Homemade Vinegar Recipes

Three of the following recipes can be made for personal use or can be given as gifts with a recipe card attached for Christmas, birthdays, or housewarmings. Make several types of vinegar and prepare a gift basket that includes croutons, olive oil, salame, crackers, and cheese.

Fruit-Flavored Vinegar

Ingredients

2 cups chopped pitted fruit

1 quart distilled white vinegar

Use fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, nectarines, peaches, and plums. If fresh fruit is not available, use unsweetened frozen fruit.There is no need to defrost the fruit.

Place the fruit in a 2 quart bowl and pour the vinegar over the fruit. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let mixture stand at room temperature overnight. The next morniing, strain the vinegar and pour into a glass bottle. Label vinegar with a 6 month expiration date. Makes 1 quart.

* Important-Do not leave vinegar/fruit mix longer than overnight or it will break down too much and become unappealing.

This one is my favorite vinegar because I love fresh herbs and use them quite a bit in cooking.

Use one cup of the following fresh herbs: rosemary, thyme, basil or oregano.

5 whole black peppercorns

2 garlic cloves (cut in half)

1 quart white wine or distilled vinegar

Start by putting the herbs in a 2 quart glass bowl. Next add the peppercorns and garlic. Cover very tightly and let stand in a cool dry place for a week.

After a week, strain the vinegar and pour into a glass bottle. Label with a 3 month expiration date. Add a couple sprigs of herb (used in vinegar) inside bottle for an attractive touch.

Yields 1 quart.

This simple vinegar can be use on salads or as a poultry marinade.

3 cups distilled white vinegar

3 whole cinnamon sticks

2 tablespoons grated orange zest

Combine ingredients in a glass jar that has an airtight lid. Let this sit in a cool, dry place for 1 week. After a full week, strain the vinegar and pour into a nice glass bottle. Label with a expiration date of 6 months.

This recipe makes 3 cups.

This is a classic vinaigrette salad dressing for a delectable house salad.

Ingredients

1/4 cup of herb Vinegar

1 tsp. Dijon Mustard

1 tsp. salt.

2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 clove of garlic (crushed)

Add to a glass bowl the vinegar and mustard. Whisk together. Next add the salt and garlic and also whisk. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking as you are adding until the mixture becomes smooth. Place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving. The dressing will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator.