SHERRY WEEK, FROM COCKTAILS TO ICE CREAM

International Sherry Week is still happening, through tomorrow, November 12! Thousands of restaurants, bars, wine stores, wine educators and bodegas across the world are holding Sherry tastings, special menus, and other Sherry-themed events, to show how this Spanish wine pairs with a wide variety of dishes, from cheese and cured meats, to fish, seafood, stews, and desserts.

My contribution for Sherry Week is a bunch of great recipes, from appetizers to dessert, using Sherry. Many will see you nicely through holiday cooking and entertaining. 

Sherry for cocktails.

Aperitifs.

But, of course you pour Sherry with tapas--fino, amontillado, palo cortado, oloroso seco, all are brilliant with tapa foods. Maybe you serve the Sherry in proper Sherry glasses. Or not. 

But Sherry also works miracles in mixed drinks. Here are two, a Sherrytini cocktail, where fino Sherry stands in for vermouth in a martini, and a highball Sherry-Grenadine cocktail. Get the recipes on this post Cocktails with Spanish Flair. More drinks with Sherry: Rebujito (rebujito is a Manzanilla spritzer) and Triple-Manzanilla Martini.

Sherried chicken liver pâté served with crisp crackers and copitas of oloroso seco.

This chicken liver pâté gets depth-of-flavor from oloroso Sherry and ibérico pork fat. Serve the pâté with any Sherry--fino, amontillado or oloroso. The recipe for the pâté is here. 

Roasted squash soup with Sherry.

This Sherried Squash Soup might be the perfect starter for holiday dining. The butternut squash is roasted before cooking in chicken (or vegetable) stock. Serve it with a mellow oloroso. See the recipe on this post Oloroso Sherry--A Perfect Holiday Wine.

Monkfish with Sherry sauce (Rape al Jerez).

On to the fish course! Chunks of monkfish (angler) and shrimp are cooked in a sauce redolent of dry Sherry with a touch of Brandy de Jerez. Sherry pairs beautifully with many entree foods. Pour it into white wine glasses, rather than a catavino.  The recipes for the monkfish as well as for a tomato sauce with Sherry are here.

Steamed Fish and Shrimp Balls with Sherry Sauce.

A Spanish take on a Chinese recipe--these delicate steamed fish balls cook in a Sherry sauce with shrimp. The recipe is on this post These Fishballs are Gathering Steam. 

Kidneys and mushrooms in Sherry sauce.

Here's a classic tapa bar dish, bites of tender lamb kidneys and mushrooms cooked in a velvety Sherry sauce (riñones al Jerez). Serve with chunks of bread to soak up the sauce. The recipe for Kidneys in Sherry Sauce is here.

Chicken wings al ajillo.

This is a deluxe version of pollo al ajillo--chicken wings with garlic. The wings are glazed with mellow oloroso. They could be served as a tapa or, with a whole cut-up chicken, a main course. The recipe is on this post The Wine That Goes with Everything.

Rabbit roasted with vegetables on a sheet pan with amontillado.

Pieces of tender rabbit are roasted on a sheet pan with potatoes, eggplant and cloves of garlic. Amontillado Sherry gives them a special flavor. Serve amontillado with the meal. The recipe for Rabbit with Garlic and Amontillado is on this post Sheet Pan "Al Ajillo."

Chicken with Sherry.

Sherry is in the name--pollo al vino de Jerez. Chicken pieces braised with mushrooms in a savory sauce. Very homey, yet elegant too. The recipe and a description of the various types of Sherry wines are on this blog post Celebrate Sherry!

Small chickens stuffed with dried fruits with amontillado sauce.

A very festive dish--small chickens (picantones) or squab roasted with a stuffing of walnuts, raisins and dried apricots with a Sherry sauce. The recipe calls for a medium-dry Sherry, such as amontillado or oloroso seco. You only need a half-cup, but the wine is so delicious that you'll be delighted that you bought a bottle. Serve it with toasted almonds, Spanish ham and sausage, mushroom croquettes. The recipe for Chicken Stuffed with Dried Fruits, Amontillado Sauce is here.

Seared ibérico pork chops are finished with oloroso sherry.

Thick cut ibérico pork chops are seared, then finished in a covered pan with sliced apples. Medium Sherry to deglaze the pan creates a delicious sauce. The recipe for Pork Chops with Apples and Sherry is here.

Sherried fig compote.

And, on to desserts!

This Sherried Fig Compote is almost like a jam. Use it on toast, as a filling for layer cake, or, as dessert, topped with a dollop of whipped cream. I used a spoonful to sauce rare-cooked duck magret.  

Borrachos are "drunken" cakes.

Borrachos are "tipsy cakes," sponge squares soaked in luscious sweet Sherry syrup. Get the recipe on this post Sherry--the Wine That Goes With Everything. 

Prune-Sherry ice cream with burnt-sugar sauce.

Luscious prune-Sherry ice cream with burnt-sugar sauce and toasted almonds--a dessert grand enough for any occasion. The recipe for Prune-Sherry Ice Cream is here.

Did I mention? Sherry is the wine that goes with everything! 

Happy Sherry Week. 

Where to find Sherry Week events.