Blood Orange Flavored Vinegar

Fruit flavored vinegars are a real treat for any foodie. And this blood orange infused balsamic vinegar is perfect for your salad, pasta and yes, even ice cream!

Fruit infused vinegars are the latest rage in the food industry. I sampled many when I was eating my way through the 2014 Winter Fancy Food Show back in January. The vibrant colors and flavors are incredibly enticing, especially for a foodie like me.

What sets these vinegars apart from the ho-hum vinegars out there? The emergence of WHITE balsamic vinegar.

Just like white vinegar, white balsamic vinegar makes a great base for flavored vinegars. And since we are in the middle of citrus season, I decided to make some blood orange infused balsamic vinegar.

Why you have to try this recipe

I found some white balsamic vinegar at my local Trader Joe’s. White balsamic vinegar has a slight sweetness to it, like it’s red counterpart, but it lacks the thick syrup-like consistency.

It is made with white (or green) grapes instead of red, giving it a clear, light green color. And now that white balsamic vinegar is growing in popularity, it is getting easier to find.

Fruit infused vinegars aren’t new to the food scene. Typically, you can find red balsamic vinegar infused with fruits like cherry, strawberry and orange. For this infused vinegar, I chose to infuse white balsamic vinegar with beautiful blood oranges.

The clear base means that the vinegar will develop the color of the fruit you are using for the infusion. The fruity white balsamic vinegar pairs beautifully with any fruits you want to flavor your vinegar with. It’s a wonderful fruity, slightly sweet and with a little zip of vinegar. And did I mention the gorgeous, ruby-red color?

And unlike flavored oils, it is much easier and safe to use your newly flavored vinegar. All that is holding you back is your imagination.

Ingredients you need

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• Blood oranges: As I mentioned before, you can use almost any fruit to flavor your vinegar. I chose ruby red blood oranges.
• White balsamic vinegar: For a sweeter vinegar, I used white balsamic vinegar. I found it at Trader Joe’s but you can also order it online if you can’t find it locally. You can also infuse white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, but it won’t be as sweet as white balsamic vinegar.

Step-by-step directions

1. In a small non-reactive saucepan warm vinegar over medium heat.

2. Add orange slices and cook gently until vinegar slightly thickens, about 20 minutes. You can keep the peel or remove it for the steeping. Some people find the peel to be bitter. Remove from heat and bring to room temperature. Carefully transfer fruit and vinegar to a sanitized 16-ounce jar.

3. Store in a cool, dark place for two weeks and discard fruit. Use vinegar as you would any other vinegar.

Recipe tips and FAQs

I really enjoy making flavored vinegars. I have already shared with you how to make herb infused vinegar, specifically using sage blossoms and chive blossoms. The result is a beautiful lavender colored vinegar.

For this sweeter fruit flavored balsamic vinegar, you can go beyond the usual salads and pasta dishes. Try drizzling it over some creamy vanilla ice cream.

Vinegar over vanilla ice cream? Hello!! It’s Blood Orange Balsamic Vinegar! Don’t knock it ’til you tried it! I love getting inspired from what I find at these food shows.

PS If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback.

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