What Is Balsamic vinegar and How Can I Use It?

Balsamic vinegar rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 456 recipes to cook with it.

What is balsamic vinegar?

Balsamic vinegar is a condiment originating from Italy.

The original traditional product, made from a reduction of cooked white Trebbiano grape juice . Today, the traditional balsamic vinegar is highly valued by chefs and gourmet food lovers.

Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, an inexpensive modern imitation of the traditional product, is today widely available and much better known. This is the kind commonly used for salad dressing together with oil.

Only two consortia produce true traditional balsamic vinegar, Reggio Emilia and neighboring Modena. True balsamic vinegar is made from a reduction of pressed Trebbiano and Lambrusco grapes. The resulting thick syrup, called mosto cotto in Italian, is subsequently aged for a minimum of 12 years in a battery of seven barrels of successively smaller sizes.

Traditional balsamic vinegar is produced from the juice of just-harvested white grapes (typically, Trebbiano grapes) boiled down to approximately 30% of the original volume to create a concentrate or must, which is then fermented with a slow aging process which concentrates the flavours.

The flavour intensifies over the years, with the vinegar being stored in wooden casks, becoming sweet, viscous and very concentrated. During this period, a portion evaporates: it is said that this is the "angels' share", a term also used in the production of scotch whisky, wine, and other alcoholic beverages.

Nutrition

Where found

Balsamic vinegar is usually found in the condiments section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Balsamic vinegar is a member of the Spices and Herbs US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does balsamic vinegar weigh?

Related

Spices and Herbs

Recipes using balsamic vinegar

There are 456 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Beef & Vegetables in Red Wine Sauce

A sophisticated main dish of beef strips marinated in red wine and accompanied by a colorful array of sweet bell peppers, this recipe is a delightful fusion of rich flavors and vibrant colors, a feast for the senses that is as visually stunning as it is gastronomically gratifying.

Margaret's Garlicky Gazpacho

Garlicky gazpacho blended cold with six cloves of garlic, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and onions, sharpened with balsamic vinegar and tomato-vegetable juice. A bold, no-cook summer soup served chilled.

Turkey Scallopini & Squash Ravioli with Cranberry Brown Butter

Turkey Scallopini and Squash Ravioli with Cranberry Brown Butter recipe

Caramelized Onion, Mushroom & Garlic Oil Flatbread

The pizza dough is brushed with garlic perfumed olive oil, topped with caramelized onions, mushrooms, sweet bell pepper and pineapples. It's easy and packed with yumminess. Use a whole wheat pizza dough to make it even healthier.

Watermelon, Arugula & Feta Salad

Sweet-juicy watermelon cubes, peppery arugula leaves, salty and creamy feta cheese are tossed with a light balsamic-olive oil vinaigrette. A great summer salad that adds some refresh-ness to your BBQ.

Beets, Chorizo & Pomegranate Braise with Cilantro Salsa

This delicious and well-balanced one pot meal will for sure satisfy everyone around the dinner table with all the yumminess and goodness.

Grilled Peaches with Baby Greens, Goat Cheese & Balsamic Glaze

Grilled peaches are succulent, sweet and slightly sour with the grilling flavor. They are delicious mixed with the baby greens, creamy crumbled goat cheese, and drizzled with balsamic glaze.

Eggs with Peppers & Tomato Cream

The flavor, texture and nutrients were all well balanced. Made these for breakfast today, it was very tasty, and certainly gave us enough good energies to start the day.

Cornish Hens & Plums on Baby Spinach

Grilled Cornish hens with a honey-cumin plum rub tucked under the skin, served on baby spinach with grilled plums and balsamic vinaigrette. A showstopping summer grill dinner.

Cornish Hens & Plums on Baby Spinach

Grilled Cornish hens with a honey-cumin plum rub tucked under the skin, served on baby spinach with grilled plums and balsamic vinaigrette. A showstopping summer grill dinner.

Kale Salad with Pinenuts, Currants & Parmesan

In a surprising twist, Tuscan kale is served raw—and makes for a substantial and satisfying fall salad. Sweet currants (or raisins) soaked in tangy white balasmic vingegar and salty parmesan punctuate the dressed, shredded kale.

Glazed Roasted Beets, Basil & Goat Cheese Salad

The earthy beets, spicy basil, creamy goat cheese and sour-sweet balsamic glaze make this salad with complimentary layers of flavors and textures.

Sauteed Beet Greens & Herbed Goat Cheese Crostini

Simply saute the beet greens with some garlic, a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar, mix the soft goat cheese with some fresh thyme leaves, which are placed on top of toasted bread. Great flavor and texture all in one bite.

Beets & Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese

Earthy-sweet beets, peppery arugula and creamy goat cheese are tossed with a red wine vinaigrette. Quick, easy and tasty!

Grilled Figs, Prosciutto & Arugula Salad

Caramelized grilled figs and smoky prosciutto are a delicious pair, and you can find both of them in this salad, mixed with some peppery arugula, gouda cheese and tossed with a basil-roasted bell pepper vinaigrette.

Five Spice Pork Tenderloin with Strawberry Balsamic Sauce

not a 5-spice powder.. a different flavor in almost each bite..

Balsamic Cranberry Chutney

Balsamic cranberry chutney simmers fresh cranberries with port wine, orange, dried apricots, and cherries, then warms it with cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. A sophisticated, tangy-sweet upgrade on the canned stuff.

Portobello Mushroom, Fresh Peppers & Goat Cheese Pizza

It smelled so good when the pizza was baked in the oven, and it tasted so good. The topping ingredients were so yummy, perfectly delicious together. Goat cheese added creaminess and cheesiness. It lasted a few minutes once the pizza came out of the oven...

Caramelized Shallots, Basil-Olive Oil & Goat Cheese Bread

Super moist and cheesy bread topped with caramelized shallots or red onions and brushed with basil-olive oil. The aroma from the oven during the baking will fill up your entire house, and this bread will not last long.

Balsamic Glazed Chicken & Bell Pepper Sandwiches

These sandwiches were amazing. The chicken was juicy, tender and so yummy. The sautéed red bell pepper and onion worked deliciously well with the sweet-sour succulent chicken. Need to make these sandwiches again, maybe tomorrow :D

Asian Red Cabbage Coleslaw

This salad recipe is a refreshing blend of tangy and sweet flavors. The cabbage left to marinate for an hour, allowing the flavors to meld together, resulting in a delicious and refreshing vegan and vegetarian friendly side dish that can be served at room temperature to highlight the fresh flavors and texture.

Aduki & Squash Soup

Aduki and squash soup blends sweet butternut, earthy adzuki beans, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, and savory miso for a rich vegan fall soup with a Japanese-macrobiotic backbone. High in fibre and deeply warming.

Grilled Mahi mahi, Red Onion Couscous, Chunky Papaya Avocado Salsa

Dolphin fish, AKA Mahi mahi served on top of a red onion couscous with a fresh Papaya Avocado salsa. Wonderfully presented and delicious.

Sage Fried Baby Peppers, Garlic & Olives

Good olive oil, a few sage sprigs, fresh lemon strips, sweet baby peppers, garlics and mixed Italian olives are sauteed in a pan, and they come out delicious and flavorful. Serve it with some warm crusted bread, you will be additive to these yummy bites after the first attempt.

Grilled Portobello Salad with Goat Cheese

Broiled portobello mushrooms sliced over mixed greens tossed with Earl Grey tea vinaigrette and topped with creamy goat cheese and fresh tomatoes for an elegant vegetarian main.

All 456 recipes