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You are here: Home / Recipes / Balsamic Glaze

By Karina 9 Comments Filed Under: Recipes

Balsamic Glaze

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How to make Homemade Balsamic Glaze or Reduction in minutes with just one ingredient!

Balsamic Glaze (also known as balsamic reduction) is so easy to make in your very own kitchen. Balsamic vinegar cooks down and turns into a much-loved condiment to drizzle over anything. Chicken, fish, salad, pasta, bruschetta, steak, vegetables, fruit — the options are endless!

Turn any regular dish into something extraordinary with the intense flavour!

How to make Balsamic Glaze or Reduction in minutes with just one ingredient! Homemade Balsamic Glaze (also known as balsamic reduction) is so easy to make in your very own kitchen.

BALSAMIC GLAZE

With perfect balance of sweet and tangy, balsamic glaze adds a delicious, deep rich colour and intense flavour to any recipe. Make a large batch and store it in the refrigerator for when the craving hits. Once you try it, you’ll be adding this reduction to everything on your plate!

HOW DO YOU MAKE BALSAMIC REDUCTION?

Start with a good quality balsamic. Classic balsamic vinegar comes from the Modena and Reggio Emilia areas in Italy. If you look at all of the different types available in your store, you will see the area each vinegar was made in marked on the labels.

To make a glaze, you only need that one ingredient: balsamic vinegar. Many recipes call for an added sweetener of some sort — usually sugar or honey. Cooking it down with those additions helps it cook faster while adding a hint of flavour to the glaze.

However, balsamic vinegar on its own turns into a sweet syrup as it reduces into a syrup-like consistency.

The time it takes to reduce will vary based on the quality you’re using. Generally, the good-quality vinegars cooks down a little faster than watered down cheaper vinegars.

If you like a hint of extra sweetness and the flavour of molasses , add a little brown sugar while it cooks down.

How to make Balsamic Glaze or Reduction in minutes with just one ingredient! Homemade Balsamic Glaze (also known as balsamic reduction) is so easy to make in your very own kitchen. Balsamic vinegar cooks down and turns into a much-loved condiment to drizzle over anything. Chicken, fish, salad, pasta, bruschetta, steak, vegetables, fruit -- the options are endless!

WHAT DOES BALSAMIC GLAZE TASTE LIKE?

A sweet and tangy syrup that you only need a little of, depending on the recipe you are using it for. It is quite intense in flavour, so start adding slowly.

WHAT SHOULD BALSAMIC GLAZE LOOK LIKE?

The vinegar needs to reduce to half. It becomes glossy and be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Glaze should be pourable; a similar consistency to warm honey.

It is important to note that glaze continues to thicken while it cools. Take it off the heat immediately to let it cool.

Balsamic Reduction

HOW TO STORE HOMEMADE BALSAMIC GLAZE

Pour it out into a clean glass jar or dressing bottle and refrigerate for up to a month.

Make a larger batch than the recipe calls for if you need a lot of it, or halve it.

WHAT GOES WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE

Caprese Stuffed Avocado
Stuffed Mushrooms
Chicken
Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Balsamic Glaze (Reduction)

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Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 25 mins
Serves: 30 (Makes 1/2 a cup)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups good quality balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat balsamic vinegar in a small pot or saucepan over medium heat. 
    *If adding sugar, combine both into the pot and heat together.
  • Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low heat and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vinegar thickens and is reduced to about 1/2 cup (about 20 minutes). It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
    *If simmering with sugar, it will take about 8-10 minutes to reduce.
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before serving (about 15 minutes).

Notes

The glaze will thicken slightly as it cools.

Nutrition

Calories: 14kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 19mg | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.1mg
« Coq Au Vin
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon »

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pam says

    November 25, 2020 at 6:04 am

    5 stars
    These are the most delicious, yummy brussels sprouts EVER. I can eat the whole batch for dinner. Going to share for Thanksgiving..Guess will have to double the recipe!

    Reply
  2. Kelly Champion says

    May 28, 2020 at 1:12 am

    Is the cooking time the same for using honey?

    Reply
  3. Amanda Hassall says

    February 10, 2020 at 7:00 pm

    5 stars
    It’s just delicious
    How long can you store in the fridge and can you reheat it please?

    Reply
  4. Jayne Hughes says

    January 17, 2020 at 12:16 pm

    This was soooo good. Did not add any sugar. Incredibly easy. We used it to drizzle over our blue cheese dressing on a salad. Totally calms the blue cheese. Can’t wait to try it on other dishes.

    Reply
  5. V says

    December 14, 2019 at 11:11 am

    Perfect! I had just ordered a pizza and was thinking how good it would be a nice drizzle. This was fast and easy and just what I needed.

    Reply
    • Chris says

      March 23, 2020 at 1:41 am

      This has always been my go-to condiment to put on a pizza with some dried Italian herbs. Simply amazing!

      Reply
  6. Mac says

    December 06, 2019 at 1:43 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you! I used the brown sugar because I wanted balsamic glazed brussel sprouts but my family is less into vinegar than I am. The glaze was such a hit my 9 year old added it to his salmon, too!

    Reply
  7. Monique Kauffman says

    October 06, 2019 at 2:05 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for posting this! I made it tonight using about 1/3 cup of “Truvia’s Brown Sugar Blend” and it turned out great!

    Reply
  8. Pat says

    August 17, 2019 at 11:33 pm

    5 stars
    Worked perfect! I made it without added sugar as I lean more towards tart flavors.

    Reply

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Welcome! My name is Karina and this is my internet kitchen hang-out. A self-confessed balanced foodie sharing some waistline friendly recipes that are full of flavour. Life is too short for bland and boring. …

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