A step-by-step recipe for classic mulled wine
Autumn and winter time is the ideal time to warm up with a fragrant spicy drink. The classic mulled wine recipe will be discussed in detail below. The drink is prepared on the basis of red wine and spices. It is an excellent and delicious immune-boosting agent. And most importantly, everyone can cook it, it will not take much time and effort.
Required ingredients
We will learn how to make mulled wine at home. The ingredients for preparing the drink can be found in almost any store.
Wine for making mulled wine
The volume depends on how many servings the mulled wine is designed for. One 750 ml bottle is enough for four servings.
You should not take strong wines: a drink with a strength of 7-8% will be ideal for mulled wine.
Spices
According to the recipe, classic mulled wine requires the addition of the following spices:
- Cinnamon. You can take it ground, but better in sticks. 1-2 sticks will be enough.
- Carnation. 5-7 pieces are enough.
- Nutmeg. Again, a whole nut, 1 piece, will be easier and more convenient to prepare.
Ground spices are not recommended: even when straining, too small particles will remain in the drink, making it cloudy. In addition, there will be an unpleasant sensation when used.
Other spices
If desired, you can replace the mentioned spices with others. Use:
- black peppercorns;
- ground ginger;
- Bay leaf;
- coriander;
- saffron;
- anise and other spices if desired.
It is not recommended to overload mulled wine with all kinds of spices: their flavor properties will not be revealed if one spice clogs another. 2-3 species are enough.
Additional ingredients
wines and spices in mulled wine add components such as peel of oranges and lemons, tangerines, apple pieces, honey, a small amount of strong alcohol (cognac, whiskey, brandy). This is optional for a classic drink and is done to taste.
Classic mulled wine recipe
So, let's take a look at a standard type of drink.
Ingredients:
- dry wine, 750 ml;
- 1-2 sticks of cinnamon;
- 5 pieces of cloves;
- 1 nutmeg;
- 150 ml of water;
- 2 containers: for spices and for wine.
Now more about how to cook mulled wine:
- You need to start cooking with spices. Put spices in a ladle, stewpan or small saucepan, pour 150 ml of water. We are waiting for the water to boil
- Remove from heat, close the container with a lid, let it brew.
- Pour wine into a separate saucepan of sufficient volume, put on medium heat. If necessary, add sugar, stir thoroughly until completely dissolved.
- As soon as steam went from the wine and a white foam appeared, remove from the heat.
- Add spices to the wine, cover with a lid, leave for 10 minutes.
- We filter the drink, pour it into glass glasses or special mugs, serve it hot.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice. It is more convenient to drink through a straw.
Do not heat wine to the boiling point. Firstly, this way mulled wine will turn out to be tasteless, and secondly, it will lose its strengthening properties. It must be heated to a temperature not exceeding 65-70 ° C.
Another cooking option
If you don’t want or don’t want to waste time preparing the spices separately, you can add them to the saucepan at the same time as the wine. But since it will be on the fire for a few minutes, the spices will not have time to open during cooking. So, ideally, prepare them in advance.
This is the simplest mulled wine recipe. It will not be difficult even for a beginner to cook it. The drink has, however, several variations.
White mulled wine
An interesting variety is white mulled wine. Do not follow the grog path, to which rum or vodka is usually added. The recipe for white mulled wine is almost identical to the classic one. The difference is that not red, but white dry or semi-dry wine is used for cooking. The drink has a pleasant light golden color. Also honey is traditionally added to it and Apple.
Mulled wine with juice
The classic drink involves the use of alcohol. However, another interesting variation is the recipe for mulled wine with juice and wine.
For the preparation of a classic drink with red wine, grape, pomegranate, cherry juice is suitable. If you are preparing white mulled wine, you should give preference to apple, orange, and pear juice. The amount is individual: you can add 100-200 ml or up to half of the volume of wine.
So, there is nothing complicated in the recipe for classic mulled wine. A fragrant, tasty and healthy broth will warm you in bad weather, cheer you up and protect you from colds.