What are your favorite "healthy" food pairings for big reds?

[Ravi_Raju]

The easiest answer with the leftover half bottle, would be to eat what you want to eat, then have the wine afterwards (or with it if a sip or two says it’s a good match). I very much like having a wine that complements the food (and vice-versa) but sometimes it’s good to simply have what we want.

Drink what you will and eat what you must. IMO, great wine requires great food and compromising defeats the purpose of enjoying great wine. About 10 years ago I started exercising so that I could drink whatever wine and eat whatever food I want and stay relatively heathy. That probably does not work for everyone, but it does for me. Skimp the rest of the week if you must and then enjoy what accents the wine the best IMO. I think there are some great suggestions here (grilled octopus with a dry Italian or Portuguese wine, tuna with the right pinot noir) and very helpful for those looking for a healthier alternative. Many ways to do it and some great suggestions that do not compromise on the pairing. However, I am still going to eat a fatty steak, cheese, or dessert if the wine I am drinking requires it. If I die young(ish), I will die happy.

[John_Glas]

Portobello Mushroom Burger.

[Lee_Short]

IMO, great wine requires great food and compromising defeats the purpose of enjoying great wine.

I think great wine requires well-executed food, but I find that well-executed simple food is often best with great wine. Depends on the type of wine, and its age, of course. As a big fan of mature wine, whites, and more elegant reds, I find that a simple roast chicken is something I often reach for with a really top wine.

[Tran_Bronstein]

Try a rich vegetable Ratatouille. It should pair well with your reds.

[Noah_C]

Excellent suggestion! I recently prepared Thomas Keller’s version of ratatouille, paired with a 2002 Leoville Barton, as we watched the movie Ratatouille. A fantastic food/wine/movie combo if there ever was one!