Thursday, January 15, 2009

A Healthier Meal Cooked in Clay

By Jana Banks

Recently our family enjoyed a delicious pot roast dinner served with steamed asparagus on the side and sweet baked bananas for dessert. 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.

People have actually cooked in clay for thousands of year, 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.

Clay cooking is generally thought to be quite a healthy way to cook food because the food does not need any additional oils and fats added to create moist and tender results. Before cooking, the cookware should be soaked in water before placing the ingredients inside. This is done to allow the clay to absorb the moisture, which is a factor that helps to deliver such juicy results. If a pot is placed in a pre-heated oven it is likely to crack, so always be sure to set the filled clay pot inside a cold oven prior to setting the temperature at approximately 450 degrees. Check your recipe for the exact temperature recommended.

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.

You can even use a covered clay pot as a stockpot for soup or a slow cooker for your favorite chili or stew. This versatile cookware is perfect for making casseroles, stocks, and more. If you're in the mood for homemade soup, why not make a batch of thick pea soup or cheesy potato soup? You can create a tasty vegetarian casserole or a chunky chicken stew. You and your family are sure to enjoy the fantastic flavors produced by these great slow cookers.

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. - 16463

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