Balsamic vinegar was first used in Ancient Rome, but the Romans used it more as a food preservative than an ingredient. Up until about the 1850s it was almost unheard of except in the Modena region of Italy, but today it’s ubiquitous around the world.
The unique white balsamic vinegar Sweetalyfood is sold this season by the Acetaia Malpighi. This genuine 100% Italian product is stored at a controlled temperature of 0-8° to retain the freshly-picked grapes’ crispness even after the cooking and aging processes.
The vinegar is aged in French oak barrels, which gives it an intense perfume and a fruity, sweet-sour flavor.
Use it to add a sweet-tart flavor to salads or other vegetable dishes like stuffed vegetables, or even as a marinade for chicken, eggs, or seafood.
Varieties Of Balsamic Vinegar
An additional benefit of white balsamic vinegar is that adding it to dressings or sauces won’t give the dishes a brown color. This can be a bonus for chefs who are trying to present dishes that not only taste great, but are also visually appealing.
The difference between white and regular balsamic varieties lies in the manufacturing process. To make regular balsamic, white grapes are crushed and then simmered over a low heat. After a long time, the crushed grapes (or ‘must’) become caramelized and take on a syrupy texture. This is now vinegar, but it has to be aged in wooden barrels for several years before it attains its ideal flavor and color.
To make white balsamic vinegar, it must be cooked under pressure so that it does not brown. It is also aged but for a much shorter time than regular balsamic. As a result, the white variety retains a paler color, and its taste is milder than the taste of regular balsamic.
Cooking With Balsamic Vinegar
Its tangy taste makes it the perfect choice for bruschetta, a traditional Italian starter of grilled garlic bread topped with olive oil, vegetables, meat, or cheese.
The versatile ingredient can also be used to spice up a range of savory dishes, and even sweet dishes. Some of our favorite balsamic vinegar recipes include vegetable savories such as Tomato and Ricotta Salata Bruschetta, as well as more complex dishes like Smoked Corn Relish Salad.
Although balsamic is mostly used in savory dishes, it can be used for sweets. For a really decadent dessert, nothing could be much better than a Savory Blue Cheese Cheesecake with Cherry Pear Compote and Cherry Balsamic Glaze!
