Culinary Culture: A Shot of Delicious

Written by Vincent Verrydt
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 11:46

Some people think that the benefit of drinking vodka is that it has no aroma. We feel a little sorry for those people because they’re missing the true essence of vodka, so to speak. Not only is it the key ingredient of James Bond’s favourite beverage, but it also boasts medicinal properties and enhances the flavour of culinary delights — such as the popular vodka penne chicken.

Vodka Penne Chicken

Ingredients:

• 500g uncooked penne pasta
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 250g chicken breast, sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
• 1 tin Italian plum tomatoes
• ¼ cup vodka
• 1 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper
• ½ cup full cream
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
• ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Pasta: bring lightly salted water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir penne into the boiling water. Bring water back to a boil, and stir continuously. Cook pasta until al dente — about 10 minutes.

Sauce:
1. Heat olive oil in a large pan at a medium heat. Then add sliced chicken and brown for two minutes on each side. Put to one side.
2. Add garlic to the pan and sauté. Gently add tinned tomatoes to the pan and allow to simmer. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Add vodka and maintain heat, so sauce can simmer for three minutes.
3.  Add cream and butter to sauce and mix well.
4.  Add the chicken and cooked pasta to the pan and stir.
5. Remove from heat, sprinkle with cheese, parsley and black pepper. Mix and serve immediately. Serves four

Infusion

In 1999, I managed a bar and eatery in London. Flavoured vodka was all the rage, and the bar staff enjoyed creating unique infusions. We added things like Mars Bars, chilli, marshmallow and peppermint to bottles of Vodka and then (to aid infusion) ran the bottles through a hot dishwasher cycle. The flavoured shots were a hit.

Although my bar-tending days are long gone, the infusion of vodka remains with me. But now I look to pair infused vodkas with fine food — oh, and I now heat the vodka on a stove.

Infusion direction: Simply place the ingredients into a cooking net, and place the net in the vodka. Heat. Cheers!

1. Assorted cheese platter, paired with honey and ginger vodka.

2. Crème brûlée dessert, paired with pear and lavender vodka.

3. Rare fillet steak, paired with a roasted pepper vodka.

Absolut Facts

• Vodka can remedy fatigue and weakness. A shot of vodka is able to nourish the body faster than food.
• In past wars, vodka has acted as an antiseptic and sedative used in surgeries on soldiers.
• Vodka is a diluted alcohol and is used often as a disinfectant.
• Vodka can break a high fever when rubbed on to a patient’s body.
•  Drinking a shot of vodka every day could help improve blood circulation.
• Instead of chamomile tea, drink a shot of vodka to help you sleep.
• Vodka helps people from extremely cold regions keep warm.