4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make homemade balsamic vinegar from scratch? ›

Quick Guide: Homemade Balsamic Vinegar

Crush Lambrusco or Trebbiano grapes to extract their juice (the “must”). Strain the must and simmer it for 2–3 days until it halves and thickens. Store it in a wooden barrel for a minimum of 12 years, transferring to a smaller barrel each year.

At its most basic, balsamic vinaigrette is made of oil and balsamic vinegar. The oil is usually olive oil, and there is usually an emulsifying ingredient such as mustard. Herbs and spices, salt and pepper, and a sweetener such as honey may also be added.

Balsamic vinegar is pure vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is dark brown in color and has a very robust, slightly sweet flavor. Balsamic vinaigrette is a mixture made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and/or other spices. It is typically used as a salad dressing but has other uses in the kitchen as well.

Here is a perfect example of a culinary ratio, one that's fairly standard: The 3-to-1 vinaigrette, or 3 parts oil, 1 part vinegar.

Traditional balsamic vinegar is made only with one ingredient — "grape must" (in Italian, "mosto"), the sweet juice of freshly pressed grapes — that is boiled to a concentrate, fermented and acidified, and aged for 12 to 25 years or longer in wood barrels.

☝Balsamic vinegar regulations state that PGI balsamic vinegar must contain at least 10 percent wine vinegar. The must used for Modena balsamic vinegar PGI must have a minimum acidity of 8 g per kg. In addition, natural caramel may be added to the must.

So the next time you're dressing a salad, reach for the balsamic vinegar–in the long run, not ingesting that extra fat and sugar makes a big difference!

How Long Does Homemade Vinaigrette Last? Traditional vinaigrettes, like the balsamic version listed below, will last longer—sometimes up to a few weeks. However, anything with fresh garlic should be consumed within a few days, as the combination of garlic and oil can form harmful bacteria over time.

Balsamic vinegar

Popularly used as a salad dressing, balsamic vinegar is prepared from reduced grape juice and all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients of the fruit are present in this vinegar. This is one of the healthiest and most nutritious varieties of vinegar.

Worcestershire Sauce

As with soy sauce, you can always try adding a drizzle of lemon juice and sweetener to Worcestershire to help it replicate balsamic vinegar's flavor more closely.

What is the healthiest dressing for your salad? ›

Simple balsamic vinaigrette. Balsamic vinegar is full of flavour and olive oil is full of unsaturated fats which, when consumed in moderation, are good for your heart health.

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.

The most common emulsifiers in your kitchen are likely egg yolks, mayonnaise, prepared mustard (preferably Dijon), honey, and tomato paste (though I'm not a fan of raw tomato paste, the flavor works quite well in a vinaigrette). For a more neutral flavor, use mayonnaise.

My best recommendations for your home-made salad dressing is either good quality extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (3.).

If your recipe calls for balsamic vinegar and you only have red or white wine vinegar on hand, add a little sweetener like honey or sugar to even out the taste. You can also mix one tablespoon of wine vinegar with two teaspoons of maple syrup to sweeten it naturally.

Like other vinegars, balsamic vinegar is extremely high in acid. This means that it is very resistant to bacterial growth that causes other products to have a short shelf life. When properly stored (emphasis on the “properly”), balsamic vinegar can last anywhere between three to five years.

balsamic vinegar, substitute 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar or red wine vinegar plus ½ tsp. sugar.