What Is Blueberry vinegar and How Can I Use It?
Blueberry vinegar is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 2 recipes to get you started.
Key Points
- Vinegar infused with blueberries; milder, rounder and more floral than sharp raspberry vinegar.
- A finishing splash, not a dominant acid; good in fruit salsas and ketchups.
- A small pour suits spinach and goat-cheese salads without overpowering them.
- Make it by steeping lightly crushed berries in wine or cider vinegar about a week.
What is blueberry vinegar?
Blueberry vinegar is vinegar infused with blueberries until it takes on the fruit's color and flavor. It runs milder and rounder than a sharp berry vinegar like raspberry, with a soft, slightly floral sweetness behind the tartness.
Its gentleness makes it a finishing splash rather than a dominant acid. It rounds out fruit-forward condiments such as Very Berry Salsa and Blueberry Ketchup, and a small pour lifts a vinaigrette for spinach or goat-cheese salads without shouting over them.
A spoonful over melon or grilled pork also works.
To make a batch, lightly crush ripe blueberries, cover them with white wine vinegar or cider vinegar, and steep about a week before straining; sweeten lightly to taste if you like. Pressing the soft berries hard muddies the vinegar, so press gently and let it drip.
No blueberry vinegar in the cupboard? Stir a little blueberry preserve into plain wine vinegar, or use raspberry vinegar for a sharper, more assertive berry note. A strained, sealed bottle keeps for months in a cool, dark spot.
Quick facts
- In Chinese
- 蓝莓醋
- British (UK) term
- Blueberry vinegar
- en français
- bleuet vinaigre
- en español
- vinagre de arándanos
Recipes using blueberry vinegar
There are 2 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Blueberry Ketchup
Blueberry ketchup blends ripe berries with tomato, plums, ginger, and warm spice into a savory-sweet condiment. Pair with grilled meats, cheese boards, or burgers for unexpected depth.
Very Berry Salsa
Very berry salsa is a sweet-savory fruit salsa of blueberries and strawberries with Vidalia onion, blueberry vinegar, and toasted almonds. Served over sorbet or with pork and poultry.
