Monday Night In

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Last night, I took the evening off for some quality time with my better half.  We hadn’t cooked together in awhile, and what we did end up making was amazingly simple, fairly healthy, and delicious.  And, of course, there was a beer pairing.  So here goes.

Monday Night In -- Lamb Merguez, Sauteed Spinach, and Couscous

Featuring: Dogfish Head "Black & Blue"

In a small saucepan, combine 1 ¼ cup of water and two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.  Bring to a boil; add 1 1/2 cups of couscous and any spices or seasonings that you desire.  Stir, cover, and remove from heat.  Wait five minutes, then fluff to serve.

In a wide sauté pan, sauté ½ cup of onions and a tablespoon of chopped garlic in 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.  Once the onions start to become transparent, add one bag of pre-washed spinach leaves. Stir gently until spinach wilts, about five minutes.  Remove from heat.

Using a broiler pan, broil five lamb merguez sausages until cooked through, about eight minutes.  I recommend using fresh sausages whenever possible. I got mine at Red, White, & Blue in Falls Church, VA.  They carry delicious fresh meats from Stachowski Charcuterie, which can otherwise be rather difficult to obtain if you don’t know where to go.

The whole preparation and cooking process takes less than thirty minutes, from start to finish, which is perfect when you are trying to cook and watch Monday Night Football at the same time.

We paired our dinner with Dogfish Head’s “Black and Blue” -- also conveniently purchased at Red, White, and Bleu.  This beer does not disappoint!  It pours beautifully, with a hint of raisin smell. A little foam and a lot of delicate lacing, this beer has low carbonation but leaves a pleasant effervescent finish on the tongue.



According to the brewer, “Black & Blue is golden Belgian Ale made with over 300 lbs of fresh blackberries and blueberries.  With a deep purple full body and a long-lasting lacy pink head, this ale is both attractive and delicious!  It is tart and fruity, like our brewers!  The subtle bitterness of Hallertau and Saaz hops shines through the fruit forward flavor and sets the palate aglow. (30 IBUs). This tasty brew has smooth but noticeable alcohol warmth. Belgian yeast gives this brew a characteristically dry spicy finish.  The beautiful interplay of fruit, spice, and alcohol is complimented by a soft malt profile, and a high level of carbonation.”

Dogfish Head considers this brew to be an "Occasional Rarity" rather than a seasonal beer.  And ohhhhhhhh it is delicious.  As I’ve said before, I’m not a lambic junkie or a fruit beer freak, but this stuff is just so yummy and smooth.  I would recommend it with a great sharp cheese (aged cheddar, perhaps?), maybe a rich chocolate cake with a raspberry and blueberry compote, or even a spicy meat, as it did extremely well with the lamb merguez.  It’s gentle enough to pair with a bold companion, yet has a solid personality that gracefully accompanies the main dish as well as the dessert.  We finished our meal with a bowl of fresh red grapes -- one of my fall favorites.  Like an entertaining dinner guest that you love to invite and hate to see go, this beer went perfectly with everything.