How to Braise Meat in Dr Pepper

Published on Monday, August 31, 2009, by CHOW Video Team / Edit Post

How to Braise Meat in Dr Pepper

Janine Falvo, chef de cuisine of Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar in Sonoma, California, sears a pork shoulder, covers it with Dr Pepper, and then adds aromatics like garlic, onion, and star anise before putting it in the oven for two to three hours at a low temperature.

CHOW Tips are the shared wisdom of our community. If you’ve figured out some piece of food, drink, or cooking wisdom that you’d like to share on video (and you can be in San Francisco), email Meredith Arthur and tell us what you’ve got in mind.

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POST A COMMENT |15 Comments

COMMENT

  • I have used ginger ale for baked ham for years, and I could see doing this recipe substituting Moxie for the Dr. Pepper.

  • I've tried Coca Cola for pork spareribs - they turn out amazing and many chefs use this method. I probably wouldn't try Dr. Pepper because I dislike the taste. I imagine you'd get the same tender meat no matter which soda you use.

  • This is not a crazy recipe- its great! I have used soft drink beverages like coca cola for baking a roast and it was awesome. My husbands favorite all time drink is Dr. Pepper. Awesome idea.

  • Interesting amount of skepticism. This isn't particularly new to CHOW, as Ideas in Food promoted this use of Dr. Pepper quite awhile back. I have to agree it's a great way to do pork shoulder, if one doesn't have a charcoal BBQ available.

    http://ideasinfood.typepad.com/ideas_in_food/2008/02/dr-pepper-pork.html

    After cooking above, I recommend straining the cooking liquid and reducing it to a...+READ

    Interesting amount of skepticism. This isn't particularly new to CHOW, as Ideas in Food promoted this use of Dr. Pepper quite awhile back. I have to agree it's a great way to do pork shoulder, if one doesn't have a charcoal BBQ available.

    http://ideasinfood.typepad.com/ideas_in_food/2008/02/dr-pepper-pork.html

    After cooking above, I recommend straining the cooking liquid and reducing it to a syrup (with the addition of more sugar, Chinese mature vinegar, sesame seeds, & green onions) and then tossing it all back together. Add kimchi as well, if you are not faint of heart... and chow down.-COLLAPSE

  • Yes I just had the best ham I have ever had - and it was prepared with coca cola!
    Why would anyone automatically dismiss the idea??

  • Ya'll must have never been down South, where cooking with soda is pretty standard. In fact preparing a ham in coca cola pretty old school and pretty amazing to boot!

    It's that sweet tang that adds a lot to meats that makes great sense.

    And don't knock it until you try it is great advice in the culinary world period.

  • This sounds Magical! mmmmm

  • Hey people, food is meant to be ENJOYED! Remember?

    Anyway, Dr. Pepper has a non-HFCS version, and it is incredibly delicious. Just google Dublin Dr. Pepper.

  • ya'll need to quit hating.
    Dr Pepper have been staple of texas style BBQ for decades.
    And i dare say those texas BBQ folk take their meat seriously.

    ps- H F Corn syrup isn't satan.

  • Why would anyone knock this recipe until they've tried it? This is CHOW for pete's sake! Live a little people...

  • It definitely works! I ate the the pork featured in the video for dinner that night and it was great.

    Meredith of CHOW

  • My grandson called me yesterday. He asked me how to get marshmellow out of the carpet. I said "1st freeze it with ice cubes, then use a stiff brush it will come up with a little work." He said This is just plain stupid. and hung up.
    Today I saw him and asked him how he got the marshmellow up. With a very red face he said 1st I froze it.
    Moral of the story This is just plain stupid. Dr. Pepper....+READ

    My grandson called me yesterday. He asked me how to get marshmellow out of the carpet. I said "1st freeze it with ice cubes, then use a stiff brush it will come up with a little work." He said This is just plain stupid. and hung up.
    Today I saw him and asked him how he got the marshmellow up. With a very red face he said 1st I froze it.
    Moral of the story This is just plain stupid. Dr. Pepper. Seriously. Is just plain rude.-COLLAPSE

  • There's better soda you can get for this kind of technique, such as anything without corn syrup.

  • Ordinarily StriperGuy, I'd agree with you. When I saw the story I thought "Yea, it can be done, but WHY?" However, I enjoy the food at Carneros and have had meals there prepared with excellent technique. For this reason, I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Who knows? You might like it!

  • This is just plain stupid. Dr. Pepper. Seriously.