Cooking with Vodka

Obscure Vodka Fact #10

Russian soldiers involved in the Napoleonic Wars helped spread  the awareness of vodka (amongst other things) to many parts of Europe throughout the 19th century.  The increase in popularity led to escalating demand and, as a result, lower grade products were produced – based largely on distilled potato mash.

Siberian Ice Squares

This is sort of a White Russian on a stick (ouch).  Maybe I should call them ‘Russicles?’ Anyway they're just the thing for a hot summer day.

225ml (8fl oz) vanilla ice cream

4 tablespoons vodka

4 tablespoons fresh espresso, cooled

chilled Espresso Vodka (p.145, The Vodka Cookbook) or coffee brandy for drizzling

1. Whizz all ingredients in a blender. 
2. Fill an ice tray with the mixture and freeze at least 24 hours.
3. Add sticks when mixture is slushy, about 1 hour.
4. Carefully remove from ice tray and serve on chilled plates drizzled with cold Espresso Vodka (p.XX).

Makes 4

Say ‘Za zda-ró-vye!’ not ‘Na zda-ró-vye!’

In my considerable experience (all in the name of research!), I have found that it is a rare occasion when a Russian will take a drink in a social setting without first raising his or her glass to make a toast.  And during my early visits to the former Soviet Union, I would clink glasses and utter the famous phrase that is still ubiquitous in American films featuring Russians: ‘Na zda-ró-vye!’ (Hа здоровье!).  But in fact, ‘Na zda-ró-vye’ is not precisely correct.  Close, but no cigarski.

Vodka Grilled Corn

Armed with fresh corn from the farmer's market and this recipe you will become king or queen of the grill.  Twenty minutes in the oven will also do the trick. But "King of the Oven" doesn't sound quite as cool.

Obscure Vodka Fact #9

Vodka was first brought from Russia to France in the early 19th century. The positive reception by French aristocrats signaled the systematic export of Russian vodka to other European countries. (Mercí)

Obscure Vodka Fact #8

For many years in Russia, river sand or felt were used to remove impurities in vodka.  In the 18th century a professor in Saint Petersburg, discovered a method of purifying alcohol using charcoal filtration which is still being used today.  Who says science can’t be fun?

Totally Baked Beans

Some of you may know that I'm originally from Beantown, a nickname Boston has held since the eighteenth century when Puritan colonists adapted a Native American recipe of slowly cooking beans inside deerskins with maple sugar and bear fat.  This evolved into the recipe of baked beans with salt pork and molasses that came to be known as Boston Baked Beans.  Now imagine if those Native Americans had vodka...

Russia's most popular vodka remedy: "Erofeitch"

Promoted as a cure-all for everything from stomach cramps to depression, insomnia and hang-over, "Erofeitch" is a particularly strong infusion – usually made with 90 proof vodka.  I’m not sure it cures anything.  But it will probably make you forget what was bothering you.

Legend has it that Erofeitch was named by Czarina Ekaterina II – who was famous for her promiscuity.  One of her lovers, Alexei, got very ill.  And despite all of Ekaterina’s efforts, no one in her court could find a cure for his sickness.  The cure came from a barber, named Erofeitch, who had traveled to China where he learned how to make herb-infused drinks.  He managed to cure Alexei with this vodka herb concoction and was generously awarded by Ekaterina.   Since then, any strong herb-infused vodka has come to be known by his name.

Vodka Remedies

By now you should be convinced that vodka belongs in the kitchen cupboard as well as in the liquor cabinet.  Maybe there’s also room for a bottle in your medicine kit?

In ancient times, Russian villagers – famous for their superstitious nature – would attempt to bribe measles and other infirmities by placing a bottle of vodka and food offerings at their front door along with a plea for the illness to pass.  Later, vodka was combined with herbs and other ingredients to disinfect, cleanse or treat a variety of ailments. 

Today, plain and flavored vodkas are still considered to be very much a cure-all by modern Russians.  From time to time I'll post some of the recipes that have been shared with me by babushkas over the years.  I can’t say with any certainty that any of them will cure what ails you.  But, like chicken soup, they also can’t do you very much harm.  Stay tuned.

Vodka, Broccoli & Cheddar Soup

  

I know not everyone loves broccoli as much as I do.  But give this hearty soup a try one cold evening with a crusty loaf of bread and these much maligned little cancer-fighting buds might surprise you.  Of course, a little vodka makes everything (and everyone) more attractive.