- Sips & Tips
What’s cooking? Try these easy weeknight dinners and matching drinks
Food and drink pairings aren’t just for entertaining – they can help you lift your dinner game any night of the week. Get started with these three tasty combos.
Looking for the best food and drink pairings? Why not get started with tonight’s dinner? Pairings can be personal, but we’ve put together some no-stress food and drink pairing ideas using easy weeknight recipes and great-value drinks you can pick up from Liquorland on your way home.
IPA with vegetarian curry
Want to know the secret to eating well during the week on a budget? Have pantry staples on hand like red lentils, curry paste and crushed tomatoes. Use them as the base to create hearty meat-free curries with your favourite veggies.
Make this: Sweet potato and lentil curry – it serves four for less than $20. You can make this creamy curry vegan, too, if you swap the cream for coconut cream.
Pair it with: Tinnies IPA – brewed in Victoria with quality Aussie hops, it won Gold in the Australia category at the 2022 World Beer Awards.
Why it works: Curry and beer is a classic combo. This IPA’s bold bitterness and hints of citrus and melon work well with the spicy flavours and help balance the creamy richness.
Pinot noir with pork chops and mash
Looking for a midweek meal that’s creamy, hearty and great with a glass of red? From roasts to stews, there are plenty of food pairings for pinot noir, and this speedy recipe is one of them.
Make this: Creamy mustard pork chops with kale – it only uses 5 ingredients and is on the table in just 20 minutes, so you’ll be clinking glasses in next to no time.
Pair it with: An award-winning cool-climate pinot – James Busby Yarra Valley Pinot Noir was a Gold International Challenge Wine Winner in 2022.
Why it works: Pork dishes tend to be rich, so it’s good to balance this with something tangy and fruity. This wine has hints of cherry and strawberry, with some savoury spice and a herbal finish that helps give the dish a lift.
Margarita premix with pulled beef rolls
Too many taco nights? Mix it up and try a combo that gives you the fun of a Tex-Mex restaurant at home.
Make this: Cheat’s beef brisket subs – buy ready-to-pull beef, a salad kit, Turkish rolls, avo and cheese and you can whip these up in under 30 minutes.
Pair it with: Jose Cuervo Sparkling Margarita – authentic tequila premix with triple sec and natural lime flavours you can enjoy straight from the can or over ice. This has Friday night written all over it.
Why it works: When your meal is this convenient, your drink should be too. This margarita in a can is a refreshing contrast to the flavours in the sticky pulled beef, and the bubbles make it a perfect palate cleanser between bites.
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