Balsamic vinegar is known for balancing tartness and sweetness, its bouquet of aromas, and intense flavors. No surprise there are many uses for balsamic vinegar in the kitchen.
There is no doubt that balsamic vinegar is an excellent ingredient to enhance your dishes, and even experiment a bit with flavors and textures. All you need to remember is that balsamic vinegar should never be cooked (as heat will destroy its very delicate and unique characteristics) and that a few drops can have a huge impact on how you’re hoping to transform the dish you’re preparing.
So, let’s check up on some of the best recipes with balsamic vinegar, we are sure some of them will surprise you. All these recipes can be found on the site of Acetaia Leonardi.
Recipes with fish and other meats
Italians have used balsamic vinegar to add that special touch to some of their most traditional dishes for a very long time.
Fish like cod, salmon, and anchovies are some of the favorites. Among our favorites, battered cod with cherry tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar makes for an excellent dinner.
With salmon or anchovies, it’s important to remember that we want to add a touch, so with balsamic vinegar, a few drops can go a long way, not covering the fishy taste of these meats but adding a bit of that tart and sweet flavor so typical of balsamic vinegar. The better the quality, the better the results.
Some red meats, especially lamb, are the perfect canvas for a touch of balsamic vinegar that doesn’t only heighten the dish, but also can be used as decoration to assure a perfect presentation.
Recipes with pasta
Any visit to Italy must have an introduction to the world of pasta. There are so many types and varieties, and very often they are homemade from scratch, a tradition that is very much alive in Italian households.
When it comes to pasta some of the best recipes seem to rely on mixing lemon notes with the taste of balsamic vinegar. This combination works great with thick rich pasta and simple sauces. Adding salmon or cherry tomatoes, and of course, basil, it’s always a hit.
Recipes with vegetables
There are some greens that absolutely need a drizzle of balsamic vinegar to make them perfect. Any dish with spinach, asparagus, and eggplants can benefit from adding balsamic vinegar.
What is best is that this syrupy dark gold not only adds character to the flavor of your vegetable dish but also can make it look attractive and enticing.
Recipes for desserts with balsamic vinegar
Here is where Italian has excelled in the use of balsamic vinegar. Who would have thought to add a few drops of this amazing dark syrup to a dessert? Well, it works!
Strawberries or raspberries covered with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar look like a dessert right out of a magazine, vanilla ice cream, pannacotta, and yogurt-based desserts are among the most popular to decorate with a few drops of balsamic vinegar. It not only looks amazing, but it also enhances the flavor in what we may call an unexpected way.
What you need to remember when using balsamic vinegar
There are some basic concepts when using balsamic vinegar in your kitchen. These are some basic rules to follow whatever is that you’re preparing.
It is known that balsamic vinegar should never be cooked, as this would destroy all its qualities. Balsamic vinegar is mostly used as the last ingredient in these dishes.
The rule with balsamic vinegar is less is more. Some precious drops will enhance the flavour of your dishes.
