Recipe: Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette - Bruce Bradley (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between balsamic vinegar and balsamic vinaigrette? ›

Balsamic vinegar is pure vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is dark brown in color and has a very robust, slightly sweet flavor. Balsamic vinaigrette is a mixture made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and/or other spices. It is typically used as a salad dressing but has other uses in the kitchen as well.

The Basic Vinaigrette Formula

The most basic ratio for making a salad vinaigrette is: one part vinegar (or other acid) three parts oil.

Mayo is a magic emulsifier. Its thickness and high fat content make it the perfect stabilizer for a vinaigrette. A scant ½ teaspoon makes the dressing glossy, not heavy.

So the next time you're dressing a salad, reach for the balsamic vinegar–in the long run, not ingesting that extra fat and sugar makes a big difference!

Heart health and blood pressure

Balsamic vinegar can reduce the concentration of triglycerides and total cholesterol in the body; these have been linked to heart attacks and stroke. Also, due to its low saturated fat content, balsamic vinegar is believed to enhance heart health and reduce high blood pressure.

The French have decided that the perfect ratio for a vinaigrette is 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar. For my personal taste, that's a little too oily — but it's totally up to you. My simple system is: In a small screw-top jar, place vinegar and a pinch of salt; cover and shake (this helps to dissolve the salt).

The most common emulsifiers in your kitchen are likely egg yolks, mayonnaise, prepared mustard (preferably Dijon), honey, and tomato paste (though I'm not a fan of raw tomato paste, the flavor works quite well in a vinaigrette). For a more neutral flavor, use mayonnaise.

Here is a perfect example of a culinary ratio, one that's fairly standard: The 3-to-1 vinaigrette, or 3 parts oil, 1 part vinegar.

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Canola Oil, Water, Organic Red Wine Vinegar, Organic Distilled Vinegar, Organic Stoneground Mustard (Organic Distilled Vinegar, Water, Organic Mustard Seed, Sea Salt, Organic Spices), Organic Onion Puree, Less than 2% of: Organic Garlic Puree, Sea Salt, Organic Black Pepper, ...

How do you cut the bitterness out of a vinaigrette? ›

Sweetness balances out acidity, spice, and bitterness. A salad composed of bitter greens may benefit from a sweeter dressing. But sweetness can come from sources other than one-note white sugar; consider honey, pureed dates, maple syrup, jam, or molasses as sweeteners that also add flavor and mouth-feel.

An emulsifier is used in a vinaigrette to stabilize the oil and vinegar. Common emulsifiers include egg yolks, soy lecithin, and mustard. These ingredients all include lecithin--the stabilizing compound. In many vinaigrettes, mustard is the go-to stabilizer.

First Oil, Then Vinegar. It's somewhat akin to the old Far Side adage, "First Pants, Then Shoes." If you add the vinegar first, the oil slides off and ends up in a puddle at the bottom of the bowl, instead of coating every leaf. 3 to 1. This is the standard ratio of oil to vinegar: three parts oil to one part vinegar.

Replace the balsamic vinegar called for with an equal amount of balsamic vinaigrette. This will add olive oil to your recipe, but that should work just fine in the types of recipes that call for balsamic vinegar.

Why is it called balsamic vinegar? Balsamic vinegar actually derives its name from the word balm (rooted in the Latin balsamum), which refers to an aromatic resin or odour, as well as a substance that soothes, relieves or heals.

Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe Ingredients

Balsamic vinegar – It fills the dressing with bold, sweet, and tangy flavor. Extra-virgin olive oil – It gives the dressing body and richness. Dijon mustard – For extra tang. Honey or maple syrup – It mellows the acidity of the mustard and balsamic.

Balsamic vinegar contains no fat and very little natural sugar. It's been proven to lower cholesterol, stabilize blood pressure, support weight loss, and improve your skin.