Caroliva balsamic
balsamico Vinegar
is a traditional viscous flavoured vinegar typically used
in Italian recipes. It is typically used as a salad
dressing when combined with olive oil or as a marinade. It
is a traditional product developed in Modena, Italy,
where it has been Created since the Middle Ages and the
brand is protected by the Italian government. Unlike
most common vinegars, it is very dark and thick with a complex,
sweet taste and is much more costly. True Aged balsamic
vinegar has been aged in casks 15 years and upwards.
The primo aged balsamic vinegars
have nothing else added to them - only
the grapes. Lesser common vinegars will include brown sugar or caramel
to imitate the sweetness of the authentic balsamic vinegars. If a company
makes a "traditional" aged balsamic vinegar,
they will also produce a less costly, but quality
vinegar as well.
View
our complimentary Balsamic Recipes.
Oil and vinegar Balsamic Salad dressings.
Balsamic vinegar is Created
by reduced white grapes (typically,
trebbiano grapes) that has been boiled down to approximately
50% ("must") and fermenting that into alcohol.
It is then once again fermented to balsamico vinegar,
with a slow aging process
done in wood casks that concentrates
the flavors. The flavor is intensified over years,
with the vinegar being kept in fine wood barrels, becoming
sweet, syrupy and very concentrated in flavour. Some
aged balsamico vinegar is added to the "must"
to create a more complex and intricate taste, and to
add acidity.
The thick syrup is transferred
to oak casks to ferment in the open
air and then starts the long dehydration and aging process
that makes aged balsamico vinegar striking and unique. Balsamic vinegar
does not deteriorate after opening as oxygen is part
of the aging process, you can treasure your finest bottle
and use it on special entrees. Do
not heat or cook balsamic vinegar
as it will ruin the taste.
As a key component
in vinaigrette dressings, balsamic goes
especially well with olive oil. Olive oil-balsamic
vinaigrette is great with seafood,
artichokes and asparagus. A balsamic salad dressing does well
with winter veggies such as carrots, turnips, squash
and sweet potatoes, as well as spring mixed greens or
baby spinach.
The Mediterranean diet,
characterized by cuisine such as Italian food, has been
gaining popularity in North America, where the consumption
of traditional Mediterranean foods, such as cold pressed
olive oil and balsamic vinegar, has been increasing.
Many people are finding this diet as a healthy alternative
to fatty foods and deep fried food preparation.
