Balsamic Vinegar Substitute

Have you noticed that you ran out of that special vinegar while cooking? Here are the best balsamic vinegar substitutes to use in recipes.

Preparing a recipe that calls for balsamic vinegar and you don’t have one? Balsamic vinegar is a popular type of Italian vinegar that is very dark in color. The taste is different from other vinegars: pungent, sweet, complex, with undertones of fig, molasses and cherry. It’s often reduced to a thick balsamic glaze that’s drizzled over salads, pizzas, or crostini. Balsamic vinegar is easy to find at your local grocery store, but don’t have time to buy it? Here are some replacement ideas.

Best balsamic vinegar substitute

1. Red Wine Vinegar + Maple Syrup or Honey

The Best Substitute for Balsamic Vinegar? To make a balsamic vinegar substitute: to mix together 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar with 2 teaspoons maple syrup. Adding sweetness to red wine vinegar approximates the complexity and roundness of balsamic flavor. When we sampled it in a taste test, it tasted remarkably close. If you don’t have maple syrup, you can use honey or sugar (just stir until the sugar has dissolved.

Keep in mind: Do not use this substitute in recipes with “balsamic” in the title. If you’re making balsamic reduction or balsamic vinaigrette, you need to have the original. (Forgiveness.)

Here are some recipes where you could use this balsamic vinegar substitute: