Pairing: Southeast Asian Cuisine

Southeast Asian cuisine, known for its bold combinations of sweet, sour, spicy, and umami flavors, features dishes like Thai curries, Vietnamese pho, and Indonesian satay. These meals are often herbaceous, featuring ingredients like lemongrass, galangal, and lime. The high acidity and vibrant flavors of Southeast Asian food demand wines that can balance heat, acidity, and sweetness. Ideal pairings include aromatic whites or slightly off-dry wines that enhance the freshness of the ingredients

Recipe

Ingredients

  • Coconut milk (1 cup): Adds richness and smooths out spice in curries.
  • Lemongrass (2 stalks, bruised): Adds a citrusy aroma essential to many Southeast Asian dishes.
  • Fish sauce (2 tablespoons): For umami depth.
  • Chili (1-2, chopped): Provides heat, a signature element in Southeast Asian cuisine.
  • Lime juice (2 tablespoons): Balances acidity.

Instructions

  1. Prepare aromatics: In a pot, heat oil and sauté bruised lemongrass, garlic, and chili for 2-3 minutes.
  2. Build the base: Add coconut milk and fish sauce, simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Finish: Stir in lime juice, adjust seasoning, and serve with rice or noodles​.

Serve With

Chenin Blanc, Prosecco

Learn More About the Best Pairings

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is a highly versatile white wine grape variety originating from the Loire Valley in France but now widely grown in South Africa.

Learn More

Prosecco

Prosecco is a sparkling white wine primarily made from Glera grapes in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions of Italy.

Learn More

Samplers

View all