What foods pair well with Malbec wine?
Malbec pairs best with lean red meats such as sirloin, flank and skirt steak, plus roast pork, dark-meat poultry, mushrooms and pungent cheeses like blue cheese. It is a medium to full-bodied red with softer tannins and a shorter finish than Cabernet Sauvignon. Avoid bitter greens, fishy fish and vinaigrette-dressed salads.
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What foods pair well with Malbec?
Malbec is a medium to full-bodied red wine with softer tannins and a shorter finish than Cabernet Sauvignon, according to Wine Folly. That makes it flexible with grilled and roasted food. The classic match is red meat, but mushrooms, tomato dishes and strong cheeses also work well.
| Category | Good matches |
|---|---|
| Meat | Sirloin, flank and skirt steak, roasted pork, dark-meat poultry, venison, ostrich or buffalo burgers |
| Cheese | Blue cheese, gorgonzola, Monterey Jack, provolone, melted Swiss |
| Vegetables | Roasted mushrooms, red peppers |
| Herbs and spices | Rosemary, sage, mint with lamb, black pepper, warm spices such as clove and cinnamon |
Which meats go best with Malbec?
Lean red meats are the usual pick. Wine Folly points out that Malbec’s shorter finish makes it a good match for leaner cuts, and that gamier meats such as venison or ostrich burgers also work. Grilled steak with a little char suits the wine’s dark-fruit flavors.
What cheese goes with Malbec?
Pungent soft cheeses such as blue cheese or gorgonzola, and milder melting cheeses such as provolone or Monterey Jack. Wine Folly advises choosing cheeses without a long, lingering finish.
What vegetarian dishes work?
Roasted mushrooms of all kinds, mushroom burgers, dishes with red peppers and roasted vegetables seasoned with herbs. Add some fat such as olive oil, butter or nuts so the dish can handle the tannins.
What should you avoid with Malbec?
- Bitter greens, which can make the wine taste more bitter.
- Fishy fish, which can make the wine taste metallic.
- Salads with vinaigrette, since sharp acidity can make the wine taste flat. A cream-based dressing is easier.
Does the style matter?
Yes. Wine Folly says basic Mendoza bottles tend toward red fruit and a slightly lighter body, while Cahors, the wine’s French origin, is somewhat lighter-bodied, with subtle red pepper and dried leaf notes. Richer reserve bottles go well with warm spices.
Serving tip
Serve at cool room temperature, slightly below warm, and let a young bottle breathe for a short time in the glass. Drink responsibly.
People also ask
What meat goes with Malbec?
Lean red meats such as sirloin, flank and skirt steak, plus roast pork and dark-meat poultry.
What cheese goes with Malbec?
Blue cheese, gorgonzola, provolone, Monterey Jack and melted Swiss; avoid cheeses with a very long finish.
What should I not eat with Malbec?
Bitter greens, fishy fish and vinaigrette-dressed salads.
Sources
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