Description
Flavored vinegar is a customizable, aromatic ingredient that brings a burst of flavor to salads, marinades, cocktails, and even desserts. Whether infused with fresh herbs, sweet fruits, or warm spices, this homemade vinegar elevates everyday dishes while offering potential health benefits. It’s easy to prepare, store, and use across a variety of cuisines.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup fresh fruit (e.g., raspberries, sliced apples, or citrus peels)
- 1–2 sprigs fresh herbs (e.g., rosemary, thyme, basil, mint)
- 2–3 whole spices (e.g., cinnamon sticks, garlic cloves, ginger slices, chili peppers)
- 1 sterilized glass jar with lid (for infusing)
- 1 sterilized bottle (for storage)
Instructions
- Clean and prep ingredients: Rinse fruits, herbs, and spices thoroughly and pat dry. Slightly crush fruits or slice thick items like ginger to release flavor.
- Combine in jar: Place your choice of ingredients (fruit, herbs, spices) into the sterilized jar.
- Add vinegar: Pour vinegar over the ingredients, ensuring they are fully submerged.
- Seal and store: Close the jar tightly and store in a cool, dark place. Gently shake the jar every 2–3 days.
- Infuse: Allow to infuse for 1–2 weeks for cold infusion or heat gently on the stove for 5–10 minutes for quick infusion. Let cool.
- Strain and bottle: Once infused, strain out solids and pour into a clean, sterilized bottle with a tight-fitting cap.
- Use and store: Use in salad dressings, marinades, beverages, or desserts. Store in a cool pantry or refrigerate after opening.
Notes
- Use frozen fruits if fresh is unavailable—thaw before infusing.
- Combine flavors like raspberry + ginger or garlic + rosemary for layered taste.
- Always sterilize jars and bottles to prevent spoilage.
- Ideal vinegar base: white wine vinegar for neutral flavor or apple cider vinegar for fruitiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (or 10 minutes if using heat method)
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Infused
- Cuisine: Global
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tbsp
- Calories: 3 kcal
- Sugar: 0.2 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg