I reckon whoever invented beer must also have invented the oven because they go so well together, especially in the cooler months. But don’t be tricked into thinking low and slow means big and stodgy, because it doesn’t! It means tender, fragrant and full of flavour, thanks in part to the wonderful addition of all types of beer. It can also mean light and tangy and quite surprising, because cooking with beer often means you need to think outside the square, try something new or put a novel spin on something old. The oven is a great place to do this as baking is a fairly straightforward and safe process when creating one-pot wonders. Just chuck in some meat, vegies, herbs and the appropriate beer, put the lid on, whack it in the oven and leave it for a couple of hours – and hey presto, you have a delicious meal. Just make sure you remember to turn the oven on in the first place!

List of Recipes

Beer-braised beef osso bucco

Dark ale-braised oxtail and rabbit pappardelle

Lamb and beer curry

Coconut and ale-braised pickled pork

Shoulder of baby goat braised in milk, saison and Mexican chillies

Veal gueuze casserole

Surprisingly good beer-braised sausages and peas

Slow-braised octopus

Pork and pumpkin red curry

Rabbit and stout casserole

Boston-style beer-baked beans

Lamb shanks in Guinness

Fragrant Hoegaarden fish parcels

Meatloaf