We recently ate at a friend's home and enjoyed a juicy roast along with fresh steamed broccoli with cheese followed with a surprisingly delicious baked apple with caramel topping for dessert. I was helping her clean up after dinner and saw that she had prepared everything in her clay cookware. This was new to me since I'm used to the standard pots and pans I grew up with - namely made of aluminum, stainless steel, ceramic bakeware, or copper. But it turns out that clay cooking is quite popular around the world, including here in the U.S. My friend raves about her clay pots and thinks everyone should own at least a piece or two in their kitchenware collection.
Clay pot cooking can trace its roots back thousands of years to a time when prepared meats were swaddled in mud and tossed into the hot embers of a fire. Then, as the clay dried in the heat, the food began cooking inside. Once the cooking was finished, the "pot" was broken open and the cooked and juicy meat was removed for eating.
The reason cooking in clay is considered a healthy alternative to many cooking methods is that the dishes do not require any additives such as fats and oils to produce tender results. To begin, the clay pot must be soaked in water for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes prior each use. The porous clay pot absorbs this moisture which delivers tastier, moister and tender results. It's important to note that once you place the ingredients inside the clay pot, the pot should be put into a cold oven prior to setting the temperature, usually at about 400 to 450 degrees.
You'll find an array of recipes available that have been adapted for cooking in clay. One example of a tasty dish is Beggar's Chicken. You simply combine chicken legs with a few spices such as ginger, pepper, and garlic plus some flavoring sauces such as sherry and soy. After baking in your clay cooker, serve with a side of rice pilaf, pasta and a fresh salad or vegetable.
Clay pots also serve perfectly as slow cookers and stockpots too. You can make any number of your favorite soups, stocks, and casseroles in these versatile cookers. Whether you're in the mood for a rich pea soup, a creamy potato soup, a layered vegetarian casserole, or beef stew, the clay cookware cooks evenly and slowly producing perfectly flavorful foods your family is sure to enjoy.
I purchased Romertopf clay, starting with the medium clay baker, but I think I'll be adding to that soon. The cookware is quite attractive and can even be used as a serving dish. The pots come in different sizes and styles and range from garlic bakers to fish roasters, apple bakers, and more. If you enjoy cooking and are in the market for some new cookware, then be sure to check out the selection of clay cookware available. You're sure to love cooking in clay, and you'll probably get hooked like a lot of other clay cookware fans.
Clay pot cooking can trace its roots back thousands of years to a time when prepared meats were swaddled in mud and tossed into the hot embers of a fire. Then, as the clay dried in the heat, the food began cooking inside. Once the cooking was finished, the "pot" was broken open and the cooked and juicy meat was removed for eating.
The reason cooking in clay is considered a healthy alternative to many cooking methods is that the dishes do not require any additives such as fats and oils to produce tender results. To begin, the clay pot must be soaked in water for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes prior each use. The porous clay pot absorbs this moisture which delivers tastier, moister and tender results. It's important to note that once you place the ingredients inside the clay pot, the pot should be put into a cold oven prior to setting the temperature, usually at about 400 to 450 degrees.
You'll find an array of recipes available that have been adapted for cooking in clay. One example of a tasty dish is Beggar's Chicken. You simply combine chicken legs with a few spices such as ginger, pepper, and garlic plus some flavoring sauces such as sherry and soy. After baking in your clay cooker, serve with a side of rice pilaf, pasta and a fresh salad or vegetable.
Clay pots also serve perfectly as slow cookers and stockpots too. You can make any number of your favorite soups, stocks, and casseroles in these versatile cookers. Whether you're in the mood for a rich pea soup, a creamy potato soup, a layered vegetarian casserole, or beef stew, the clay cookware cooks evenly and slowly producing perfectly flavorful foods your family is sure to enjoy.
I purchased Romertopf clay, starting with the medium clay baker, but I think I'll be adding to that soon. The cookware is quite attractive and can even be used as a serving dish. The pots come in different sizes and styles and range from garlic bakers to fish roasters, apple bakers, and more. If you enjoy cooking and are in the market for some new cookware, then be sure to check out the selection of clay cookware available. You're sure to love cooking in clay, and you'll probably get hooked like a lot of other clay cookware fans.
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Now that you've filled up on dinner, why not serve a dessert made in your Kaiser Bundform Pan. Be prepared for any baking project by making sure you have a good supply of Cake and Tart Pans in your kitchen.
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