Flavored vinegars can impart intense, full-bodied flavor to salad dressings, soups, sauces, and even desserts. When you use a homemade recipe or purchase flavored vinegars, cooking with the acidic ingredient can turn a ho-hum recipe into a work of art. Whether you are looking for a more complex flavor or simply trying to add some extra zip, try substituting regular vinegar with a fruit, herbal or spicy vinegar in your next recipe.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
· Replace apple cider, red wine, balsamic, or rice wine vinegar in recipes, such as sweet-and-sour sauce or potato salad, with equal amounts of flavored vinegar.
· Incorporate fruit-flavored vinegars into fruit-based desserts, such as berry pie or pear compote, by heating fruit-flavored vinegar, such as raspberry or pomegranate, with twice the amount of sugar in a small saucepan over low heat until the mixture boils. Toss the cooled vinegar-sugar mixture with the fruit before using the fruit in the recipe. A vinegar-sugar glaze can also be used to coat pie crusts and fruit tarts. Due to its additional sugar content, fruit-flavored vinegar may caramelize if cooked over high heat, so it is best to reduce the cooking implement’s heat or add the vinegar to your recipe just before serving.
· Add herbal vinegar, such as lemongrass or garlic, to soups and stews, such as hot-and-sour or lentil, just before serving to enhance their flavor. When substituting herbal-flavored vinegar for plain vinegar, reduce the amount of any additional herbs called for in the original recipe to avoid competing flavors.
Source: Livestrong.com
When in doubt, flavored vinegar can enhance a homemade salad dressing, like this one:
Honey Garlic Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
· 1 cup vegetable oil
· 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
· 3 tablespoons honey
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
Preparation:
In a container, combine oil, vinegar, honey, and garlic. Cover, and shake until blended. Set aside for 45 minutes to allow flavors to combine. Shake again before serving.
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