Coffee is a precious habit shared around the world, though not every culture uses it in the same way. Given the colors and variety of Italian cuisine, coffee-based recipes are a natural fit—even in savory dishes. It’s a great idea for a festive and original Christmas menu.
Whole Bean or Ground: A Fundamental Choice
The first choice to consider is: whole bean or ground coffee?
If lightly roasted, whole beans pair well with fatty meats like pork; if dark roasted, they complement leaner cuts. When combined with chili and other spices, coffee can enhance fish dishes in an extraordinary way.
Ground coffee, however, requires more attention—especially with the quantities, which should be minimal to avoid overwhelming bitterness, and with the texture, which should be finely ground to reduce granularity.
3 Savory Coffee Recipes for an Original Christmas Menu
1. Bittersweet Creaminess: Coffee and Taleggio Risotto
Ideal for autumn, this coffee and taleggio risotto is easy to make but requires some focus. Sauté shallots in butter, toast the rice, then gradually add hot broth, repeating the process until absorbed.
After 12 minutes of cooking, pour in 3 espresso shots and let the rice absorb the coffee. Turn off the heat and stir in 150g of taleggio cheese, diced, with some butter and grated Parmesan. For garnish, sprinkle a bit of ground coffee on top.
2. Coffee-Crusted Salmon
Use light-roast ground coffee to coat salmon fillets, and cook them over medium heat in a non-stick pan with a little oil. Add sliced shallots, two tablespoons of olive oil, 1–2 anchovy fillets, thyme, sage, and parsley to taste. Pour in two ladles of fish stock, then simmer briefly. The resulting sauce can be blended to serve with the salmon.
3. Pork with Coffee Sauce to Cleanse the Palate
Dust pork in flour and brown it in a pan where you’ve already sautéed a shallot. Sear for two minutes per side, then pour in a glass of white wine and let it evaporate. Add a glass of milk and a sprig of rosemary, cover, and cook on low heat for about 90 minutes.
Halfway through cooking, pour in two espresso shots, adding salt and pepper. For the final sauce, mix the pan juices with two more shots of espresso and two tablespoons of fresh cream, and simmer gently.
Et voilà… finger-licking good!
2020
