Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I received a bottle of balsamic vinegar as a gift and I need suggestions on how to use it. Thanks!
Send it to me!
Try putting some good olive oil in a shallow dish (a little plate with sides works well) and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Optionally, sprinkle with italian seasonings, then serve as a dip for a really nice, crusty loaf of bread- heaven!
This is the absolute best way to serve balsamic vinegar.
I have just recently learned about balsamic vinegar (some of it's really expensive) Fancy restaurants serve it mixed with warmed olive oil for sopping up french or italian bread, and that is really good. I also got a bottle as a gift. It makes really good oil and vinegar dressing, though some of the stronger brands can be watered a bit. I also put it directly on my steamed chard, spinach and kale or right on salads. the best kind is aged for ten years or more. It's easy to get obsessed with it.
I use the balsamic vinegar in my good seasonings cruet jar (for more flavor than apple cider vinegar) or you may use it for adding flavor to meat (great on pork!)
Use it in marinara spaghetti sauce or with olive oil and herbs over pasta. It has a different flavor that it takes getting used to by some people, but it is worth it!
experiment by using basalmic vinegar inplace of regular vinegar or a half and half mix in any salad dressing recipe that calls for vinegar. as stated by others, some basalmic vinegar can be very strong.
A little goes a long way. Use sparingly. If you find that this particular brand isn't all that wonderful, be aware that all brands taste differently.
If you pour some in a pot and do a low boil or a strong simmer, it will actually become sweet after reducing.
I use it for mock Kentucky Fried Chicken coleslaw. It tastes just like the real slaw.
I love it served like in italian restaurants. Take a small dish and put a generous amount of olive oil, then sprinkle in balsamic vinegar. (less vinegar thatn oil). Sprinkle with pepper and dip sourdough bread in it. Mmm!
Balsamic vinegar is great with many things--it is nothing like cider or even wine vinegar and has a sweeter tast. It is twice distilled and is more concentrated than other vinegars - not sour.
Use it alone as a dip for good bread. Dress a salad with a few dashes and some olive oil. Add it to steamed spinach; shake some on cooked artichokes--the uses are endless.
I like it on veggies - sugar snap peas, zucchini, mushrooms, onion, broccoli, spinach, etc. Saute or stir fry veggie with a little oil, garlic, salt, pepper and a couple dashes balsamic vinegar.
Try a few sprinkles on steak or even hamburgers.
Make three (or two or 12) bean salad. Use some olive oil, onion, salt, pepper, oregano, parsley and balsamic vinegar.
