Have you ever thought about preparing flavored or spiced vinegar at home?
It’s a super easy recipe, keeps without problems and is fragrant. A simple way to add fragrance and a special note to your dishes, a great gift idea.
SEASONALITY of flowers and aromatic herbs:
choose only fresh, untreated, and seasonal aromas
#edibleflowers:
– #elderberry flowers – between April and June
– #lavender flowers (with an intense aroma) – summer
– #dogrose flowers – May and June
– chive flowers – from May to August
– rosemary flowers
fresh herbs: in spring, summer, and autumn
basil, coriander, tarragon, chives, marjoram, lemon balm, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, santolina, thyme
dry aromas:
– star anise
– cinnamon stick
– cloves
– black or white peppercorns
– fennel seeds
fresh aromas:
– garlic
– onion
– #wild fennel
– celery
RECIPES with edible flowers
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Rest time: 5 Days
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: Yields for half a liter of vinegar
- Cooking methods: No cooking
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer, and Fall
- Energy 21.00 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 2.77 (g) of which sugars 0.40 (g)
- Proteins 0.07 (g)
- Fat 0.05 (g) of which saturated 0.00 (g)of which unsaturated 0.00 (g)
- Fibers 0.70 (g)
- Sodium 5.60 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 100 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Flavored Vinegar
The quantities of flowers or herbs are indicative, adjust based on the intensity of the individual aroma and the time left steeping in the vinegar.
- 2 cups l vinegar (apple cider, rice, or wine vinegar)
- 1.75 oz g elderflowers (or another aroma of choice as below)
Other ingredients to flavor, choose from:
– 1.4 oz aromatic herbs (basil, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme…)
– 0.9 oz fresh chili peppers
– to taste spices (fresh garlic, star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, fresh onion, fresh celery, peppercorns…)
Tools
- Container airtight
- Funnel
- Strainer or clean cloth
- Glass bottle or oil cruet
Preparation
In a jar with an airtight lid, pour the vinegar and submerge under the liquid: the flowers or aromas (if necessary, cut into small pieces).
Leave the vinegar to infuse in the shade (the sun heats and spoils the properties of the flowers) for about 5 days or more, adjusting according to your taste. After 3 days, you can taste and smell it; the longer the aromas remain in the vinegar, the more intense its final flavor will be.
Once ready, strain with a simple strainer or cloth (clean and without detergent residues). Then decant into a bottle.
To make the flavored vinegar more scenic, submerge some new sprigs or flowers of what was used to flavor it in the final bottle.
FLAVORED Vinegar with FRUIT
To half a liter of vinegar (white or red), add 200 – 300 g (7 – 10.5 oz) of very fresh fruit (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or pomegranate seeds) and optionally a sprig of mint. Leave to infuse in an airtight jar for about 2 weeks in a cool, dark place, shaking it every 3 days or more often. After the time has passed, use a food mill to make the vinegar thicker or strain with a strainer and lightly mash the raspberries with a fork to extract their juice.
FLAVORED Vinegar with Organic or Untreated CITRUS
In 500 g of white vinegar add your choice: 2 lemons, 1 orange, 1 citron, 3 mandarins, 1 grapefruit, and optionally some lemon balm. Peel to obtain only the colored part (avoid the white part which is bitter), then immerse the citrus peels and juice in the vinegar. Leave to infuse for about 15 days, shaking every two days, in a dry and shady place. Once ready, strain it and decant into an oil cruet. To make the flavored vinegar more pleasant, add the peel of a new citrus.
For a more fragrant vinegar, use mixed citrus instead of just one variety.
The Extra Idea
In hot season, add a drop of flavored vinegar to a glass of ice water for a refreshing drink.
STORAGE
Store flavored vinegar at room temperature, not in the refrigerator.
