The Joys Of Cooking In Clay

Our friends had us over for a scrumptious dinner last week - they served lovely fresh steamed veggies with a juicy pot roast and mini roasted potatoes

. 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.

I had never heard of cooking in clay before, but it turns out that many people have been using clay for cookware over thousands of years. It dates back to when beef or poultry was packed in mud and placed into a fire's embers. While the clay dried in the fire, the meat was cooking inside. When finished, they would then break the clay open to enjoy the delicious, juicy meal that had cooked inside.

Another great thing about cooking in clay is the wonderfully healthy aspects to the cooking method. That's because the moisture released from the clay replaces the need to add extra oils and fats to the dish. Clay cookware must be soaked in water prior placing the ingredients inside so that the porous material can absorb the moisture that will later be released during the cooking process. Never place a clay pot into a pre-heated oven as it may cause it to crack. Instead place the filled pot into a cold oven prior setting the oven temperature, generally in the low to mid 400 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.

This unique cookware is quite beautiful and comes in a variety of styles and sizes. One well-known manufacturer of quality clay cookware is Romertopf. They offer everything from bread pans to garlic bakers, fish roasters to apple bakers, and much more. So when you're ready to treat yourself to some new cookware, consider adding a special clay piece to the top of your list. Though once you buy one, you'll likely be hooked.

by: Kristen Thorpe

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