{"id":9651,"date":"2018-01-27T16:00:29","date_gmt":"2018-01-27T15:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.xtrawine.com\/?p=9651"},"modified":"2019-07-31T19:49:16","modified_gmt":"2019-07-31T17:49:16","slug":"marination-meat-fish-and-italian-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.xtrawine.com\/en\/marination-meat-fish-and-italian-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Marination, Meat, Fish, and Italian Wine"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, you\u2019ve come back home and you want to make something nice and quick to eat. The grill usually provides the answer. Throwing some meat or fish onto the grill allows you to get your cooking done quickly, plus it means your draining unhealthy fats away from the meat to boot.<\/p>\n

That makes it a great choice for the health conscious. But there\u2019s a catch. Grilling doesn\u2019t always do the best job of locking the flavour into your meats. In fact, many people prefer frying because it allows them to cook juicier meats that, while less healthy, taste amazing.<\/p>\n

All is not lost. There\u2019s a way for you to enjoy the benefits of grilling without losing any of that all-important flavour.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re talking, of course, about marinating your meat and fish before cooking. We\u2019re sure many of you already do this with oil or something similar. But did you know that you can create an Italian red wine marinade for use in cooking too?<\/p>\n

Before we get to that, let\u2019s look at what marinating is and why you might want to do it.<\/p>\n

What is Marinating?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The marination process is as simple as they come. It involves taking your meat or fish, and allowing it to soak in a liquid for a while before you cook it.<\/p>\n

Of course, the liquid matters. Ideally, your marinade will have some form of seasoning, which soaks into the meat as it lies in the liquid. Furthermore, the liquid should have some degree of acidity. This breaks down some of the meat or fish\u2019s tissues, allowing it to soak in the marinade more and become juicier. Balance is key here though, as too much acidity results in a marinade that detracts from the meat\u2019s natural qualities.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all about imbuing the meat with new flavours via a process of immersion. That mention of acidity should also set some alarm bells ringing in your head.<\/p>\n

What liquid contains acid and a host of interesting flavours?<\/p>\n

We\u2019re talking about Italian wine, of course.<\/p>\n

The Benefits of Marinating Meat and Fish<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are plenty of benefits of marinating meat and fish, some of which relate to cooking and others of which relate to health. Here are a few of them.<\/p>\n

Flavour<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Perhaps the main reason that people marinate is because it lends flavour to their meats and fish. Marinades contain various seasonings, which the soaking process ensures gets into the meats. In the case of red wine, you have the benefit of soaking your meats in a drink that contains all sorts of subtle notes. One wine may lend the food a smoky flavour, whereas others may add a tinge of fruit. There\u2019s plenty of room to experiment and explore.<\/p>\n

Cuts HCAs<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are HCAs?\u201d, we hear you ask.<\/p>\n

HCA stands for heterocyclic amines and they\u2019re produced whenever you grill food. They\u2019re especially prevalent when using an open flame.<\/p>\n

The problem with HCAs is that they\u2019re carcinogens, which means they can increase your risk of getting cancer.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, marinating your meat beforehand seems to play a role in preventing HCAs from escaping into the air. An acidic marinade can block as much as 99% of all HCAs because they prevent them from forming on the meat.<\/p>\n

This is why many lean towards vinegar and citrus when creating their marinades. However, wine\u2019s high acid content also makes it an excellent choice if you\u2019re worried about the effects that regular grilling may have on your health.<\/p>\n

On top of all of that, acidic marinades have another health benefit. They can stem the growth of bacteria on the meat, proving especially effective against listeria.<\/p>\n

Meat Tenderness<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everybody knows that the more tender the meat or fish, the better it tastes. Many chefs even beat their steaks to tenderise them before cooking. It\u2019s what creates that melt in your mouth sensation that so many of us love from the meats that we eat.<\/p>\n

Marinading your food serves the same purpose. As mentioned before, a marinade\u2019s acid will break down some of meat\u2019s tissues, making the meat more porous in the process. This not only enables the meat to better soak in the flavours of the marinade, but it also makes it tenderer.<\/p>\n

So, marinades work by not only gifting additional flavours to the meat, but also improving their texture for when it\u2019s time to eat.<\/p>\n

A Red Wine Marinade Recipe<\/strong><\/p>\n

So now you know some of the benefits, it\u2019s time to make your own red wine marinade<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Luckily, it\u2019s simple to make. Some people even avoid adding anything to their wine, allowing their meat or fish to marinate in the wine alone. This won\u2019t cause any problems, but it will mean that the taste of the wine becomes more prominent in the meat. Whether or not that\u2019s a good thing is entirely up to you.<\/p>\n

For those who want to create a special marinade for their meat dishes, here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need.<\/p>\n