Now the Vinegars

August 29, 2020

Making vinegars is easy and fun and a great way to use all those lovely herbs from the garden.

Uses for vinegars:

You can find lists for hundreds of uses for herbal vinegars.  They have been around for thousands of years so I guess the list just keeps on growing.
However, these are the ones I use and know work well so I will share. 
If you find more that you like please share with us.

In the kitchen:

• Add 2 tsp of vinegar to water to steam vegetables. It will help keep bright color and vitamin content of the veggies.
• Better mashed potatoes.  After adding the last of the milk add a tsp of vinegar and beat them again.
• Add a tsp of garlic wine vinegar to a pound of hamburger.
• Add a splash of vinegar to the roasting pan when roasting poultry, beef or pork. The flavor will permeate the roast.

Combinations of herbs for vinegars:

White wine vinegar:

• Basil, parsley, fennel and garlic
• Tarragon,lemon balm, shallot, garlic, whole cloves and peppercorns
• Dill, basil,tarragon and lemon balm
• Thai basil and hot red pepper
• Tarragon, anise hyssop, hyssop and lemon balm
• Dill, mint and garlic cloves
• Mint and cardamom seeds
• Savory, tarragon, chervil, bas
• Savory, tarragon,chervil, basil and chives

Spice vinegar:

1 tsp each of whole cloves, black peppercorns, caraway seeds and whole garlic cloves.

In apple cider vinegar:

2 tsp each allspice berries and coriander seeds,

1 tsp each mustard seeds and whole cloves, a 3 inch cinnamon stick, a bay leaf, a 1inch piece of ginger root.

As you can see the combinations are endless and a bit overwhelming sometimes.

The sky is the limit they say.

To begin, a basic rule of thumb is that you should start off simple.

As with all herbs in all uses it is better to get to know an herb and then add others to it.

That way you will develop a sense of what goes with what.

This goes for using herbs in all ways.  Culinary, medicine and for skin care.

It is an evolving practice and if it all comes at you at once it is confusing and overwhelming and then we just don't do it.

Pick the herbs from your garden. Make a small cup of tea.  Was it good?  Great. That will be something you will go back to.

Sage?  It is good for us but doesn't taste so good on its own?  make a cup of tea that you like and add a bit of sage.

Medicinal herbs?  Make a vinegar.