Homemade Balsamic Reduction with Only One Ingredient
Easy Homemade Balsamic Reduction Recipe Easy balsamic glaze (also known as balsamic reduction) is sweet, tangy, intense, flavorful, and makes a perfect sauce for salads, roasted vegetables, chicken, or fish. Homemade balsamic reduction condiment is versatile in use. It pairs well with chicken, salmon, bruschetta, salads such as my watermelon salad, walnut blue cheese salad,…
Easy Homemade Balsamic Reduction Recipe
Easy balsamic glaze (also known as balsamic reduction) is sweet, tangy, intense, flavorful, and makes a perfect sauce for salads, roasted vegetables, chicken, or fish. Homemade balsamic reduction condiment is versatile in use. It pairs well with chicken, salmon, bruschetta, salads such as my watermelon salad, walnut blue cheese salad, and sweet potato broccoli bowl. Also, it takes less than 30 minutes to make! Amazingly, the balsamic reduction is super easy to make at home. The best part is that we will need only one ingredient – balsamic vinegar!
Luckily for me, I have never bought balsamic glaze from the store. How cool is that? When I learned about the awesomeness of balsamic glaze, I also learned that homemade balsamic reduction is the best! And since then, I have always made it at home. This is one sauce you want to always have in your fridge.
WATCH HOW TO MAKE BALSAMIC REDUCTION:
What is Balsamic Glaze Made of?
This homemade balsamic reduction aka, balsamic glaze comprises only one ingredient – balsamic vinegar. Eventually, balsamic vinegar becomes balsamic glaze after it slowly simmers and reduces to 75% of the original content. It then becomes thick, glossy and intense on both flavor and color. So, balsamic glaze is made up of reduced balsamic vinegar. Equally, some may refer to balsamic reduction as balsamic sauce because it is a sauce! Some call it balsamic drizzle!
Though you can buy balsamic reduction from most grocery stores, it is easy to make at home. And it is healthier too. Whenever you purchase balsamic glaze from the store, be sure to read the ingredient label, some may contain brown sugar, honey, etc. Fortunately, this balsamic reduction recipe right is keto and comes through quickly!
Homemade Balsamic Reduction Ingredients:
Organic Balsamic Vinegar (am using this one today)
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE BALSAMIC REDUCTION (STEP-BY-STEP):
Step one: Place a saucepan on the stove and add 1 cup of organic balsamic vinegar (or a regular one).
Step two: Turn the heat to medium and bring the saucepan to a boil. As soon as it starts boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer.
Step Three: Simmer on low until cooked down, thicker and about 75% reduced. Typically, one cup of organic balsamic vinegar makes about ¼ cup of balsamic reduction. Ensure to stay around and stir from time to time.
How Do You Know When Balsamic Vinegar is Reduced Enough?
Balsamic reduction is reduced enough when coats back of a spoon. Or, when you use a spoon/spatula to make a line in the saucepan, and it does not quickly close up. (Please see photos and video)
It usually takes about 25-30 minutes to reduce one cup of balsamic vinegar. It will thicken faster and take way less time if you add sugar, (of course this recipe is sugar-free)!
BALSAMIC REDUCTION FAQs:
Balsamic glaze tastes sweet, tangy, and intense. It almost makes you want more and more! My daughter says it tastes like cough syrup. However, I believe it will taste sweeter if you add a sweetener like brown sugar, honey agave, etc.
The difference between balsamic vinegar and balsamic reduction (aka, balsamic glaze) is the “reduction.” While balsamic vinegar is light and regular, balsamic reduction is thick, glossy, and intense in flavor.
Yes, this homemade balsamic reduction is healthy; it has balsamic vinegar’s health benefits. Besides, read the ingredient label when buying balsamic glaze from the grocery store. Buy the one with only one ingredient.
There are many ways to use this homemade balsamic reduction, such as a sauce, drizzle, or topping. Fortunately, it pairs so well with many recipes such as salads (my fav), roasted vegetables, bruschetta, salmon, steak, etc
Here are some ways I have used balsamic drizzle lately; you don’t need much, just a drizzle!
Watermelon Feta Salad; a slight balsamic drizzle goes a long way!
Walnut Blue Cheese Salad. No need to use any other salad dressing for this salad as balsamic sauce came through.
Potato Broccoli Chicken Bowl. I love meal prepping, and most often, my homemade balsamic reduction is part of it. We typically drizzle it on the roasted veggies and meat before eating.
Mango Salad with Salmon and Balsamic Drizzle. I had this 5-ingredient salad a couple of times last week, and it tastes so good! The best part is using balsamic reduction as salad dressing, saving time and calories.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE BALSAMIC REDUCTION WITH ONLY ONE INGREDIENT:
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Homemade Balsamic Reduction with Only One Ingredient
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Easy balsamic glaze, aka balsamic reduction is sweet, tangy, and makes a perfect sauce for salads, roasted vegetables, chicken, or fish. This homemade balsamic reduction aka, balsamic glaze, comprises only one ingredient – balsamic vinegar. Eventually, balsamic vinegar becomes balsamic glaze after it slowly simmers and reduces to about 75% of the original content. It becomes thick, glossy, and intense in both flavor and color.
Instructions
- Place a saucepan on the stove and add 1 cup of organic balsamic vinegar.
- Turn the heat to medium and bring the saucepan to a boil. As soon as it starts boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer.
- Simmer on low until cooked down, thicker and about 75% reduced. Typically, one cup of organic balsamic vinegar makes about ¼ cup of balsamic reduction. Ensure to stay around and stir from time to time.
- Drizzle on fresh veggies, roasted veggies, salads, bread, meat, and fish. Enjoy!
Notes
I prefer to use organic balsamic vinegar when making homemade balsamic reduction because I want high-quality vinegar.
I generally get ¼ cup balsamic glaze from one cup of balsamic vinegar. If you simmer the vinegar to about 50% reduction and are OK with the thickness, you can stop the cooking. Also, remember it will thicken after it cools, so don’t simmer it to dry out completely. Listen, do not fret over this, you can easily thin out a very thick balsamic glaze with few drops to spoonful of organic balsamic vinegar. Equally, do not make it too loose.
OTHER HEALTHY SAUCES/DRESSINGS TO TRY:
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Oooh, I love balsamic reduction, but I haven’t tried making it myself before. Looks absolutely perfect and I love that concentrated flavor!
Yes, Tara, that flavor is phenomenal!
I just made it and it came out perfectly! thank u!
Thanks for the feedback! Yippie!!!
So simple and yet so delicious! Will definitely make this again!
Yes, Elizabeth. It is indeed so super simple to make!
I’ve been eating lots of salads lately, so I may actually make some of this. I bet it is so handy to have around when you need a salad dressing or some extra flavour in a dish
This is a must-have condiment in my opinion!! Great on salads!
This will be so handy in all sort of dishes – salads, goodness bowls, stir fries – will be making a batch this weekend, thank you!
It surely pairs well with so many dishes, hope you enjoy! 😊