You are currently viewing Bi-Coastal Chinese Food and Wine Pairing (Continued)

Red wine and Chinese food are often thought to be incompatible. Many feel that full-bodied red wines either compete aggressively with spicy Chinese dishes or simply overwhelm them. If my dinners are any indication, this is very much the case. So when I planned the long distance wine pairing with Kirstin of Vin de la Table I decided to see if I could finally find a red wine to match spicy Chinese food.

I chose to make red cooked lamb. Red cooking is a very traditional stewing method that’s popular in all parts of China. The basic technique is to braise any meat in a dark soy sauce based liquid with cooking wine and sugar, plus other spices. You may be surprised to learn that lamb and goat are commonly served in western and northern China. Indeed a large Muslim population in western China almost exclusively consumes lamb and goat as their protein of choice.

This red cooked lamb recipe requires a complex combination of spices including star anise, Sichuan peppercorn, fennel, cassia bark, ginger, chili pepper and dried tangerine peel. I knew it would be very hard to match a wine with this mixture of flavors. Kirstin originally suggested two Spanish red wines, a 2006 Vina Valoria Tempranillo Rioja and a 2005 Este Tinto Almeria. Unfortunately I was not able to find any of these two wines. Another suggestion for a Rhone red of Domaine de Fenouillet Cote du Ventoux Rouge was also unavailable.

In desperation Kirstin did some online research and reserved two bottles of red wine for me at a wine store near my home. I finally bought a 2006 Mas de Boislauzon Cotes du Rhone Villages form France and a 2006 Peachy Canyon Incredible Red (Paso Robles Zinfandel) from California.

At the tasting dinner we didn’t think that either wine was full-bodied enough to stand up to the red cooked lamb. Many of my guests felt the Cotes du Rhone Villages is an excellent medium-bodied red wine with very nice hint of cherry and plum, but the spicy lamb was simply too overpowering.

The Peachy Canyon Zinfandel however I thought was much more successful. It was sweeter and fruitier with blackberry and current flavors. I felt that the fruit in the wine did complement the tangerine in the lamb. Unfortunately my guests again felt that the spices drowned out this wine.

In the end I conclude that successfully pairing red wine with spicy Chinese food seems to be truly a difficult task. Perhaps I’ll continue to look for the original wines Kirstin suggested and may be they can be better matches. Do let me know if you have any suggestion.

  • Red Cooked Lamb (紅燒羊肉)

    • Preparation time: 20 minutes
    • Slow cooking time: 2 hours
    • 1 lb. stewing lamb (1 1/2 lb. if bone is attached) cut into 1-inch cubes
    • 5 cups water for par-boiling the beef
    • 1 medium carrot cut into one-inch pieces
    • 1 medium daikon radish cut into one-inch pieces
    • Chopped cilantro for garnish
    • Braising Ingredients
    • 3 whole star anise (八角)
    • 2-inch length of cassia bark (or 1 cinnamon stick) (桂皮)
    • 2-inch square piece of dried tangerine peel (陳皮)
    • 1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorn (花椒)
    • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (小茴)
    • 4 pods dried red chili (optional)
    • 3 thick slices ginger root
    • 1/2 cup Shaoxing cooking wine (紹興料酒)
    • 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce (老抽)
    • 1tablespoon light soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 5 cups water (or lamb stock)
    • Par-boil the lamb in boiling water for about 15 minutes and scoop off all the scum that forms on top. In a wok combine all the braising ingredients and bring to a boil. Add the lamb and simmer for about 1 hour 30 minutes. Add more water if the liquid evaporates too quickly. Add the carrot and daikon pieces and cook for another 15 minutes. Serve garnished with chopped cilantro.

This Post Has 10 Comments

  1. Kian, a gallant search for the wine, but no matter – I am loving that lamb recipe. By the way, I was tagged and thus you’ve been tagged, over at Simmer. Happy New Year – hope it’s fruitful and delicious!

  2. Jaden

    Hey there! So glad to have found your blog – I’m enjoying reading about your Chinese food.

    -jaden

    1. Kian

      Jaden, Thanks for visiting! I do enjoy sharing my Chinese recipes and tips with everyone.

      Debs, I’m so pleased this wine pairing series is helping you make pairing decision. Good luck with your fundraising!

  3. Debs

    I have enjoyed your four part series. I am currently working on a wine pairing for a fundraising banquet for a non-profit chinese immersion school in Portland OR. I have not done this before, so I appreciate the detail of you and your guests analysis. Our menu involves foods from 5 provinces in Chinese ranging from szechuan to cantonese, and alas, our budget does not allow a pairing with every course. I definitely have my work cut out for me…

    Thanks for your notes!

  4. Scott at Realepicurean

    A great looking way of cooking lamb, far from what I’d normally do (but that’s not a criticism ).

    Love your pairing; I’m terrible and end up choosing good wines which don’t work with the food I’ve made!

  5. Mattso

    This lamb looks delicious. How about a nice peppery Zinfindel with it? I made Jerk Pork BBQ this summer and a Zinfindel stood up to the spice. Sorry I cannot remember which one..

  6. Authentic Chinese Recipes

    Wow, the cooking way of this dish is great, I’ll try it later and I hope it tastes delicious. Just one suggestion: If you add some cooking pictures it will be easier to follow!

  7. Chinese Recipes

    你这个真的算是正宗中国菜了,

    但是老外真的能做出正宗的味道?

  8. old.frt

    Looking for a serious red wine for pairing?
    It has been suggested elsewhere to use an Argentinian Malbec, preferably a reserva..
    Find one with the deepest dimple on the bottom–an indicator of a young wine still throwing off sediment,
    Open to air for a bit, then drink.
    You won’t be disappointed.
    Don’t pay more than 15 dollars.

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