Keep Vodka in Your Kitchen For More Than Just Cocktails
How to Use Vodka in More Than Just Your Cocktails
The year 2022 is about abundance and being, as the kids call it, extra. We're living life to the best of our abilities in this very strange world we're in right now, and that means trying any and all things when inspiration strikes. For me, that looks like getting more experimental in the kitchen.
Cooking for myself has always been a pain point, so learning how to make it more fun has been a longtime goal of mine. When I discovered adding something like vodka into my meals was an option, the ideas just started to flow. When I learned vodka could transform a dish from chewy and tough to deliciously flaky or bring the aroma and flavours to a whole new level, I was thoroughly intrigued.
If you're also looking for a way to sprinkle a little extra into your life, here are a few ways to use vodka in your cooking that are enough to convince you to keep a bottle in your kitchen at all times.
Vodka Can Make Your Pastries Flaky and Soft
Vodka cookies? Vodka pie? Maybe they're not the catchiest names, but you get the idea. Instead of using water for your baked goods, incorporating the spirit into your recipe yields a flakier pastry. How does this work? Well, vodka stops gluten from forming in the baking process — a cool trick water is not able to do. This will make your treats flakier instead of chewy; and while we all love a chewy cookie sometimes, we're going for new experiences here! Adding in ¼ cup of vodka should do the trick, especially for something like a perfect pie crust. Add in a few other sweet ingredients, and you can create your own recipe . . . with a much better name.
It Gives Your Soups an Extra Kick
When it's cold outside, nothing puts me in my childhood feels more than a nice, warm soup. But I'm not trying to make my grandma's soup. We're giving "treat yo'self" energy all year long, which means adding a little vodka to your favourite soup recipes for another layer of flavour. It's pretty normal to add cooking wines to your favourite sauces; however, vodka creates a bold aroma that just cannot be beaten. Yes, most of the alcohol content will be cooked out of any sauce, but that won't take away from the vodka enhancing your already marvelous flavour mix. Bloody Mary Soup, anyone?
Become Your Own Bartender When You Get Creative With Vodka
Elevate any meal with a cocktail in waiting, and of course, make it your own. Don't resign yourself to a plain, old vodka tonic — remember, we're living for extra all 2022. I love to play with a variety of garnishes, mixers, and even decorations. (Why not add an umbrella to your drink for a little razzle dazzle?) If you're looking for the best vodka to keep in your cabinet or in your at-home bar, then you should use the best. I personally enjoy Elit Vodka, which has won Best Vodka of The Year 10 times since 2006 and five consecutive wins since 2017.
As if those accolades aren't convincing enough, Elit's smooth taste goes down easy and makes it perfect for cooking and drinking. The fine taste is purposely cultivated from its signature freeze filtration process, which involves having the spirit quadruple filtered and then frozen at -18°C. If I'm going to live in my main-character energy, then I might as well drink the finest out there. Plus, it gives me a nice talking point for when my girlfriends come over for my signature homemade cocktails.
Regardless of how you choose to use your favourite vodka, consider keeping a bottle on your counter to experiment with the next time you're feeling inspired in the kitchen — I know I will.
