PALATE
Serious Eats’ Classic Sage and Sausage Stuffing
PUTTING THE “DUTCH” IN
Dutch Oven
Pots similar to Dutch ovens have long been used by people around the world. It’s why you’ll find recipes from so many cultures that require a thick, well-insulated pot for low and slow cooking. Origin stories vary about how use of the modern Dutch oven spread, but there is agreement about how the cast iron oven earned the “Dutch” designation. History shows people in the Netherlands cooked in pots made with a special technique of casting metal in sand. Today, the coveted Dutch oven brand Le Creuset still uses sand in its metal casting process, according to the website The Kitchn.
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The renewed interest in these centuries-old kitchen accessories comes at a time when many Americans are trying to slow down cooking again. For decades now, we’ve been in a hurry in the kitchen, feeling the need to make things quick, easy, disposable and shelf-stable. While a can of sauce or store-bought stew may be nice to have in a pinch, there’s something to be said for recipes that are still quite simple, but fresh and truly homemade. That’s the line of thinking for Matt Perry, owner of Bend’s Savory Spice Shop franchise. “A slow cooker or Crock-Pot is basically the newer version of the Dutch oven,” Perry said. “You can leave it without leaving fire on in your house.” But with so many people staying in and working from home through the pandemic, he added, more people are comfortable turning back to slow cooking in a Dutch oven because they can keep an eye on things. Dutch ovens are a great vehicle for some delicious recipes on the stovetop, in the oven or even over a campfire. In addition to the versatility mentioned above, they’re a kitchen item to be treasured, as they can last a lifetime. A blender you get in your twenties might not see you through college, but a well-cared-for Dutch oven can take you through decades of holiday brunches and dinners. Perry has had a Le Creuset Dutch oven for about ten years and uses it often to make a Savory Spice Shop pot roast recipe, Thai coconut curry soup, chili and other foods. Le
bendmagazine.com
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