Coffee is one of the most beloved beverages in the world. It can help perk you up in the mornings and keep you energised throughout the day so you can get everything you need done. But it can also be a comforting drink to have in your hand while catching up on conversations with a friend, or snuggling into a comfy chair with a good book, or simply enjoying a quiet moment at the end of the day.
Indeed, you can enjoy premium coffee in Dubai in a variety of forms — from strong, piping hot brews to icy drinks with all sorts of syrups, toppings and garnishes added on. It’s also common to recognise that delicious coffee flavour in a wide range of desserts, from cakes to cookies, ice cream and candy.
However, when was the last time you tasted coffee in a savoury dish, rather than in your cup? Would you find it out of place? Are you open to enjoying your beloved beverage in a whole new way?
From Cup to Plate
While the deep, fruity or chocolatey flavors of coffee have been extensively highlighted in all kinds of drinks and desserts, there’s certainly no reason to limit the use of coffee t these preparations alone.
If you ask professional chefs, there’s always an opportunity to cook with coffee and infuse dishes with that unmistakable flavour profile, for a unique twist (much like wine, rum and beer are used in cooking).
Here are five examples of how chefs and foodies (and even you!) can use coffee to whip up exciting new savoury dishes.
1. As a new ingredient in a spice rub or marinade for meats
This is perhaps the most familiar way of using coffee for cooking for many people. Herbs and spices are packed with flavour and are the go-to ingredients for dry rubs for seasoning steaks, ribs and burgers, but adding coffee gives an extra layer of earthiness giving the dish a whole new twist.
Imagine beef ribs with black pepper, cocoa and coffee for a dry rub, accompanied by a tomato-based barbecue sauce with chillies. The sticky, smoky combination is sure to be lip-smacking good.
Here’s a fun fact: You can use coffee beyond red meat as well.
Try mixing coffee into a spice mix for roasted prawns and throw those into tacos. This is sure to infuse a robust flavour that won’t take away from the subtle sweetness of the shellfish.
In addition, take a novel approach to preparing chicken by using coffee in an overnight salt brine for chicken drumsticks or wings. You can bake the chicken the following day with your preferred spice mixture, plus a syrupy glaze for some sticky-sweet goodness.
2. As a way to preserve moisture in proteins
With fish, a salt crust is an easy way to pack flavour into the delicate meat while also ensuring that it keeps all the moisture inside. Adding coffee to the crust is an interesting way to add an aromatic, smoky profile to the fish, especially when the crust becomes caramelised while cooking. Also, it can be used on any fish, such as salmon and sea bass.
3. As a component for highlighting the flavour of other ingredients
We all love roasted root vegetables in refreshing salads. Why not use coffee to further bring out the natural sweetness of roasting vegetables like beets, carrots, turnips or swedes?
The bitterness in coffee can work almost like an acid to highlight the natural sweetness of the root vegetables, while also providing a pleasant flavour contrast with each bite.
In addition, it’s a great idea to use coffee for boosting the deep flavour of an already savoury ingredient: mushrooms. Coffee can add more depth to the naturally woodsy tones of mushrooms.
4. As a mysterious (but yummy) addition to rich stews
We all have that favourite hearty dish that combines so many good things in every spoonful. Take chilli, for example. This rich and thick concoction uses a lot of spices for that bold, meaty goodness.
Go ahead and add some of your favourite brew to the pot. Much like other ingredients that help to deepen the savoury notes of thick soups and stews – such as soy sauce, dark chocolate, or anchovies – good quality coffee can create that depth of flavour you’re looking for.
Adding to turkey or chicken is another kind of dish where coffee can do its thing and heighten richness and taste. Chocolate and coffee — it can’t go wrong, right?
5. As a welcome enhancement to sauces, dressings and dips
Finally, coffee can add a special touch to a variety of flavourful sauces.
For example, it may not have crossed your mind to alter the traditional creamy and acidic flavour of the Greek yoghurt-based dip called labneh in Mediterranean cuisine by adding coffee. However, you’ll be happy to know that labneh gets an added bitter, almost chocolatey layer that goes well with typical labneh pairings.
A coffee vinaigrette can change the way you look at salad
Rather than using vinegar as the only acidic component of your dressing, use some leftover coffee to replace some of the acid. This coffee dressing nicely rounds out the flavours and textures of, for example, a spinach salad with some walnuts, pears and goat cheese.
Need some more ideas?
Create a whole new version of eggs benedict by adding coffee to the hollandaise sauce. If you’ve used coffee as a spice rub for meat, take the drippings from that roasted meat to make some delicious red-eye gravy that is an excellent match for chicken or turkey cutlets.
A Different Take on a Beloved Classic
Sitting down and breathing in the heady aroma of a cup of beautifully brewed speciality coffee from the finest beans sourced around the world is one of the most enjoyable experiences ever.
Now, you can take it a step further by incorporating this heavenly beverage into your favourite savoury dishes for a delicious twist that you won’t soon forget.
