7 Ways to Cook With Vinegar

Updated August 29, 2010
Credit: Randy Mayor

Be it balsamic or just the plain apple cider variety, vinegar perks up the flavor of salads, barbecue, and even dessert.

Start Slideshow

1 of 7

Versatile Vinegar

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Virginia Houston

Adding a splash of something acidic, like vinegar, tends to brighten the flavors of almost any dish. But don't limit yourself to one variety. Like wine, vinegars each have distinct personalities from mildly sour rice wine vinegar to boldly sweet Italian balsamic. Once opened, use vinegar up within six months.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 7

Honeydew Relish Salad

Credit: Lara Hata

Honeydew Relish Salad Recipe

Honeydew melon, cucumber, grapes, and celery make a beautiful green salad. But it's a simple dressing of honey, white wine vinegar, and mustard seeds that "pickles" and elevates these ordinary ingredients into a sweet-tart masterpiece.

Prep and Cook Time: about 45 minutes.

3 of 7

Pulled-Pork Fajitas

Credit: Susie Cushner

Pulled-Pork Fajitas Recipe

An easy Carolina-style barbecue sauce of cider vinegar, sugar, cayenne, and Worcestershire put a delicious Southern spin on Mexican fajitas. Use leftover rotisserie chicken (the dark meat works best) in place of the pork for an even quicker meal.

Advertisement

4 of 7

Strawberries with Buttermilk Ice and Balsamic Vinegar

Credit: © Tina Rupp

Strawberries with Buttermilk Ice and Balsamic Vinegar Recipe

A granita-style frozen ice with buttermilk, lemon juice, and a tiny amount of sugar tops sliced strawberries drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

5 of 7

Pickled Grapes With Rosemary and Chiles

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Pickled Grapes With Rosemary and Chiles Recipe

Add these gorgeous spicy-tart grapes to an antipasto platter or cheese plate or stir them into chicken or mixed green salads. Guests will love the complex flavors. But the best part: prep time is 10 minutes and "pickling" happens in the fridge in just a few hours.

6 of 7

Zesty Vinegar Coleslaw

Zesty Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe

The neat thing about adding hot salad dressing to shredded cabbage is that it wilts the greens just slightly for a wonderfully tender-crunchy texture. The dressing combines sugar, oil, and cider vinegar with pungent turmeric to put a spunky and colorful kick into an old picnic favorite.

Turmeric adds a pungent flavor and a deep yellow color. It can be found in the spice section of your grocery store.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 7

Flank Steak with Caramelized Onions and Balsamic Glaze

Credit: Randy Mayor

Flank Steak with Caramelized Onions and Balsamic Glaze Recipe

The reduced balsamic vinegar sauce gives the flank steak a unique flavor that pairs perfectly with the caramelized onions.  Both the steak and onions contribute a hefty dose of potassium to this entrée--766 milligrams in each serving. Serve with steamed broccoli or asparagus, and drizzle some of the glaze over the vegetable.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next