What Are Angostura bitters and How Can I Use Them?
Wondering what to do with angostura bitters? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them — with 19 recipes to put them to work.
What are angostura bitters?
Bitters are liquids flavored with the essences of aromatic or bitter roots, herbs, barks, and plants, such as orange rind, myrrh, quinine, juniper, cloves, cassia, and gentian, to quote a few of the ingredients.
Bitters are used to stimulate the appetite, to aid digestion, and to flavor and season foods and drinks of all kinds. Many bitters have an alcoholic content.
The bitters best known in America takes its name from the town of Angostura, in Venezuela, later renamed as Ciudad Bolivar. It was first made there in 1824. It does not contain bitter bark of the angostura tree, but aromatic substances such as cardamom, mace, cinnamon, and gentian.
Bitters of all kinds are also made in Europe and sold under their trade names as apéritifs. In the US, bitters are used to flavor cocktails such as Old Fashioneds.
In cooking, a dash or two of bitters can work wonders in pepping up a soup, a ground meat, or a creamed dish, and surprisingly, fresh fruit or vanilla ice cream.
| In Chinese: | 安哥斯图娜 | |
| British (UK) term: | ||
| en français: | Angostura bitter | |
| en español: | Amargo de Angostura |
Recipes using angostura bitters
There are 19 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Creole Christmas Cake
This very rich cake from the West Indies is ideal for those who prefer not to ice their Christmas cakes.
Chicken in Peri-Peri Sauce
Peri-peri is a spicy marinade usually used with chicken that is very popular in Britain.
Orange Nog
Orange nog blends fresh orange juice, a whole egg, sugar, and a dash of bitters into a frothy single-serve breakfast drink. Five ingredients, blender to glass in 5 minutes.
Brandy Peaches Parfait
Brandy peaches parfait with frozen and fresh peaches soaked overnight in brandy and bitters, mixed with orange sherbet and frozen into a boozy, fruity frozen dessert.
GIN-FIZZ
Hello Friends, again with you I want to share this week a delicious recipe, easy to do in home and you can become a great host in any party or meeting with this delicious beverage. This recipes is called GIN-FIZZ
Red Onion Soup
Red onion soup caramelized in butter with white wine, beef broth, and a dash of Angostura bitters, finished with Parmesan. A refined twist on French onion soup ready in 35 minutes.
Venison Chops with Rice & Tomatoes
Wine-marinated venison chops stacked with green pepper rings, rice, onion, and tomato slices, then oven-steamed in a garlicky tomato sauce spiked with Angostura bitters. A complete one-dish meal.
Quail Brandon
Quail breasts braised in a lemon-butter sauce with mushrooms, nutmeg, sherry, and Angostura bitters. A Southern-style game bird dish served over egg noodles.
West Indian Shrimp
West Indian shrimp sauteed with Angostura bitters, saffron, and Caribbean herbs, then broiled under Parmesan until golden. A bold island-inspired seafood dish ready in 30 minutes.
Pumpkin Bisque
Here's a recipe for pumpkin soup. It comes from Jon Gatewood, the executive chef of Emma's restaurant in the Silas Griffith Inn in Danby, Vermont.
Venison Chops with Rice & Tomatos
Sauterne-marinated venison chops layered with green pepper rings stuffed with rice, onion, and fresh tomato, then oven-steamed in chunky tomatoes and Angostura bitters until tender.
Party Nibbles: Spicy Almonds
Spicy roasted almonds glazed with sherry, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and Angostura bitters, then tossed with cumin, chili powder, and cayenne. An addictive cocktail party snack.
Martini Steak
Grilled sirloin steak marinated in gin, dry vermouth, garlic, and herbs, garnished with pimento-stuffed olives. A cocktail-inspired steak with real martini flavor.
Professorns Glogg
Professorns glogg is a classic Swedish mulled wine steeped overnight with wine, muscatel, vermouth, aquavit, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. The ultimate cozy holiday drink to serve at a Scandinavian Christmas party.
Orange Sweet Potatoes
Orange sweet potatoes whipped with fresh orange juice, zest, brown sugar, and a secret splash of Angostura bitters. A lighter, butterless holiday side dish.
Blueberry Stuffed Cornish Hens
Roasted Cornish hens stuffed with fresh blueberries and brushed with a lemon-Angostura bitters glaze. An elegant, unexpected dinner that pairs fruit and poultry beautifully.
Deadman's Chili
A killer no-bean Texas-style chili with coarse-ground chuck, beer, tequila, whiskey, and six whole jalapeños. Not for the faint of heart.
Orange Glazed Caribou Roast
Orange glazed caribou roast seared at high heat, then braised with orange juice, allspice, and juniper berries. Finished with a currant jelly and bitters glaze for wild game done right.
