Balsamic Glaze is a kitchen shortcut that instantly upgrades vegetables, proteins and even fruit with a glossy, sweet-tart finish. This easy balsamic reduction is perfect drizzled on salads, roasted veggies, grilled chicken, or strawberries — make a jar and keep it in the fridge for weeks.
Prep Time: 5 mins • Cook Time: 20 mins • Total Time: 25 mins • Servings: makes ~1 cup
Ingredients
- 2 cups high-quality balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup brown sugar (or substitute honey, maple syrup, or agave to taste)
Directions
- Combine balsamic vinegar and brown sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reduces by about half and thickly coats the back of a spoon (about 20 minutes). Watch closely in the final minutes so it doesn’t over-reduce.
- Remove from heat, let cool slightly and transfer to a lidded jar. The glaze will thicken further as it cools. Refrigerate.
Cook’s Note
This glaze is intensely flavored — a little goes a long way. Use it as a drizzle over grilled chicken (or salmon), roasted vegetables, fresh strawberries or a wedge salad with Gorgonzola and toasted nuts. Substitute flavored balsamic vinegars (raspberry, fig) for different profiles, or use honey or maple instead of brown sugar.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
- Calories: 73
- Total Fat: 0 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 18 g
- Total Sugars: 18 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Vitamin C: 0 mg
- Calcium: 24 mg
- Iron: 1 mg
- Potassium: 53 mg