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Balsamic Vinegar Reduction

17 min

Salad

10 ingredients or less

Budget-friendly
Balsamic vinegar is an intensely concentrated grape vinegar, originating from Italy. It's delicious as is, but when reduced down, it adds the most amazing burst of flavor to any dish. We love it drizzled over juicy, fresh tomatoes, creamy hummus, or on salads containing crisp greens.

Servings

(1 Tbsp per serving)

Total

17 min

Prep

2 min

Cook

15 min

Free from

Soy symbol

soy

Peanut symbol

peanut

Treenut symbol

tree nut

Sesame symbol

sesame

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gluten

Ingredients

Enjoy this with

Directions

  1. To a small saucepan, add the balsamic vinegar, and sugar if using, and bring to a boil over high heat. When it starts to boil, reduce the temperature to maintain a simmer.
  2. Cook the vinegar down, stirring occasionally until it's about a third of the original volume, which should take about 13 - 15 minutes.
  3. Allow the reduction to cool completely before transferring to a glass jar. The reduction will continue to thicken as it cools. Enjoy!

Storage

  • Store in the fridge for up to 2 months.
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Nutrition info

Focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul. For specific nutrition needs due to a medical condition, consult a dietitian or physician. While we strive to provide accurate nutritional information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. See our disclaimer for details.

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Martunia - June 1, 2023, 6:49 p.m.

Made this to enjoy on your double-tomato bruschetta and I wasn't disappointed 😋 It's so easy to prepare, too!

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MaryP - April 5, 2023, 1:59 p.m.

Hi there! Considering it's vinegar + sugar, shouldn't it last forever once cooked?

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 7, 2023, 7:05 p.m.

Hey MaryP, great question! It can likely last longer than the time indicated, but for food safety reasons we aren't comfortable advising a date beyond 2 months. Homemade balsamic reduction may not last as long as commercial balsamic vinegar because it lacks the preservatives and stabilizers that are often added to commercial products 🤓

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Ieva - Sept. 26, 2022, 6:01 p.m.

Important not to cook it for too long... I got a balsamic vinegar candy now 😅

PUL small logo PUL Team - Sept. 28, 2022, 7:48 p.m.

Oh no! The reduction will continue to thicken as it cools so we recommend to remove from heat when it's about a third of the original volume. We hope this helps for now, Leva 😃

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Ellie - June 11, 2022, 3:18 a.m.

So easy!! I have to leave the kitchen while it reduces because the smell is pretty strong, but it's totally worth it!!

PUL small logo PUL Team - June 13, 2022, 4:22 p.m.

Thank you, Ellie, so happy to hear it's worth it 😃

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Swati - Dec. 30, 2021, 3:15 a.m.

Had buying a new bottle on our grocery list, and was watching one of your videos where you included a link. Didn’t realize it was this easy, and I’m never buying some from the store again. Thank you! We used sugar in the raw and it turned out perfectly.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Dec. 30, 2021, 4:42 a.m.

Oh so lovely to hear, Swati, and so glad it was enjoyed!

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Helena Henry - Dec. 1, 2021, 2:37 p.m.

I had no idea it was this simple

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Lisa - Nov. 14, 2021, 7:06 p.m.

So glad to have found out how to do this. I love balsamic reduction.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Nov. 14, 2021, 9:08 p.m.

We're so happy to hear, Lisa, enjoy 🤗

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