The basic rule with spicy food is to avoid high tannic and alcohol options such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz. Another feature to look out for is a good level of acidity, which works well with spicy dishes and brings a lovely whiff of freshness. Beaujolais vineyards make simple reds that are easily paired with spicy food. This youthful French wine, nicknamed bojo , comes from a non-snobby region that favors natural wine-making.
Natural Beaujolais wines make a lovely pairing with street food. Other low to medium tannin reds with a good acidity level as well as fruity notes are Barbera , Zinfandel and Carignan varieties. An easy thing to remember about pairing spicy food is that spicy notes complement spicy food , which is so simple yet so unintuitive for many.
For this purpose, Malbec or Tempranillo wines are good congruent pairings, especially if your chicken shawarma has a good share of smoked paprika. Similarly, aged Xinomavro reds have spicy notes that pair very well with richly flavored dishes. Crisp is what comes to mind when pairing white wines with spicy and rich foods. This type of acidity brings up the delicate flavors of chicken shawarma. It also provides a welcome contrast to the complex, earthy and fatty flavors of the dish.
Aromatic and off-dry whites are similarly suitable for spicy food, such as an off-dry Riesling , for example. These young aromatic wines cut through the richness of chicken shawarma, offering a pairing high in acidity and minerality. The brightness of this German wine balances any Middle Eastern meal, and chicken shawarma is not an exception. A white wine to avoid with chicken shawarma is the oaky Chardonnay. As long as freshness is kept in mind, white wines offer a good selection of options for pairing with this spicy dish.
Coming from the most ancient way of making white wine, orange wines have become increasingly trendy. They have claimed their space in the hearts of those who favor natural wines, even though not all types of orange wines fit this category.
Orange wines tend to have an aromatic quality and umami flavors, which makes them an excellent pairing with chicken shawarma. Why not try something different as pairing a street dish with wine is already a bold move? Historically, traditional orange wine production comes from Georgia. This variety of white wine grape from Spain turns into light, refreshing wine with high acidity and peachy aromas of citrus and apricot.
The Beaujolais region makes red wines drinkable even for those who tend to prefer white. I particularly recommend reds from Brouilly cru , as this vineyard makes wines with aromas of berries such as blueberry and raspberry that make a beautiful pairing with any Middle Eastern dish with a spicy profile.
Pick up a bottle of Mommessin Cote de Brouilly for a first try. Going by the rule of favoring local wines, these Lebanese red blends are guaranteed to make an interesting, complementary pairing with those earthy flavours of cumin and paprika. This option is for one of the less affordable wines we recommend but for a special evening, it is most definitely worth it. This Greek red wine grape comes primarily from the sunny uplands of Naousa or Amyntaio in Greek Macedonia.
The lighter-bodied red Xinomavro makes a great pairing with chicken shawarma in their high acidity and notes of fruits and berries.
Baba Ghanoush Chianti Classico The interesting thing about his spread is that it can be paired with various types of wine — white or red. But if you want to make it a bit interesting, try pairing your Baba Ghanoush with a Chianti Classico. Baklava is quite an intensely sweet dessert, filled with honey so if you find a Chardonnay with subtle notes of honey, you are in for a treat! Buon Appetit! Share on:. In this case, a Chardonnay white wine is recommended.
Another type of white wine to combine with this king of food is the Sauvignon Blanc. It is the choice for shawarma, rice, bulgur, tabouleh or salads with spices. But they are not the only whites that go well with both first and second courses, fruity Verdejo and Rueda are also good choices.
This type of wine would be the best choice for meats. And the best ones to pair with Arabic food are the Merlot , Malbec or Rioja wine. They are clear alternatives for this cuisine, since they do not remove that characteristic and appreciated spicy touch. Red wines are also a sure bet for lamb dishes. This is why it is recommended by many specialists to bring out that spices are clear protagonists of such dishes.
Thus, both young and aged reds are recommended, with flavours and aromas of nuts or cherries and nuances of vanilla.
This wine offers an optimal counterpoint to many oriental dishes, especially from the Arabic cuisine.
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