5 Ways to Have Maple Syrup for Dinner

Like breakfast foods for dinner, some things may sound wrong but are just so right. The same can be said for maple syrup in savory dishes. Working on Maple has had Quirk HQ slathering the sweet stuff on tons of dishes we never thought to maple-fy before. And thanks to author Katie Webster's recipes, the results were as one might put it, suh-weeet! So in honor of the book's on-sale day, here’s what Katie’s recipes has taught us about having maple syrup for dinner! (As regaled by publicist extraordinaire Val Howlett.) 

Coat Your Carrots

Katie Webster calls her Maple Glazed Carrots recipe “classic,” though I’d never heard of carrots being made that way. But then I googled it, and apparently simmering your carrots in a mix of butter, syrup, and other sweet flavorings is, in fact, a Thing. Like a firmer, more colorful sweet potato side dish. Not sold yet? Maple’s recipe also involves shallots and cinnamon.

Stir It in Your Soup.

Ever drop a dollop of sour cream into your soup bowl? But what do you add to soups that are sweeter, more creamy? Maple’s Carrot Ginger Soup with Maple Yogurt recipe

introduces the brilliant solution of mixing plain Greek yogurt with maple syrup. It’s a perfect addition to soup that combines sweetness and bite.

Spike Your Chili.

Think of all the flavors of chili–chili powder, paprika, chipotle. Now think about maple enhancing those flavors. Excuse me for a minute while I mmmm. Maple often pairs syrup with poultry—its chili recipe calls for turkey as the meat base, with ⅓ cup of maple syrup mixed in with beans and tomatoes during the last step.

Drizzle It On Your Pizza.

This is one of those things that I would never have thought of, but now that I've read about it, makes all the sense in the universe. Maple syrup demands to be drizzled. And maple with cheese is like a honey-cheese pairing, only more New England. In Maple's Caramelized Onion Pizza recipe, Katie writes, “The syrup adds a lovely balance to the salty cheese.” I bet it does, Katie. I want it now.

Cook it Slow

In a slow cooker, just a quarter-cup of syrup goes a long way. A slow cooker gives maple lots of time to flavor soup or broth. I learned this from Maple’s Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Hot Pot recipe, which looks like it’s lifted from your dream restaurant.  

Have you tried using maple syrup for dinner yet? Let us know at @QuirkBooks! 

(All photo credits: Katie Webster)