Infused Vinegar | Morsels of Life

Infused Vinegar

Punch up boring vinegar by infusing it with your choice of herbs, spices, or fruit! Add flavor to your food with these flavorful infused vinegars.

Morsels of Life - Infused Vinegar - Punch up boring vinegar by infusing it with your choice of herbs, spices, or fruit! Add flavor to your food with these flavorful infused vinegars.

Thinking about Christmas presents, we weren't sure what we wanted to give my mother. We usually have difficulty determining what to get our parents. They're well-established, have everything they need, and hate clutter. With those thoughts in mind, we started thinking consumables. What would she like? Something she hadn't thought of or hadn't made yet. Vinegar? The nice stuff gets pretty pricy, and who wants a bottle of the crappy stuff? Maybe I can buy some of the cheaper stuff and infuse it myself! I'm always experimenting anyway, so why not also experiment with vinegar? I'll share some of my vinegar infusions to get you started, but your options are limited only by your imagination. You can use all sorts of herbs, spices, and even fruits. Combine your vinegar with some oil, and you've got some tasty salad dressing. But don't let that limit you either! Cooking with (or even drinking) the vinegar isn't unheard of.

Note: Generally speaking, homemade infused vinegar is safe, as vinegar naturally cures foods and prevents bacterial growth with its acidity.

What are some of your favorite vinegar flavors?


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Punch up boring vinegar by infusing it with your choice of herbs, spices, or fruit! Add flavor to your food with these flavorful infused vinegars.

Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Yield: 6 cups

Materials:

Mass Weight Volume Number Material Notes
6 cups vinegar
2 tablespoons Italian herbs
2 cloves garlic, minced or dried or try some roasted garlic
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 ounces ginger, sliced, julienned, grated, or minced
2 tablespoons chili pepper flakes
2 serrano peppers, chopped

Methods:

  • For Italian garlic - combine 2 cups vinegar with Italian herbs and garlic. This vinegar has a complex flavor, adding a gentle tang and slight garlic flavor to any dish. It's great for dressings or pasta.
  • For ginger - combine 2 cups vinegar with ginger. This vinegar is sweet and spicy - great for many Asian dishes.
  • For spicy - combine 2 cups vinegar with peppers. This vinegar adds a bit of tangy heat - great for spicing things up a bit.
  • Shake mixtures to mix flavors. Infusing time depends on how flavorful you'd like your vinegars. I went for a week or so.



6 comments:

  1. I never would have thought to infuse my own vinegar! Such a great idea!

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  2. It really is - you get to customize your flavors, control your materials, and make cheap vinegar taste great!

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  3. What a great idea! We use infused vinegars in marinades and this is a good way to add another personal twist to our favorite dishes. Plus we will know exactly what is in it. (saw your post on Skip to my Lou)

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  4. Thanks! Definitely a great way to add your own twist to marinade (or salad dressings too). We also liked the whole "controlling what goes into it" aspect here. :)

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  5. Carrie @ My Favorite FindsFebruary 01, 2012

    Thank you so much for linking to Must Try Monday. This idea is really smart, especially as a marinade. Thank you again for sharing!

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  6. Thanks for hosting! It's especially nice when you're trying to create a unique flavor or just want to control your materials. :)

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