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It wakes you up, soothes you down and is a constant companion no matter what your job, background or where you live. For those who love coffee, this incredible ingredient is a part of everyday life and one that most people can’t do without. For coffee lovers worldwide, therefore, International Coffee Day is a day to celebrate everything about it—from delicious hot and cold beverages to dishes infused with it. For those who didn’t know, October 1 every year is observed as International Coffee Day. Started in 2014 by the International Coffee Organization, his day celebrates coffee in all its avatars around the world.
And yet, for most people, coffee remains even today the base for beverages and nothing more. From Italian espressos to Indian filter kapi, coffee beans are used to create a wide variety of liquid infusions. But did you know that including coffee in dishes to add a depth of flavour is also a practice around the world? If you are celebrating International Coffee Day this year, these coffee-infused dishes should be a part of your life and your plate.
Wondering which coffee-infused dishes, from curries and appetizers to desserts you should be trying this International Coffee Day? Here are all the best coffee-infused dishes from around the world for you to savour.
Video Credit: YouTube/Cook' omania
Tiramisu
The Italian dessert is probably the most well-known and popular coffee-infused treat in the world, and for good reason. Delicate ladyfinger biscuits are soaked in a robust espresso blend and then layered with coffee-infused mascarpone cheese and sometimes chocolate shavings to create the perfect balance of soft and gooey textures that everyone loves in a tiramisu. The ultimate pick-me-up treat, this coffee-flavoured sweet dish is not to be missed.
Espresso BBQ Sauce
An American favourite loved by coffee lovers everywhere, espresso BBQ sauce is the perfect combination of smokey and rich flavours. Made with tomatoes and espresso, this BBQ sauce gets thicker as it cooks and the bitterness of coffee perfectly complements the sweet-tangy flavours of tomatoes. Add this one to your burger patties, grilled meats or simply to a cauliflower roast to get the ultimate punch of flavours.
Coffee Cake
A teatime favourite across the world, coffee cake is a simple yet delicious treat that balances sweetness and bitterness with aplomb. The very batter of this cake is infused with espresso, and the coffee flavours get bolder and smokier as the cake bakes. Often, rum-soaked dry fruits and nuts are also added to coffee cake to make its texture richer, while a coffee-infused buttercream frosting can also elevate this cake.
Coffee-Rubbed Steak
Did you know that apart from sweet infusions, coffee’s natural bitterness also makes it a great base for savoury dishes? This coffee-rubbed steak proves this fact to perfection. A blend of coffee beans, spices like cinnamon and herbs like rosemary and tarragon can be used to make the perfect dry rub for your chargrilled steaks, whether they be of lamb cuts or chicken. In fact, you could even try this coffee blend on cauliflower steaks.
Coffee Cookies
Another teatime treat for the indulgence of coffee lovers everywhere, coffee cookies are also very easy to whip up. Just make a buttery cookie dough infused with coffee grounds and bake these sugary treats to perfection. The flavour of coffee and butter create an aromatic feast for the senses even when the cookies are small and dainty. If you want to add another layer of flavours, then do add some ginger to the cookies as well.
Coffee Sticky Wings
Another savoury treat that simply shouldn’t be missed, coffee sticky wings are a sweet and spicy appetizer you must indulge in. Mix brewed coffee or espresso with brown sugar, chilli flakes and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to make a heady and caramelized coating for your perfectly grilled chicken wings. This one also doubles as a dipping sauce, so be sure to try it and store it in a jar for later.
Coffee Doughnuts
Doughnuts infused with coffee make for the ultimate sweet snack, and you know it! The soft dough for doughnuts can be easily infused with coffee extract of brewed coffee to make simple coffee-flavoured doughnuts. However, adding a rich, creamy coffee glaze or stuffing can also add to the coffee experience of these delectable doughnuts.
Coffee Chicken Mole
If cacao beans can be used to add earthiness to the flavours of a mole sauce, then why not coffee too? After all, Mexico is one of the largest coffee-producing nations of Latin America and the birthplace of mole sauce too. Spiced with chillies, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, onions and dried oregano, this coffee chicken mole dish can be enjoyed with a variety of flatbreads and even rice.
