, honey, and citrus too. It is brilliant in soothing a cold. You may craft many variations. For example, tea infusion with spices. Today, chai or Indian spiced tea may be made with a mix of spices. It complements the tea flavours. Thus far, with overproof rum, the spiced toddy may provide the warmth and cure you simultaneously.
