What is braising?
Braising is a cooking method in which food is first browned in fat, and then cooked slowly in a covered pot with a small amount of liquid. The food is typically cooked at a low temperature, for a long period of time, which allows it to become very tender and infused with the flavors of the liquid and seasonings used. This technique is often used for tougher cuts of meat, such as beef chuck or pork shoulder, as well as for vegetables.
What foods can be cooked by braising?
Braising is a cooking method that involves browning food in fat, then cooking it in a covered pot with a small amount of liquid at low heat for an extended period of time. Foods that are often braised include meat (such as beef, pork, and lamb), poultry, fish, and vegetables. Some examples of dishes that are commonly made using the braising method are pot roast, coq au vin, and braised leeks.
What are some foods that can be braised?
Some common foods that can be braised include:
- Meat: Beef (such as chuck roast or short ribs), pork (such as shoulder or belly), lamb (such as shoulder or shank), and veal (such as shoulder or breast) are all great choices for braising.
- Poultry: Chicken (such as whole birds or thighs), duck, and goose are all good options for braising.
- Fish: Fish such as salmon, halibut, or cod can be braised.
- Vegetables: Hearty vegetables such as carrots, turnips, celery, and mushrooms can be braised.
- Some other types of food: Eggs, legumes, or fruits like pears can also be braised.
- Offal: Organ meats such as pork belly, beef tongue and chicken feet.
Braising is also a technique that can be applied to many other food items and with some variation to the ingredients, flavors, and liquid used on the braising can give a different outcome, even more, depending on the cut of meat or vegetable used.
What are some good braised dishes?
There are many delicious braised dishes from around the world. Here are a few examples of classic braised dishes that are enjoyed by many people:
- Pot Roast: This dish is made by braising beef in liquid, typically with vegetables such as carrots, onions, and celery.
- Coq au Vin: A traditional French dish made by braising chicken in red wine, bacon, and mushrooms.
- Osso Buco: A traditional Italian dish made by braising veal shanks in a flavorful broth with vegetables and herbs.
- Beef Short Ribs: These tender cuts of beef are often braised in a flavorful liquid such as red wine or beef broth, along with vegetables and herbs.
- Pork Shoulder: Braised pork shoulder can be served in tacos, sandwiches, or with a side of vegetables for a comforting and hearty meal.
- Lamb shank: a classic dish often served in Mediterranean or middle eastern cuisine, braised with a variety of aromatic spices and herbs such as cinnamon, coriander, cumin and more.
- Chicken Tagine: A Moroccan dish made by braising chicken with dried fruit, olives, and spices.
- Carrots, Leeks and Cabbage: These vegetables are great options to be braised with butter and herbs, they can make a delicious side dish.
These are just a few examples, and there are many other delicious braised dishes out there to explore, depending on your taste and where you are.
Selected Recipes
- The potatoes in this Braised Pork Shoulder with Parmesan Gnocchi, Roasted Mushrooms, and Arugula are hiding in the gnocchi.
- Either of these dishes could be a meal, but they'll also work well together if you can keep yourself from overeating: Roasted Salmon with Parsnips and Ginger and Creamy Wild Mushroom Pasta.
- I’m going to cheat a bit and call it good with this Dill & Garlic Butter Pork Cutlets with Warm Red Cabbage, Almond & Feta Salad. The recipe doesn’t call for pasta, but if you really wanted some you could toss some in with that warm red cabbage and call it a pasta salad. But it looks pretty filling already as it is!
- Here’s an interesting Small Batch Dill Pesto. That leaves us with pork and cabbage, and that’s easy if you go with something like this Pork and Cabbage Skillet.
- Braise Tempeh, Rice, Oregano, Mushroom, and Artichoke
- Braise Seafood, Other Grain, Parsley, Garlic, and Peas
- Braise Beef, Other Grain, Cilantro, Bacon, and Radish
- Braise Cheese, Rice, Parsley, Mushroom, and Peas
- Braise Beans, Pasta, Basil, Onion, and Carrot
- Braise Pork, Rice, Cilantro, Garlic, and Fennel
- Braise Eggs, Pasta, Dill, Onion, and Peas
- Braise Lamb, Polenta, Rosemary, Nuts, and Fennel
- Braise Beef, Pasta, Parsley, Lemon, and Fennel
- Braise Chicken, Quinoa, Rosemary, Mushroom, and Spinach
- Braise Pork, Potato, Oregano, Mushroom, and Cabbage
- Braise Eggs, Other Grain, Parsley, Nuts, and Artichoke
- Braise Lamb, Polenta, Parsley, Onion, and Carrot
- Braise Seafood, Potato, Oregano, Garlic, and Peas
- Braise Chicken, Rice, Dill, Mushroom, and Cabbage
- Braise Eggs, Quinoa, Dill, Lemon, and Radish
- Braise Lamb, Potato, Rosemary, Garlic, and Parsnip
- Braise Chicken, Other Grain, Dill, Lemon, and Parsnip
- Braise Eggs, Quinoa, Parsley, Onion, and Peas
- Braise Cheese, Quinoa, Basil, Lemon, and Artichoke
- Braise Beans, Other Grain, Thyme, Garlic, and Kale
- Braise Lamb, Polenta, Parsley, Lemon, and Artichoke
- Braise Beans, Quinoa, Parsley, Lemon, and Dandelion Greens
- Braise Cheese, Polenta, Oregano, Mushroom, and Carrot
- Braise Beef, Polenta, Parsley, Onion, and Asparagus
- Braise Turkey, Polenta, Oregano, Garlic, and Radish
- Braise Tempeh, Rice, Thyme, Nuts, and Kale
- Braise Turkey, Potato, Parsley, Mushroom, and Carrot
- Braise Lamb, Rice, Oregano, Onion, and Fennel
- Braise Pork, Pasta, Thyme, Mushroom, and Fennel
- Braise Chicken, Rice, Parsley, Onion, and Parsnip
- Braise Beans, Pasta, Parsley, Lemon, and Parsnip
- Braise Chicken, Rice, Dill, Lemon, and Artichoke
- Braise Lamb, Potato, Oregano, Onion, and Peas
- Braise Tofu, Rice, Cilantro, Mushroom, and Peas
- Braise Lamb, Pasta, Rosemary, Mushroom, and Carrot
- Braise Beef, Potato, Cilantro, Mushroom, and Endive
- Braise Beans, Potato, Thyme, Lemon, and Kale
- Braise Beef, Potato, Dill, Onion, and Cabbage
- Braise Pork, Polenta, Dill, Bacon, and Carrot
- Braise Tofu, Other Grain, Oregano, Lemon, and Kale
- Braise Chicken, Polenta, Oregano, Onion, and Cabbage
- Braise Tempeh, Quinoa, Dill, Lemon, and Kale
- Braise Beans, Rice, Rosemary, Garlic, and Carrot
- Braise Cheese, Potato, Thyme, Onion, and Parsnip
- Braise Lamb, Potato, Thyme, Garlic, and Carrot
- Braise Lamb, Polenta, Thyme, Onion, and Parsnip
What are a few of my favorite things? Pork, potatoes, and mushrooms, of course.
What will you make with seafood, pasta, mushrooms, and parsnips?
How many recipes can you create with pork, pasta, nuts, and cabbage?
