It took years of convincing earlier than I lastly began cooking with a Dutch oven, however as soon as I began it shortly turned my favourite pot to cook dinner with. This dense and practically indestructible pot is as versatile as it’s lovely to take a look at. The heavy forged iron permits for evenly distributed warmth, and the shiny enameled floor is straightforward to scrub. Plus they arrive in a rainbow of colours, which appeals to my want for whimsy within the kitchen.
Opposite to what you would possibly suppose, a great Dutch oven might be reasonably priced too (for instance, not $300). Learn right here for alternate options to the high-priced French manufacturers. My brandless Dutch oven has been braising, baking, and frying for years and she or he has many extra left. Listed here are my favourite recipes and methods to make use of a Dutch oven to the fullest.
One-pot meals
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
Few issues are as relieving to me as not having a sink filled with dishes, and the Dutch oven affords me this blessing. It’s the right resolution for one pot meals as a result of forged iron is as much as the problem of a number of cooking strategies. It will possibly spend hours on warmth with out scorching, and it will probably transfer seamlessly from the stovetop to the oven in the event you’re searing and braising.
This savory sausage and beans recipe is my favourite one-pot dish. It’s flavorful, hearty, and requires little or no consideration. Except for roughly chopping the veg, you barely have to arrange the elements. Go away the sausages entire and sear the hyperlinks on all sides. Then merely dump in the remainder of the elements and allow them to simmer till fork tender.
Low and gradual cooking
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
The Dutch oven excels at low and gradual cooking. Once more, it’s that intelligent forged iron core. You’ll be able to set the pot over low warmth for hours and difficult, chewy meats will tenderize into delicate, buttery morsels.
Certainly one of my favourite meals to make is that this crispy hen and rice recipe. Whereas hen doesn’t require tenderizing, rice and different dried grains and beans profit from low and gradual cooking. This dish is hearty, easy, and full of vivid flavors, because of the tomatoes and olives. Begin by searing hen thighs, skin-side down, after which cook dinner the remaining elements. Nestle the thighs again into the rice over the last little bit of cooking time for juicy hen with crispy pores and skin.
Do-it-yourself breads
I’ve boasted already concerning the Dutch oven’s heavy responsibility forged iron building, and I’ll by no means cease. These pots are referred to as “ovens” for a motive—they’re nice for baking. Dutch ovens can comfortably stand up to temperatures of 500°F and typically larger (simply verify the small print of the actual one that you simply purchase).
Excessive temperatures like which are nice for selfmade breads, like this sourdough recipe I at all times make in my Dutch oven. Placing the lid on the pot encloses the bread in a small house and naturally creates a damp surroundings because the bread begins to cook dinner. The additional humidity permits for max oven spring, leaving you with a well-risen loaf.
For a bread that doesn’t require proofing, do that Irish soda bread recipe in your Dutch oven. It solely requires 4 elements, and the ensuing fast bread is incredible with a smear of salty butter and raspberry jam.
Deep frying
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
One of many largest challenges that comes with deep frying is preserving the temperature constant. Whenever you drop chilly or room temperature batter into scorching oil, it’s regular for the oil’s general temperature to drop down. The larger the batch, the extra the temperature will dip, doubtlessly leading to a greasy batter.
The perfect resolution is to make use of a heavy pot. Not like a thin-walled pot, the Dutch oven will assist maintain the temperature constant so you’ll be able to deep fry greater batches. My favourite recipe that requires deep frying is that this on the spot pancake apple fritter recipe. You may make this in a small pot, cooking one by one, however I counsel the broader frying pool of a Dutch oven for cooking greater batches.
Massive batches of soup
Soup is one of the best ways to point out off your Dutch oven. You’ll be able to simply discover recipes which are one pot, low and gradual, and undemanding. Certain, not each soup is like this, however I’m a fan of those which are. It’s good to carelessly toss elements into an enormous pot and are available again to disclose a powerful meal.
This French onion soup recipe is certainly one of my go-tos as a result of it doesn’t require any babysitting. The onions soften simply within the pot and caramelize gently with out an excessive amount of intervention. The meat broth fills out the soup, whereas wine and herbs usher in complexity. Apart from that, you simply should broil some stretchy cheese onto a slice of bread earlier than digging in. In truth, I believe broiling some stretchy cheese suits into all of the recipes above (even the fritters). Take pleasure in your Dutch oven explorations, of us.
Bonus tip: Use it as a cooler
The identical qualities that enable a Dutch oven to carry onto warmth additionally permits it to keep up a chill too. I exploit my Dutch oven as an enticing drink cooler for events. It’s particularly useful when your fridge is packed and you could possibly use a bit additional exterior house. About an hour earlier than your company come over, put the Dutch oven within the fridge (the lid too in the event you’ll be chilling cans). Take the pot out and fill it midway with ice. Tuck bottles of chilled wine, pre-mixed cocktails, or cans of seltzer into the ice and freshen it up with new ice when wanted.
