modena balsamic vinegar
balsamic Vinegar
is a traditional heavy flavored vinegar commonly used
in Italian gourmet cooking. It is typically used as a salad
vinaigrette when combined with virgin olive oil or as a marinade. It
is a traditional product that was developed in Modena, Italy,
where it has been Made since the Middle Ages and the
name is protected by the Italian government. Unlike
table vinegars, it is very dark and heavy with a complex,
sweet taste and is much more expensive. True Balsamico
vinegar has been aged fifteen years and upwards.
The best balsamico 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 balsamic vinegars. If a company
produces a "traditional" balsamico vinegar,
they will also produce a less costly, but high quality
vinegar as well.
View
our free Gourmet Balsamic Recipes.
Oil and vinegar Balsamic Dressings.
Balsamic vinegar is Produced
by reduced white grapes (typically,
trebbiano grapes) that has been boiled down to about
50% ("must") and fermenting that into alcohol.
It is then once again fermented to balsamic vinegar,
with a slow aging process
done in oak barrels that concentrates
the flavors. The flavor is deepened over years,
with the vinegar being kept in fine wood barrels, becoming
sweet, syrupy and very concentrated in flavour. Some
older balsamic 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 evaporation and aging process
that makes aged balsamic vinegar striking and unique. Balsamic vinegar
does not go bad after opening as oxygen is part
of the aging process, you can treasure your finest bottle
and use it on special entrees. Do
not overheat or cook balsamic vinegar
as it will destroy the taste.
As a key component
in vinaigrette dressings, balsamic blends
particularly well with olive oil. Olive oil-balsamic
vinaigrette is outstanding with lobster and scallops,
artichokes 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.
