What spices pair well with balsamic vinegar?

Do: Prepare a balsamic vinegar combination with greens or stone fruit, adding a little white pepper or grated ginger, grated lemon zest and even a touch of spring onions. It's savory and sweet with just enough acidity to elongate the flavor in your mouth, he says.

What do Italians put balsamic vinegar on?

Italians put balsamic vinegar on a variety of dishes including salads, risotto, grilled meats, and cheeses . It's also used to flavor strawberries and other fruits.

Which vinegar is best for vinaigrette?

In addition to white wine vinegar , red wine, sherry, balsamic and cider vinegars can all be used in the same quantities as above. It's really down to personal taste and it's great to have a selection of vinegars in your cupboard to give variety to even the simplest salads.

What is the easiest way to switch up the flavor of a vinaigrette?

Change up the base ingredients to give your dressing a different flavor. For example, try using rice vinegar, a shot of soy sauce, cilantro instead of parsley, and a slice of fresh ginger; blend in a neutral oil like canola or avocado.

What is the formula for vinaigrette dressing?

The French have decided that the perfect ratio for a vinaigrette is 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar . For my personal taste, that's a little too oily — but it's totally up to you. My simple system is: In a small screw-top jar, place vinegar and a pinch of salt; cover and shake (this helps to dissolve the salt).

What is the stabilizer in a vinaigrette?

An emulsifier is used in a vinaigrette to stabilize the oil and vinegar. Common emulsifiers include egg yolks, soy lecithin, and mustard . These ingredients all include lecithin--the stabilizing compound. In many vinaigrettes, mustard is the go-to stabilizer.

What is the best emulsifier for salad dressing?

Egg yolks or Mayonnaise The lecithin found in egg yolks has a natural affinity for both oil and water, making it an effective emulsifier. When combined with vigorous whisking or blending, the egg yolks help create a stable, creamy emulsion that imparts a luxurious mouthfeel to your dressing.

What if my balsamic vinaigrette is too sweet?

(Plus, you'll have extra dressing, which is never a bad thing.) If your dressing is too sweet, add something savory . Salt, of course, will work, but if you want something a little more interesting, opt for anchovies, capers, soy sauce, or miso, instead.

What are the two fundamental ingredients used to make a vinaigrette?

A vinaigrette is made of two basic ingredients - olive oil and balsamic .

Does thyme pair with balsamic vinegar?

The savory, floral earthiness of fresh thyme is the perfect complement to the flush acidity of this vinegar . The versatile Mediterranean herb lends itself especially well to chicken recipes, all sorts of potato dishes, and vinaigrettes.

Does oregano go with balsamic vinegar?

Herbaceous and green, this is a classic complement to many oils to make a greek-style vinaigrette with a Mediterranean flavor . Exceptional with meats, pasta, poultry, seafood, vegetables, soups, and salads. Created from fresh organic oregano and our premium white balsamic. Delicious!

Does balsamic vinegar go with chilli?

Balsamic is uniquely qualified from a flavor perspective. When adding vinegar to your chili, a little goes a long way, so start slow and small and add as needed to taste . It's also important to note that vinegar will cook off, so to get the most impact, be sure to add the splash toward the end of the process.

What meat does balsamic vinegar go with?

It pairs particularly well with grilled or roasted beef, such as steak or roast beef . Try using balsamic vinegar as a marinade or glaze for your beef dishes, or drizzle it over the top as a finishing touch. Pork: Balsamic vinegar also works well with pork, especially when paired with sweet or fruity flavors.

The Best Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe | A Spicy Perspective (2024)

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The Best Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (Balsamic Dressing) – This tangy balsamic vinaigrette dressing will make your salads sparkle, and takes only 5 minutes to prepare!

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Salad Dressing with Balsamic Vinegar

Is there anything more satisfying than skillfully whipping up your own dressing right at home? It makes you wonder why you ever bothered buying bottled stuff at the store.

This homemade salad dressing recipe for the Best Balsamic Vinaigrette is one I’ve tweaked over the years to be perfectly tangy-sweet and silky in texture.

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The tantalizing flavor is based on good quality aged balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, honey, a touch of dijon mustard, and herbs. It is fabulous over robust spinach and kale salads, romaine salads, and even over roasted vegetables!

And you can easily make larger batches of this balsamic vinaigrette dressing, and keep it in the refrigerator for several weeks.

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What Ingredients You Need to Make the Best Vinaigrette Dressing

With just a handful of ingredients, you can make a balsamic dressing that rivals any store-bought brand in both taste and cost.

Here’s all that you need:

Aged balsamic vinegar – It’s important to buy very good aged balsamic vinegar. The longer the vinegar has been aged, the sweeter, milder, and richer it becomes.
Extra virgin olive oil – My personal favorite for making vinaigrettes, but you can substitute it with avocado or any other light-flavored oil you prefer.
Honey – You’ll need less honey in this recipe if you use an older vinegar and/or if you prefer a more savory and less sweet dressing.
Dijon mustard – For that perfect tangy element that brings out the boldness of the balsamic.
Dried thyme – This balances the sweet and zesty notes of the dressing with a mild earthy flavor.
Minced garlic – Because every good vinaigrette needs garlic!

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How To Make Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Place all the ingredients in a jar and seal tightly.
Shake vigorously. The mustard will help emulsify the vinaigrette and give it a thick luxurious quality.

That’s it. Seriously!

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Get the Full (Printable) Best Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe Below. Enjoy!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Can Balsamic Dressing Be Stored?

Kept in an airtight container in the fridge, this dressing will keep well for 2-3 weeks. Just give it a good shake before serving.

What Are Some Ways to Enjoy This Balsamic Vinaigrette?

Balsamic vinaigrette dressing is delicious drizzled on cold salads loaded with fresh greens and veggies, and on warm salads with quinoa, chickpeas and/or cooked stone fruits like grilled peaches or poached pears.

It adds a wonderful depth and tanginess to hearty roasted veggies, such as carrots and Brussels sprouts, as a balsamic glaze after cooking.

Try a bit of this balsamic vinaigrette recipe with fruits like watermelon and strawberries for a terrifically savory and sweet treat. Adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream turns the salad into an instant dessert.

You can even use it as a marinade over proteins like steak, pork, and chicken.

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Can I Substitute Ingredients in this Recipe?

You absolutely can. Use whatever mild flavor oil you prefer (like paleo-friendly avocado oil, sunflower oil, or canola oil), substitute maple syrup for the honey to make it vegan, and it’s perfectly okay to use other mustards like stone-ground or yellow mustard if you don’t have Dijon.

Where Does Balsamic Vinegar Come From?

Authentic balsamic vinegar is made in only the cities of Reggio Emilia and Modena, Italy. It is highly regulated for quality so the traditional methods and production process is monitored by a special certification agency in Italy.

Traditional balsamic vinegar begins with grape must, which is a thick juice or mash made of whole pressed grapes including every component from skin to seeds and stems. They must achieve the perfect balance in flavor after cooking to concentrate the liquid, then fermenting for several weeks. It is then aged in barrels made of chestnut, oak, cherry, mulberry, and juniper wood to create unique flavor notes.

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Print Recipe

5 stars (125 reviews)

Best Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

The Best Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe – This tangy balsamic vinaigrette dressing will make your salads sparkle, and takes only 5 minutes to prepare!

Servings: 8

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

1/4 cup aged balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2-3 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Pour the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, 2 tablespoons honey, Dijon mustard, dried thyme, and garlic clove in a jar. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper.
Place the lid on the jar and shake vigorously to combine. Once smooth, taste. Then add more honey or salt if needed.

Video

Notes

Kept in an airtight container in the fridge, this dressing will keep well for 2-3 weeks. Just give it a good shake before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 84kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 0g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 16mg, Potassium: 8mg, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.2mg

Course: Dressing

Cuisine: American, Italian

Author: Sommer Collier

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