Best Drinks to Pair with Different Foods for Ultimate Meals
For a meal to get a perfect score on taste, nutrition, aroma, and visual appeal, the food alone will not suffice. You need to pair it with the perfect drink that will compliment it and help you both wash down the food as well as leave an aftertaste behind that will linger to give you a wholesome feel. Your meal plan is incomplete if you don't chart out the beverages you want on your table.
Whether it is for your breakfast or brunch, for your lunch or your dinner, you can never go wrong with a food and beverage option. The tricky part is finding out which drink works with which meal. This is what we are going to help you assist with as we find the best food and drink option for you to enjoy. So, get ready to savour them.
10 Drinks that will Compliment Your Food
Before we begin, we just want to let you know that these pairings are not hard and fast rules. Feel free to experiment with them but based on their ingredients list, we have paired them since they complement each other well. But remember to each on their own and since taste is an extremely subjective matter, feel free to work around various pairings and come up with your preferred option.
Strawberry Sparkling Water with Caesar Salad
For those days, when you are opting for a healthy snack and want to have a minimalistic meal in the form of a Caesar salad with some chicken or paneer strips, order a strawberry sparkling water and see the magic that unfolds.
Between each healthy bite, the sweetness of the strawberry sparkling water will hit your taste buds. This is one of the few pairings where the drink holds the stronger flavour. Get ready to refresh yourself with each sip.
Ginger Ale with Indian Cuisines
Whether you are going for no-vegetarian options such as chicken 65 or pork vindaloo or vegetarian options such as aloo gobi or paneer butter masala, you know you are signing up for spiciness when ordering Indian cuisines. This is why it is recommended that you take a drink that will help dissolve the capsaicin present in these dishes.
But, you also don't want something too sugar-based since you want to enjoy the spiciness. A ginger ale is a perfect combo with any spicy Indian cuisine since it is neither sweet nor too bland. It will help cool down your taste buds from the burning sensations of the rich spices.
Sparkling White Grape Juice with Fried Chicken
One of the most popular snack options that is always a crowd favorite is that of fried chicken. Now, there might be numerous versions of fried chicken based on different regions. But the basic essence of it is always the same.
For such a rich buttery dish, you need something that can cut through the grease and help give your palate a much-needed cleansing. Grape juices with sparkling water can serve as the ultimate refresher between each bite of the chicken due to the presence of sweetness and carbonation.
Virgin Mojitos with Tacos
If you are thinking of having brunch with your best friends and planning to go the Mexican route through some lip-smacking tacos, then all you need to enhance the tropical vibe of your meal is to pair it up with virgin mojitos.
Tacos are rich in flavours, giving a burst of multi-layer sensations in your taste buds that can be a lot. That is why they are extremely filling as well. For this, you need something light like a virgin mojito. Let the tanginess of the lime juice and the freshness of the mint leaves hit every corner of your mouth to give you the cool sensations between each serving of the tacos.
Green Tea with Sushi
An integral part of a pescatarian diet , Sushi is an acquired taste. So, it only makes sense to pair up this delicacy with a drink that will not overbear the taste of sushi and will instead enhance it. This is the type of meal where you want the food to be the hero and the beverage to amplify the food.
As you might have noticed, sushi is often served with ginger. The ginger is meant to cleanse your palate. The green tea will serve a similar purpose. The earthy and delicate flavour of the green tea with blend beautifully with the freshness of the fish and will ensure the fish is still the star of the show.
Unsweetened Iced Tea with Steak
There is a myth that tannins are only present in alcoholic drinks such as wine. But you will be surprised to know that the everyday drink of tea also contains a significant portion of tannins.
Steak can be a heavy food and you will need something that will help soften the fat in the meat and an iced tea is a perfect option that will magnify the taste of your steak.
Blueberry Lemonade with Pizza
One of the most popular fast foods around the world is undoubtedly pizza. Now, on your cheat days when you want to just treat yourself, it is okay to order a pizza as long as you don't do it frequently. And instead of going for an aerated or carbonated drink with your pizza, get a glass of blueberry lemonade.
The berries and lime will enhance the taste and can help in balancing the acidity of the tomatoes present in your pizza and will aid in exposing the complex flavours of your dips.
Virgin Pina Colada with Coconut Shrimp
Imagine yourself in the pristine clear blue water of the Caribbean and the mesmerizing white sands. That is exactly the vivid imagery that will be produced when you club your coconut shrimp with a virgin Pina Colada.
With the creamy flavour of the coconut shining in both the food and drinks, you will be left with a sweet aftertaste as you get a glimpse of the tropics from this heavenly combination.
Watermelon Aqua Fresca with Spicy Chicken Wings
Playing with the idea of opposites attract, you will be pleasantly surprised with the chemistry that spicy chicken wings share with watermelon aqua Fresca. The hotness of the wings will give the zest to your taste buds while the coolness of the watermelon will soothe them, ensuring you have the best of both worlds.
Rich in protein, this food is a perfect dinner option for those who are looking to get their protein quotient of the day fulfilled. And this drink will leave a breath of freshness in your mouth.
Pineapple Ginger Punch with Asian Stir-fry Veggies
Pineapple is one of the most sought-after exotic fruits in the world and when it is a part of a punch that has a tint of ginger in it, you know you have a top-notch drink in your hands. And it will go perfectly with your classic Asian stir-fry veggies.
The diversity in the flavours of the veggies will pop different sensations in your taste buds and the Pineapple ginger ale will help savour the food and you will be left with a combo that will be too hard to resist.
Conclusion
Perfecting the art of pairing the right food with the right meal can often be a tricky option and you will go through many trial and error modes. But hopefully, with this little guide of ours, you will have an easier time ordering the next time you go out to eat.
Furthermore, all these drinks are pretty easy to prepare and don't require a crazy long list of ingredients. You can just prepare them at home in no time and enjoy a wholesome meal.
Reach out to start your fitness journey with us!
