What is the Difference Between Balsamic Vinegar and Balsamic Vinaigrette

The main difference between balsamic vinegar and balsamic vinaigrette is their ingredients. A traditional balsamic vinegar only contains grape must. Meanwhile, the balsamic vinaigrette contains balsamic vinegar, oil, and sugar.

Balsamic Vinegar and Balsamic Vinaigrette are two distinct types of liquids, although they do have similar-sounding names. Balsamic vinaigrette is a vinaigrette made with balsamic vinegar, oil as well as other ingredients.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Balsamic Vinegar 
     – Definition, Features
2. What is Balsamic Vinaigrette
     – Definition, Features
3. What are the Similarities Between Balsamic Vinegar and Balsamic Vinaigrette
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Balsamic Vinegar and Balsamic Vinaigrette
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Balsamic Vinegar, Balsamic Vinaigrette

What is Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is a dark, slightly sweet Italian vinegar with an intense flavour. We can use it to enhance marinades, sauces, and salad dressings. This vinegar is partially or wholly made from grape must, which is freshly crushed grape juice with seeds, skins, and stems. The city of Modena in Italy is known as the birthplace of balsamic vinegar.

There are a few types of balsamic vinegar. The two main types are traditional balsamic vinegar and modern commercial balsamic vinegar. The traditional balsamic vinegar only contains grape must. It undergoes concentration, fermentation, and acidification, and ageing for 12 – 25 years or longer in wooden barrels. These are usually produced in small batches are really expensive. Moreover, traditional balsamic vinegar is produced around the area of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy. Commercial balsamic vinegar, on the other hand, is the balsamic vinegar we usually find in most local stores. It has a mixture of concentrated grape and wine vinegar. This mixing also allows producers to produce a high volume of balsamic vinegar. Moreover, depending on this mix, vinegar can vary in its sweetness.

What is Balsamic Vinaigrette

Balsamic vinaigrette is simply a vinaigrette made with balsamic vinegar. Vinaigrette is a concoction that contains a variety of ingredients like vinegar, sugar, oil. It can also involve seasonings like garlic powder, salt, and pepper. In brief, balsamic vinegar is the base in balsamic vinaigrette.

Moreover, for a regular vinaigrette, the standard ratio is three parts oil to one part vinegar. But this ratio is flexible. For instance, if you like a tart flavour, you can add more vinegar. You can also adjust the ingredients to suit your needs – some chopped herbs, mustard cream, a spoon of honey, etc.  Therefore, depending on the ingredients used, balsamic vinaigrettes can add a variety of flavours to the dish. Furthermore, if a recipe calls for balsamic vinegar and you don’t have it at home, you can substitute it with balsamic vinaigrette. But keep in mind that vinaigrette had other ingredients like olive oil.

Similarities Between Balsamic Vinegar and Balsamic Vinaigrette

• Balsamic vinegar is the base of balsamic vinaigrette.
• Moreover, you can substitute balsamic vinegar balsamic vinaigrette if it’s not available on hand.

Difference Between Balsamic Vinegar and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Definition

Balsamic vinegar is a dark, slightly sweet Italian vinegar with an intense flavour, while balsamic vinaigrette is a concoction that contains a variety of ingredients like balsamic vinegar, sugar, oil.

Ingredients

Traditional balsamic vinegar is made of grape must, while commercial balsamic vinegar is made of a mixture of concentrated grape and wine vinegar. Balsamic vinaigrette, on the other hand, contains a variety of ingredients like vinegar, sugar, oil.

Conclusion

In brief, the main difference between balsamic vinegar and balsamic vinaigrette is their ingredients. A traditional balsamic vinegar only contains grape must, while balsamic vinaigrette contains balsamic vinegar, oil, and sugar.

Reference:

1. Christensen, Emma. “Essential Recipe: Balsamic Vinaigrette.” Kitchn, Apartment Therapy, LLC., 29 Jan. 2020, Available here.
2. Baur, Elise. “A Guide to Balsamic Vinegar.” Simply Recipes, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “3360720” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “2487759” (CC0) via Pixabay