balsamic
balsamic Vinegar
is a authentic heavy flavored vinegar ordinarily used
in Tuscan recipes. It is often used as a salad
vinaigrette when combined with oil or as a marinade. It
is a traditional product that was developed in Modena, Italy,
where it has been Produced since the Middle Ages and the
name is protected by the Italian government. Unlike
most common vinegars, it is very dark and heavy with a complex,
sweet taste and is much more costly. True Balsamic
vinegar has been aged in casks fifteen years or more.
The finest balsamico vinegars
have nothing else added to them - only
the grapes. Lesser ones will add brown sugar or caramel
to imitate the sweetness of the true balsamico. If a company
produces a "traditional" balsamico vinegar,
they will also make a less expensive, but quality
vinegar as well.
View
our free Balsamic vinaigrette Recipes.
Oil and vinegar Balsamic Salad dressings.
Balsamic vinegar is Produced
by concentrated 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 balsamic vinegar,
with a slow aging procedure
done in wood casks that concentrates
the flavours. The flavour is magnified over decades,
with the balsamic 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 make 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 unique. Balsamic vinegar
does not deteriorate after opening as oxygen is part
of the aging process, you can cherish your best bottle
and use it on special occasions. Do
not heat or cook balsamic vinegar
as it will destroy the flavour.
As a key ingredient
in vinaigrette dressings, balsamic blends
very well with olive oil. Olive oil-balsamic
vinaigrette is wonderful with lobster and scallops,
fresh spinach and asparagus. A balsamic salad dressing does well
with winter veggies such as carrots, turnips, squash
and sweet potatoes, as well as fresh 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.
