Meat is for summer too

Beyond festive barbecues, what is the role of meats in summer? It is true that the season asks above all for light and fresh meals, but this does not mean giving up dishes with a more substantial protein intake ... as long as it is softer than the forcefulness of winter stews and roasts.

Whatever our meat-eating option, we always have the accompaniment of one of our red Rioja wines from Muriel Wines. We see this with three proposals for meat & wine pairing that make us fully enjoy.

Chicken puff pastry? with Muriel Crianza

A recipe perfect for both lunch and dinner. Let's call it "tarte", "quiche" or puff pastry, it is the typical salty cake common to many European cuisines. In this case we opted for a classic chicken quiche with vegetables of your choice: zucchini, leek, green asparagus ... The recipe is relatively simple and the result can be very remarkable. And the best thing about it is that it can solve any type of meal, including formal occasions.

Due to its smoothness, creaminess and somewhat sweet remind, it asks for a versatile wine, of a certain lightness but with enough entity. If it is a red one, it must have an unmistakable red fruit expression and that is something that Muriel Crianza provides in abundance.

 

'Carnitas' taco and green tomato? with Marqués de Elciego

Let's travel to another world. Also, literally: from Mexico comes one of the most popular tacos, the 'taco de carnitas'. Its base is a spicy pork meat cooked with time and patience, so that it frays and constitutes a delicious bit. The counterpoint of tomato and coriander offers a very rich contrast of flavors, with the exotic and powerful touch of Mexican cuisine.

With this taco we need a quite a powerful wine. Also, a red wine with the ability to play with complex flavors. We have thought of Marqués de Elciego, our Rioja Single Vineyard wine made in Elciego (Rioja Alavesa). It is deep and original, and we especially like it because it neither covers nor falls short with the particular flavors of 'carnitas'.

'Iberian tears' and cucumber ajad ... with Viña Muriel Reserva

'Tears' are one of the lesser known cuts of pork. They come from the meat that remains between the ribs. Iberian pork tears are very tender and their higher fat content makes them very juicy when grilled. We want to accompany them with a Balkan-inspired salad, a cucumber garlic sauce with yogurt sauce. The acidity of the yogurt combines very well with the fat of the Iberian meat.

These types of cuts ask for a wine that cleanses and polishes, that is serious and at the same time vibrant. A Viña Muriel Reserva is perfect. Produced with tempranillo grapes from El Gallo, in Elciego, it is the ideal drink for providing complexity and a fine and elegant joy.

 

 

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