Grocery shopping in the fall should always provide for fresh grapes, a fruit rich in flavor and healthy virtues. Our chefs of La Scuola de La Cucina Italiana recommend consuming a large quantity of grapes, as grapes provide energy and sugar – necessary for facing the change of season. Thanks to its particular taste, which oscillates between sweet and sour, grapes are suitable for a variety of combinations, ranging from cheese or fish, to meat, sweets and even pasta. So without further ado – here are our tips for pairing and serving grapes!
Fresh grapes or raisins
Before investigating the best possible pairings for grapes, it’s necessary to understand which variety you prefer: fresh grapes or dried raisins. In the first case, we suggest peeling them well using a paring knife with a curved blade to cut them in half and remove the seeds. On the other hand, if you prefer raisins, make sure you rehydrate them in a liquid – which can be water, wine, distillate or liqueur according to personal preference.
Pairing grapes with meat
Grapes go well with meat, both in terms of taste and texture – especially pork. And if you’re planning to sip on a slightly fruity-flavored wine at dinner, grapes with meat adds a particularly delightful mix of flavors to enhance the ingredients. One of our favorite recipes at La Scuola de La Cucina Italiana is roast pork fillet with Marsala raisin sauce. After carefully choosing a very tender fillet, brown the meat medallions in a pan and prepare the sauce with the brown gravy and the grapes, previously rehydrated in Marsala. This combination will absolutely amaze your guests!
Other pairings
The grapes are also perfect with cheese – both fresh and in jam form. Pairing fresh grapes with cheese is perhaps one of the most well-known combinations: Thanks to the fresh and sweet flavor of the grapes, they go especially well with savory cheese as a palate cleanser. In fact, though it’s less common, combining grapes with fish is not to be underestimated. For example, pair them with a slice boiled or roasted of fish and a grape salad with fresh herbs. This one is definitely worth trying!