The taste of many dishes depends not so much on the main ingredients from which they are prepared, but on the seasonings and dressings that are added to them during the cooking process. One of the most delicious and unusual dressings is considered to be balsamic vinegar, which came into cooking in the distant Middle Ages. Most often, salads are prepared with balsamic vinegar, but it is also added for pickling mushrooms, fish, and vegetables.
Features of preparing salads with balsamic vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is also called balsamic . It has a fresh, sweet and sour taste and gives a new flavor to even boring dishes.
Cooking time
Salads with balsamic vinegar do not require much time . It will take no more than a quarter of an hour to chop the necessary vegetables and make the dressing.
How to choose the right balsamic vinegar for salad
Using balsamic vinegar in salads helps improve their taste . In order for a product to benefit the body, it is necessary to choose it correctly. Cannot be purchased in plastic containers, or at a price below the average price.
Advice! Balsamic vinegar favorably enhances the taste of tomatoes, cheese and eggs.
Vegetable and fruit salads
Almost all vegetables and fruits go well with balsamic. A salad made from tomatoes, herbs and a sauce made with balsamic, olive oil, salt and spices, such as black pepper, is especially good. This dressing, by the way, is ideal for any vegetable salads. You can use cucumbers or zucchini, lettuce or carrots - in any case, you will get a quick and at the same time tasty and unusual snack. Same as the following recipe.
To the raw beets grated on a grater for Korean carrots, add a couple of cucumbers and bell peppers, also cut into long strips, a little chili pepper, dried or fresh, crushed through a garlic press. Drizzle everything with balsamic, salt, pepper dressing and pour over heated olive oil. Let it brew a little - and welcome to the table!
You can make a light fruit salad in the same way: chop your favorite fruits and drizzle them with balsamic vinegar. The salad will acquire a new taste, emphasized by a slight sourness. Those who prefer salads with sour cream will definitely like the option with a dressing of sour cream, balsamic and soy sauce.
Shelf life of salad and what it is recommended to eat with
The prepared salad is best consumed immediately , as the vegetables release their juice. As a result, the dish becomes watery and less tasty.
But the dressing can be prepared for future use . To do this, mix olive oil with balsamic vinegar, which will act as a preservative. Add aromatic herbs and black pepper. Pour into a small glass bottle or jar. Close the lid. Shake vigorously. Use the product as needed within 3 months.
You can eat the salad as an independent dish . This is a great option during a diet and can easily replace dinner. It is also served with fluffy rice, sliced meats, and fried or boiled potatoes.
Italian salad dressing based on balsamic
This dressing is ideal for vegetable salads and salads with herbs. For it you need to prepare onions, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, olive oil, dry herbs for salad of your choice (basil, parsley, dill, rosemary, etc.), salt.
The herbs are crushed in a mortar, the onion is finely chopped and also kneaded lightly in a mortar. All this is poured with vinegar, mixed well and then seasoned with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. This sauce can be stored in the refrigerator and added to different dishes as needed. It should be shaken before use.
Interesting video on the topic: “Salads with balsamic vinegar and recipes for their preparation”:
With cucumbers and chicken
This delicious and light salad has a pleasant aroma and a spicy, moderately spicy taste. Due to the fact that there are no components in its composition that require long-term heat treatment, it is prepared very simply and quickly. To create it you will need:
- 150 g cherry tomatoes.
- 4 eggs.
- 3 chicken fillets.
- 2 tsp. grainy mustard.
- 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar.
- 4 tbsp. l. quality olive oil.
- 1 bunch of fresh lettuce.
- Salt and spices.
You need to start preparing this salad with balsamic sauce and tomatoes by processing the fillet. It is washed, blotted with paper napkins, beaten with a special hammer, sprinkled with salt and spices, and then fried in a heated non-stick frying pan. The browned poultry meat is cooled, cut into longitudinal slices and placed in a bowl that already contains torn lettuce leaves.
Greek salad with balsamic dressing, prepared according to the method discussed below, turns out very tasty and satisfying. If desired, it can become not only an excellent addition to the main course, but also a completely independent dinner. To feed it to your family, you will need:
- 500 g chicken meat.
- 70 g soft cheese.
- 2 cherry tomatoes.
- 2 cucumbers.
- 10 olives.
- 3 tbsp. l. cold pressed olive oil.
- 2 tbsp. l. balsamic vinegar.
- ½ onion.
- Salt, a mixture of peppers and wheat crackers.
The washed and dried chicken is salted, cut into cubes and grilled. As soon as it is browned, it is removed from the heat, cooled and poured into a deep salad bowl. Onion half rings, cucumber slices and olives are also sent into it. All this is salted, peppered and mixed. The finished dish is poured with a mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, sprinkled with croutons, and decorated with soft cheese and tomatoes.
With salmon and arugula
This recipe was invented by Mediterranean chefs, but is very popular among European housewives. A salad made using it with arugula and balsamic sauce has not only an attractive appearance, but also an incredibly fresh taste. And due to the fact that it contains almost only vegetables and herbs, it is also low in calories. To prepare it you will need:
- 150 g arugula.
- 200 g cherry tomatoes.
- 200 g mozzarella.
- 20 ml balsamic vinegar.
- 80 ml cold pressed olive oil.
- Salt and a mixture of freshly ground pepper.
The washed and dried arugula is torn by hand and placed in a suitable deep bowl. Tomato halves and mozzarella slices are also added to it. All this is poured with a sauce consisting of salt, spices, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Then the contents of the dishes are carefully mixed and served to the table.
This salad with balsamic sauce will not go unnoticed by lovers of canned fish. Thanks to the presence of this component, it turns out to be quite filling and suitable for a full-fledged family lunch. To prepare it you will definitely need:
- 300 g cherry tomatoes.
- 300 g arugula.
- 10 quail eggs.
- 1 can tuna (canned).
- 1 lemon.
- 3 tbsp. l. cold pressed olive oil.
- 1 tbsp. l. balsamic vinegar.
- Kitchen salt and a mixture of freshly ground pepper.
Place the fish, mashed with a fork, into a deep bowl. Washed arugula and tomato quarters are also sent into it. The whole thing is topped with a sauce made from salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and olive oil. The finished salad is carefully mixed and decorated with halves of boiled quail eggs.
This unusual salad with balsamic dressing has an exquisite taste and presentable appearance. Therefore, it is not a shame to serve it on the festive table. To feed it to your family and friends, you will have to prepare in advance:
- 150 g arugula.
- 30 g cranberries.
- 50 g pine nuts.
- 5 slices lightly salted salmon.
- 10 cherry tomatoes.
- 1 tbsp. l. balsamic vinegar.
- Salt and olive oil.
In a deep bowl combine chopped arugula, washed cranberries, pine nuts and chopped fish. The whole thing is topped with a dressing consisting of balsamic vinegar, a pinch of salt and olive oil.
This interesting salad will surely be appreciated by seafood lovers. It is considered one of the most striking examples of a successful combination of shrimp, cheese and vegetables. To prepare it, you will need:
- 400 g shrimp.
- 200 g mozzarella.
- 9 cherry tomatoes.
- 6 lettuce leaves.
- Salt, water, spices, balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
Boil shrimp in salted boiling water, cool, peel and pour into a salad bowl. Tomato halves and mozzarella cubes are also sent there. All this is complemented with lettuce leaves and poured with a sauce made from olive oil, salt, seasonings and balsamic vinegar.
Practical recommendations
Let us immediately warn you that you need to be able to choose this product correctly.
To avoid purchasing a fake, never buy a product at a price significantly lower than the average. You should also avoid products packaged in plastic bottles. The balsamic bite is not as sour as the wine bite. But it has far from a bland taste, so you can’t add too much of it. Just a few drops of this component can radically transform the finished dish and give it an exquisite touch. This component goes well with poultry, meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, cheeses and seafood.
Typically, olive oil, sour cream, mustard or natural yogurt are added to salad dressings with balsamic vinegar. In addition, they are supplemented with herbs and aromatic spices. It is advisable to cut the components that make up such salads into large pieces. It is recommended to store ready-made snacks for no more than a few hours. It is better to serve them in deep porcelain containers.
With broccoli and Brussels sprouts
Fans of unusual food combinations are advised to pay attention to another interesting recipe. A photo of a salad with balsamic dressing can whet the appetite even of those who have just had lunch. Therefore, it is necessary to understand its composition as soon as possible. To prepare it you will need:
- 100 g cottage cheese.
- 70 g broccoli.
- 3 slices of ham.
- 4 ripe tomatoes.
- 1 fleshy sweet pepper.
- 1 tbsp. l. balsamic vinegar.
- 1 tbsp. l. good sunflower oil.
- Salt.
The washed broccoli is poured with boiling water and put aside for a while. After about ten minutes, it is drained in a colander, dried and poured into a deep salad bowl. Strips of ham, chopped sweet peppers, tomato slices and crumbled cottage cheese are also sent into it. All this is salted and poured with a sauce made from sunflower oil and balsamic vinegar.
This tasty and healthy vegetable salad with balsamic sauce can be an excellent addition to meat dishes. It turns out very aromatic and moderately spicy. To prepare it, you will need:
- 500 g fresh Brussels sprouts.
- 180 ml balsamic vinegar.
- 710 g kale.
- 2 broccoli.
- 1 shallot.
- 2 tsp. Dijon mustard.
- 2.5 tbsp. l. olive oil.
- 1 tsp. liquid light honey.
- Salt and freshly ground pepper.
First you need to do the vegetables. Broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts are washed, chopped and combined in a large bowl. All this is salted, peppered, placed on a baking sheet greased with two tablespoons of olive oil, and baked at moderate temperature, making sure that the vegetables do not burn. As soon as they are browned, they are poured into a deep salad bowl and complemented with fried shallots. All this is topped with a sauce made from honey, Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar, and then served.
With peaches and cherries
Few people realize that a salad with balsamic dressing can be not only vegetable, but also fruit. To make one of these interpretations, you will need:
- 300 g cherries.
- 200 g ripe raspberries.
- 3 peaches.
- 2 tsp. olive oils.
- 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar.
- Arugula.
Fruits, berries and herbs are washed in running water, dried and combined in a deep container. In this case, cherries and peaches are first separated from the pits and cut into pieces. All this is complemented with a sauce made from olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
