10 Foods you need you try with Maple Syrup

Posted on August 20, 2009  •  6 minutes  • 1244 words

Maple Syrup, it’s about as delicious as it is Canadian. It has long been known for it’s many health benefits. Despite it’s sweet and mega delicious flavour, it has plenty to offer to do the body good. It’s a good source of zinc, along with manganese, which is a trace mineral that’s essential for a large variety of enzymes that are important in energy production, as well as antioxidant defenses. It has been proven to be good for your heart, your immune system, as well as mens reproductive health. With all the many health benefits of Maple Syrup, many people forget that it can be used for more than just a sauce for your pancakes and Eggos. So behold, 10 foods you need to try with Maple Syrup.

1. Maple Chicken

Try this classic and tasty meal with a few friends. This recipe adds a little more crisp to every bite of chicken you take.

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs chicken pieces 1/2 cup maple syrup 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh lemon rind 1/4 cup chopped almonds 1 pinch pepper 2 teaspoons lemon juice Directions 1.Over 400 F (200 C). 2.Remove skin from chicken pieces, and discard skin. 3.Place chicken pieces in a shallow 9 x 13 (3 litre) pan. 4.Mix remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. 5.Bake in 400F (200C) oven, uncovered, for 50 minutes, basting occasionally.

2. Canadian Car Bomb

This alternative to an Irish Car bomb has the same kick, however with a definite sweet side to it. Depending on where you order it, the recipe may change depending on whiskey, beer, or maple. However it’s pretty consistent that you drop a shot of Whiskey and Maple Syrup or Liqueur into a cold beer. Try

Ingredients

1 pint of Molson Canadian Beer 1/2 Shot of Canadian Club Whiskey 1/2 Shot of Maple Syrup or Maple Syrup Liqueur Directions Drop the half and half shot of maple syrup and whiskey into the pint of Beer and commence chugging. Similar to an Irish Car Bomb or a Jaggerbomb.

3. Maple Milk

An old farmers recipe to curing a sweet tooth. One of my personal favourites.

Add 2 tablespoons of maple syrup to a cold glass of milk, stir, sip, enjoy.

<img alt="maple milk" src="http://ibackpackcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/maple-milk-300x225.jpg" title="maple milk">

4. Maple Glazed Carrots

Take an already delicious vegetable, and spruce it up with some delicious Canadian Maple Syrup. A great way to get vegetables into someone who doesn’t like them.

Ingredients<img alt="maple glazed carrots" src="http://ibackpackcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/maple-glazed-carrots-300x220.jpg" title="maple glazed carrots"> 8 medium carrots 3 tablespoons butter ¼ cup maple syrup ½ teaspoon ginger Directions Slice the carrots. Cook until they are tender. Melt the butter, then add the maple syrup and ginger. Simmer the carrots in maple syrup mixture until glazed

5. Maple Spare Ribs

Spare Ribs are universally known for being delicious however you cook them. Add a Canadian twist to your batch and impress some friends. Try it out on a barbeque or in the oven. Either way you’re mouth will crave more with every bite.

Ingredients 1.4 kg (3 lbs.) lean pork spareribs

<img alt="maple spare_ribs" src="http://ibackpackcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/maple-spare_ribs-300x200.jpg" title="maple spare_ribs">

175 ml (6 fl.oz.) pure maple syrup 15 ml (1 tablespoon) chili sauce 15 ml (1 tablespoon) Worcestershire sauce 15 ml (1 tablespoon) red wine vinegar 1 small onion, chopped 1.25 g (1/4 teaspoon) dry mustard Salt Freshly ground pepper Directions Roast ribs on a rack in pre-heated oven 400F (200C or gas mark 7) for roughly 30 minutes. Combine all the remaining ingredients in a pan and bring to boil for 5 minutes. Remove the ribs from rack and reduce heat to 350F (180C of gas mark 4). Place ribs in a baking tin and cover with the sauce. Bake uncovered for a further 45 minutes, basting frequently.

6. Maple Baked Beans

The only known way of making Baked Beans more magical than they already are.

Ingredients

<img alt="maple_baked_beans_lg" src="http://ibackpackcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/maple_baked_beans_lg-300x225.jpg" title="maple_baked_beans_lg">

 

1. 2 cups dried navy or white beans, soaked overnight
2. 2 cups maple syrup
3. 4 slices bacon, diced
4. 1 x large onion, peeled and diced
5. 1 tbsp dried ginger
6. 1 tbsp dried mustard

Directions    

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
2. Place the beans into a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer until beans until tender, about 45 minutes.
3. Drain the beans and place in a 4-quart ovenproof baking dish with a tight fitting lid. Add the maple syrup, bacon, onion, ginger and mustard. Bake until the beans have absorbed all the liquid, and are brown and tender, about 1 1/2 hours.

7. Maple Syrup Glaze for Salmon or Ham

A traditional East Coast recipe. Sure to knock the socks off any true foodie.

Ingredients

<img alt="maple glazed salmon" src="http://ibackpackcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/maple-glazed-salmon.jpg" title="maple glazed salmon">

• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2-3 T. Dijon mustard
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 T. balsamic vinegar
• 1 t. salt
• ½ t. black peppper

Directions

1. Whisk ingredients together
2. Cover salmon or ham steaks with glaze, reserving some for serving.
3. Refrigerate for 1-6 hours.

8. Maple Cinnamon Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries are delicious enough on their own. But add a sweet glaze of Maple Syrup and compliment it with a pinch of cinnamon and you are in for a flavour explosion.

Ingredients

<img alt="sweet-potato-fries1" src="http://ibackpackcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/sweet-potato-fries1-300x225.jpg" title="sweet-potato-fries1">

2 large sweet potatoes, unpeeled and scrubbed (about 1-1/2 lb) 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil, melted butter or margarine 4 teaspoons maple syrup 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1 pinch nutmeg Directions 1.Preheat oven to 425°F 2.Spray rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. 3.Cut sweet potatoes lengthwise in half and each half into 4 wedges. Place on prepared baking sheet. 4. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients; brush half of mixture over sweet potatoes. 5.Bake in centre of oven for 20 minutes. 6.Turn and brush with remaining maple syrup mixture. 7.Bake another 15 minutes or until tender.

9. Maple Syrup Pie

A delicious Maple Syrup Pie. Warm. Crisp. Sweet. The perfect way to finish a meal.

Ingredients

<img alt="Maple Syrup Pie" src="http://ibackpackcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Maple-Syrup-Pie-300x225.jpg" title="Maple Syrup Pie">

Pastry dough 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar 2 large eggs at room temperature 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/3 cup pure maple syrup (preferably dark amber) 2 teaspoons unsalted butter, melted Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Roll out dough into an 11-inch round on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin and fit into an 8-inch (3-cup) glass pie plate. Trim excess dough and crimp edges decoratively.
3. Whisk together brown sugar and eggs until creamy. Add cream, syrup, and butter, then whisk until smooth. Pour filling into pie shell.
4. Bake pie in lower third of oven until pastry is golden and filling is puffed and looks dry but still trembles, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool on a rack to room temperature (filling will set as pie cools).

10. Peanut Butter and Maple Syrup Sandwhich

People have looked at me as if I’m crazy when I do this. However, I am not alone (or at least I like to think so). If you’re short on Jam or Jelly for your PB & J Sanny - try this alternative. Easy to make. Easier to enjoy.

<img alt="peanut-butter-maple-sandwich" src="http://ibackpackcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/peanut-butter-maple-sandwich.gif" title="peanut-butter-maple-sandwich">

Take two slices of bread, spread a large amount of peanut butter on one slice of bread, followed by a tablespoon or more (depending on your preferences) on the other slice. Slap both slices together and eat.

Have you got a random food you enjoy with maple syrup? Let us know!