What are waffles doing in our wine-friendly recipes section? A great question, as the word 'waffles' usually conjures images of a breakfast food topped with sweet fresh fruit, whipped cream and maple syrup, none of which beg for wine.
But when you prepare waffles as a savory dish, paired with a great piece of fried chicken, there are many wines that work well with this mouth-watering Southern staple!
And Mark Bittman has published the best waffle recipe in the world (go ahead, make it and then try to argue the point). Make it once and you'll be spoiled to the point you'll never again order waffles at a restaurant. And adding chicken to a waffle this good creates a sweet-savory combination that expands the wine options significantly (see recommended pairings, below).
Waffle Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon Instant yeast
2 cups All-purpose flour
2 teaspoons Sugar
1 teaspoon Salt
2 cups Milk (use Buttermilk for a more savory version, or substitute 1C sour cream for 1C of the milk)
8 Tbsp butter melted and cooled
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract optional
Canola Oil for brushing on waffle iron (unless iron is non-stick!)
2 room-temperature eggs
Directions
The yeast will need 8-10 hours of fermentation to integrate its full flavor and consistency to the batter, hence the name - "Overnight Waffles". When preparing the initial batter, combine all the dry ingredients and then stir in the milk. Once combined, stir in the melted butter and vanilla. Cover with a clean tea towel and set aside at room temperature for 8-10 hours.
When you're ready to prepare the waffles, preheat the waffle iron as you separate the eggs, integrating the yolks into the batter and beating the egg whites to soft peaks before gently folding them into the batter - don't over-mix or you'll lose the critical airiness that creates the perfect waffle texture.
Most waffle irons sold today are made for the deeper, Belgian waffles that are perfect for this recipe. Pour 1/3 cup of the batter onto the waffle iron and bake until the waffle is done, usually 3 to 5 minutes, depending on your iron.
Pro Tip - The waffles need a little extra time in the waffle iron - add about a minute to the iron's warning light. This allows them to achieve the crunchy outside and soft inside that defines 'waffle perfection'. And while they are best when eaten within a minute or two, they freeze beautifully and come back to life after a quick visit to the toaster. Walt Disney should be so lucky.
Serve immediately or keep warm in a low oven until the chicken is ready to plate.
The Fried Chicken
There is nothing worse than bad fried chicken, just as there is nothing better than great fried chicken. We need a separate post for the perfect way to cook fried chicken, but until we do you might like this recipe from Delish - see Bryce Johnson's tempting food shot, above). Or, if your allotted time in the kitchen is consumed by the waffles alone, there is nothing wrong with ordering the chicken from a good take-out restaurant - go for the crunchiest option!
Wine Pairings
Off-dry, aromatic white wines from cool-climate growing areas. Candidates include Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Muller-Thurgau or Riesling. Chillable reds can also stand in here, but only if you avoid the temptation to pour any maple syrup on your Chicken and waffles!
