In cool weather, we don’t just want to drink red wine—we want to eat it, too! These recipes are all infused with the deep flavor and aroma of our favorite reds. From a meaty ragu to showstopping poached pears, these crimson-tinted dishes are calling your name. (Psst: We won’t tell anyone if you sneak a glass for yourself!) Find them all below.
Red Wine Snack Cake
Coco beans and Cabernet traditionally complement each other with their similarly sweet, deeply rich flavor. Food & Wine tops the iconic duo with fresh sea salt and a thick chocolate ganache for a light and airy shameless snack. Substitute a teaspoon of Cabernet with on-hand bourbon if you prefer a spongier texture and muted sweetness.
Coq au Vin
Coq au vin translates to “chicken in wine” in French, and this recipe from Ina Garten for Food Network will transport you right to Paris. Tender chicken, savory mushrooms, and your favorite red wine make for an aromatic meal that will impress any dinner guest.
Red Wine Spaghetti
Who doesn’t love pasta and wine? Bon Appétit offers a colorful take on spaghetti using two bottles of red wine reduced down to a glossy sauce that brings out an acidic flavor and a creamy texture.
Classic French Bordelaise Sauce
This classic sauce calls for Bordeaux wine and a good, tender steak or slow-roasted beef. The Spruce Eats uses two key ingredients—shallots and a dry wine—to bring out the perfect acidic flavors. Using a sweet wine will make the sauce too sweet.
Pasta with Red Wine Ragu
This rich, unctuous sauce uses an entire bottle of red wine, giving it a deep, concentrated flavor. Since the wine is the driving force behind the aroma and taste of this ragù, choose a bottle that you would happily drink. Heat will not mask a bad wine, it will only accentuate it!
Roast Chicken with Red Wine Butter
Before popping in the oven, this chicken is rubbed down from head to toe with an aromatic red wine and shallot butter. This is what gives the bird it’s striking deep purple tint and flavors the meat to the bone. As the bird cooks, its flavorful juices drip down into a bed of potatoes, basting them French rotisserie–style until they’re deeply savory and tender.
Red Wine Poached Pears with Cardamom Whipped Cream
This recipe is elegant, easy and so perfect for fall entertaining. Peeled pears are poached in a complex bath of red wine, spices and aromatics until the fruit is tender and has absorbed all of the flavor to its core. When choosing your wine, consider something with a lot of depth and a deep crimson color like a zinfandel or cabernet.
Wine and Cheese Grilled Cheese
Transform a simple grilled cheese sandwich into this indulgent cheesy masterpiece from BS in the Kitchen. The red wine reduction easily spreads across each slice of French bread, creating the perfect wine and cheese union. If you don’t have Gruyère, you can easily use a quality white cheddar, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella.
Beef Stew in Red Wine Sauce
Beef stew is the perfect fall comfort food, especially when it’s simmered in red wine. The red wine helps tenderize the meat to bring a more delectable broth that will keep you going back for more! This Jacques Pépin recipe featured in Food & Wine can also be adapted to your schedule: Toss everything into a slow cooker in the morning so dinner is waiting for you in the evening.
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