Soft drinks might be on the outs with health-conscious folk, but these fizzy drinks can create some real magic in the kitchen. Matt Preston shares his favourite soft drink recipes.
There are few things as demonised as sugary soft drinks. We’re told they have no nutritional value, will rot our teeth and make us fat. Far better to have a nice glass of water. But if we stop drinking soft drinks, what’s to be done with the oceans of pop left over? Could the kitchen be the solution?
While I’m not sure that sticky Fanta wings or sweet and sour pork made with pineapple chunks and Sprite are going to make much of an impact on that leftover lake, even with the most dedicated fans of the fizzy stuff, there are a few recipes out there using pop that may well rock your world.
I have friends who swear the secret to the fluffiest scones is fizzy lemonade. These are ideal served with a tart lemon curd and a dollop of double cream. Our easy lemonade scone recipe uses 2 cups of self-raising flour softly mixed with 1⁄4 cup of caster sugar and a good pinch of salt, then half a cup each of thick cream and lemonade to make a soft dough. Gently press out to 2.5cm and cut out scones. Use a sharp-edged cutter, as this will help the rise. Arrange close together, (this also helps them rise), on a lined baking tray and cook for 10-15 minutes in a 220°C/200°C fan-forced oven until golden.
You can also try making your favourite store-bought lemon cake mix with a can of Sprite. Or search for Ben O’Donoghue’s pumpkin lemonade scones made with sour cream, roast pumpkin and lemonade.
Coca Cola baked chicken wings
This is a dish so decadent and addictive it is banned in my household other than on Grand Final Day. A kilo of wings are slowed cooked for hours to the ultimate sticky conclusion with brown sugar, grated onion, soy and lemon juice – oh and full-strength Coke. Don’t think you can substitute Diet Coke or Coke Zero for less guilt, as the results will only be disappointing.
Sprite pork adobo
The flavours of soy, garlic and bay leaves dominate this popular Pinoy dish of pork shoulder chunks browned and then marinated and baked in a Sprite marinade for a sticky conclusion. Serve with rice.
Nigella’s Coca Cola baked ham
When it comes to the festive season, it’s hard to go past Nigella’s Coca Cola ham. Here, the ham is braised for hours in Coke and onions, then glazed with treacle, English mustard powder and demerara sugar. You can find the recipe at delicious.com.au. If you want something else that combines the ‘black doctor’ and pork, search for Southern US recipes for pulled pork with Coke, look up Colin Fassnidge’s pork spare ribs or make a glaze of Coca Cola reduced in a barbecue sauce with tomato sauce, soy, cider vinegar, brown sugar, hot sauce, liquid smoke and onion powder.
Soda pop cakes
For something delicious, sweet and poppy, try my rather grown-up Bundy and Coke chocolate torte with smoked butterscotch sauce, or my rather more elegant but no less delicious olive oil and passionfruit bundt cakes that use Passiona.
Related story: Jacket required: Matt Preston on why baked potatoes are back in fashion
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