Ingredient Spotlight: Vinegar

I love vinegar for many reasons. I love it’s flavor – I truly believe that most of the time, when you taste a dish and you think “Huh, something is missing”…that missing ingredient is acid. It’s tart, tangy, and can be a little sweet. I love it’s versatility – it can be added as a finishing ingredient to a dish (think: a drizzle of balsamic over fresh mozzarella), to deglaze a pan (think: the flavor of sherry, concentrated), or as a major component to a dish (think: added to a vinaigrette).

But more than that, I love the shelf-stable nature of my favorite vinegars. It’s inexpensive, super flavorful, and it keeps in my pantry for months. Love that. Varieties I find useful to keep on hand: malt, champagne, red wine, white wine, cider, rice, sherry, and plain ole’ white.