Recently our family enjoyed a delicious pot roast dinner served with steamed asparagus on the side and sweet baked bananas for dessert. And how were these scrumptious dishes prepared? In clay! Generally, when we plan on roasting a turkey, baking a fish, cooking a chicken or steaming fresh vegetables, we usually use cookware made of stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or ceramic. However many people around the world use cooking vessels made of clay. Even here in the United States there are many loyal clay pot users who imagine the only people who don't enjoy clay pot cooking are the ones that haven't tried it.
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.
There are many wonderful recipes that have been adapted specifically for clay pot cooking. One such recipe called Beggar's Chicken. Made with chicken drumsticks, you add a variety of spices and including garlic, ginger and pepper as well as small amounts of flavorings from soy sauce and sherry. This is a very tasty and satisfying dish you can serve with side dishes such as risotto or rice pilaf and your family's favorite fresh veggie.
You can also use clay cookware as a stockpot or slow cooker, perfect for making anything from casseroles to soup. Our family loves my homemade chicken noodle soup, so that's something that I'm going to use my clay pot for next. I'd also like to try to make a good beef noodle casserole or some au gratin potatoes in the pot to see how good it tastes when it's cooked slowly to perfection.
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.
There are many wonderful recipes that have been adapted specifically for clay pot cooking. One such recipe called Beggar's Chicken. Made with chicken drumsticks, you add a variety of spices and including garlic, ginger and pepper as well as small amounts of flavorings from soy sauce and sherry. This is a very tasty and satisfying dish you can serve with side dishes such as risotto or rice pilaf and your family's favorite fresh veggie.
You can also use clay cookware as a stockpot or slow cooker, perfect for making anything from casseroles to soup. Our family loves my homemade chicken noodle soup, so that's something that I'm going to use my clay pot for next. I'd also like to try to make a good beef noodle casserole or some au gratin potatoes in the pot to see how good it tastes when it's cooked slowly to perfection.
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.
About the Author:
Clay Cookers are great for making casseroles and lots of other great dishes and desserts. Romertopf Clay Cookware makes a great line of clay bakers and accessories to choose from.
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