Strawberry Balsamic Sauce Recipe (2024)

  • Syrup
  • Stovetop Fruit
  • Strawberry

Bright, fruity, with a mellow tartness and sweetness, this sauce is perfect for topping ice cream and pound cake or adding to a savory vinaigrette.

By

Joshua Bousel

Strawberry Balsamic Sauce Recipe (1)

Joshua Bousel

Joshua Bousel is a Serious Eats old-timer, having started sharing his passion for grilling and barbecue recipes on the site back in 2008. He continues to develop grilling and barbecue recipes on his own site, The Meatwave, out of his home base of Durham, North Carolina.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated July 25, 2023

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Strawberry Balsamic Sauce Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • Reducing the balsamic vinegar before adding the strawberries tames its acidity, allowing the fruit to shine.
  • A pinch of lemon zest perks up the fruity flavor of the sauce.

Strawberries have been, and likely always will be, my favorite fruit. I'm all too content with the constant supply of inexpensive, ripe, and deliciously sweet strawberries that early summer season brings with it. I can feel the tides turning, though—as my wife brings home each new package, I find myself sitting and picking through the lot to find the extra plump and juicy fruit, leaving the comparatively flavorless specimens for someone with less forethought.* With those less-than-stellar berries becoming more and more numerous, I wanted to find a way to preserve the best of the best in a sauce that will keep me enjoying the harvest in an array of different dishes.

*This is quite the confrontational practice when taking the cream of the crop from the person actually buying the strawberries, and even worse when that person is your significant other.

My first (and best) thought was astrawberry balsamic sauce. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar over a pile of sliced fresh strawberries is a fantastic summertime treat. The rich vinegar adds a contrasting tartness that only seems to draw out the sweet flavor of the berries even more. It turned out, though, that when trying to wed the two in a more formal sauce, the right balance between sweet and tart was trickier than expected.

Strawberry Balsamic Sauce Recipe (3)

I started off with what I assumed would be a no-brainer—balsamic, hulled and diced strawberries, and little sugar, simmered together until thick and syrupy. In theory, this worked, but the tartness of the vinegar overwhelmed the strawberries, and while adding more sugar fixed the problem, it also took away from the natural fruity sweetness I was after.

So I went back and tried again, this time using less vinegar and swapping out the white sugar for dark brown sugar, whose deeper sweet molasses flavor I thought would add more body while requiring less actual sugar. I was right with the brown sugar—this was an improvement over the first batch—but even in small amounts, the balsamic was still diminishing the fresh strawberry flavor.

Then I had an idea.What about reducing the balsamic before adding it into the mix?A balsamic reduction—made by simply simmering balsamic vinegar until thick and syrupy—both intensifies the sharp flavor of the vinegar, while sweetening it up a bit as well. This worked like magic; this next iteration of the sauce had the exact balance of sweet, tart, and fruity I was after. But I still felt like it was missing a brightness that would really round it out.

Strawberry Balsamic Sauce Recipe (4)

Lemon juice seemed to fit the bill, but that just threw off the acidity once again. So to get that bright flavor without the excessive tartness, I added a pinch of lemon zest to my last batch of the sauce and was finally able to declare it pretty damn near perfect.

Bright, fruity, with a mellow tartness and sweetness, this strawberry balsamic sauce is ready for a multitude of uses. Desserts are the most obvious—it makes an excellent topping for vanilla ice cream or spread on warmed pound cake. It can have more savory uses too, though, like mixed into yogurt or whisked with olive oil to make a tasty vinaigrette. No matter what the use, I can take comfort in the fact I have a batch sitting in the fridge, which will extend the joy of prime summer strawberry season for me for at least another week or two.

This recipe was originally published as part of the column "Sauced."

July 2013

Recipe Details

Strawberry Balsamic Sauce

Active25 mins

Total25 mins

Serves12 servings

Makes1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

  • 2 cups ripe strawberries, stemmed, hulled, and roughly diced

  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions

  1. Bring balsamic vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer until vinegar has thickened and reduced to 1/4 of its original volume, 5 to 10 minutes.

    Strawberry Balsamic Sauce Recipe (5)

  2. Stir in strawberries, sugar, salt, and lemon zest. Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until strawberries have released their juices and softened, about 5 minutes.

    Strawberry Balsamic Sauce Recipe (6)

  3. Using the back of a wooden spoon, crush strawberries against side of saucepan. Continue to simmer until sauce has thickened and is syrupy, 5 to 10 minutes more. Remove from heat, let cool to room temperature, then use immediately or transfer to an airtight container and store in refrigerator for up to a week.

    Strawberry Balsamic Sauce Recipe (7)

Read More

  • Everything You Need to Know About Balsamic Vinegar
  • How to Select, Freeze, and Bake with Strawberries
  • Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote With Fennel
  • Balsamic-Strawberry Baked Goat Cheese Dip
  • Balsamic Strawberry Smash
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
26Calories
0g Fat
6g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories26
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 29mg1%
Total Carbohydrate 6g2%
Dietary Fiber 1g2%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 17mg85%
Calcium 9mg1%
Iron 0mg1%
Potassium 59mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Strawberry Balsamic Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does strawberry balsamic taste like? ›

The delectable combination of succulent strawberries and tangy balsamic vinegar creates a flavour profile that is both savory and sweet. The versatility of our Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar is unmatched. It pairs perfectly with salad, bread, and white meats, adding a delightful pop of flavour to any dish.

Is strawberry balsamic vinegar good for you? ›

As indicated by one examination, including hares with elevated cholesterol, it is conceivable that having strawberry balsamic vinegar can help lower or keep up effectively low cholesterol levels. The probiotics in such vinegar can likewise help cause an individual to feel full for a longer period.

What vinegar is best for strawberries? ›

The balsamic vinegar brings out the berries' beautiful color and truly enhances their flavor. Great served with pound cake, over vanilla ice cream, or simply by themselves.

What is balsamic sauce made of? ›

Traditional balsamic vinegar is made only with one ingredient — "grape must" (in Italian, "mosto"), the sweet juice of freshly pressed grapes — that is boiled to a concentrate, fermented and acidified, and aged for 12 to 25 years or longer in wood barrels.

How long does strawberry balsamic vinegar last? ›

How long does strawberry balsamic vinegar last? Stored in a cool, dark place and away from light the shelf life is 12 months. It will last up to 18 months if stored unopened. Light exposure can lead to browning as well as spoilage of this product.

Why is balsamic so expensive? ›

It takes 12 years to make the best, aceto balsamico tradizionale (traditional balsamic vinegar), and at least 25 to make the finest, extra Vecchio. Because of traditional balsamic vinegar's painstaking artisanal production process, supplies are limited, and it tends to be rather pricey.

Can too much balsamic vinegar be bad for you? ›

This versatile vinegar may enhance skin health, support healthy weight maintenance by increasing satiety, promote digestive health, lower blood pressure and improve blood sugar control. However, overconsumption may damage tooth enamel and lead to acid reflux or heartburn.

What is strawberry balsamic vinegar used for? ›

The Olive Scene's Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar is rich and sweet enough to use in baking recipes or with fruit, but still has just enough tartness to also make a delicious vinaigrette or marinade. It's bursting with all-natural, ripe strawberry flavor.

Is balsamic vinegar good for your gut? ›

Improves digestion and gut health

The enzymes in balsamic vinegar help with digestion and absorption of nutrients, making this an excellent addition to any diet plan. Protein – Balsamic vinegar helps with protein digestion by breaking down the amino acids and making them more absorbable by your body.

Why do strawberries last longer in a glass jar? ›

The airtight nature of the jar seems to keep the strawberries fresher for slightly longer. Here's how to store strawberries in Mason jars: Pat the berries dry, if any moisture remains, then gently drop them into a Mason jar. Add the lid and twist to seal tightly. Place on a shelf inside your refrigerator.

Can dogs eat strawberries? ›

Yes, dogs can eat strawberries. Strawberries are full of fiber and vitamin C. Along with that, they also contain an enzyme that can help whiten your dog's teeth as he or she eats them. Like all fruits, strawberries contain natural sugar, so offer them in moderation.

Is balsamic sauce the same as balsamic vinegar? ›

Balsamic vinegar offers a blend of sweetness, acidity, and woody undertones in a liquid form, ideal for dressings, marinades, and salads. In contrast, balsamic glaze is thicker and syrupy, with sweetness from added sugars and a rapid reduction process.

Is there a difference between balsamic and balsamic vinegar? ›

The first important concept to understand is that Balsamic glaze, also called Balsamic cream, is a reduction of Balsamic Vinegar. Its preparation then starts from this product, to which various ingredients are added, such as sugar, flour, starch and butter.

What is the difference between balsamic vinegar and balsamic dressing? ›

Balsamic vinegar is pure vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is dark brown in color and has a very robust, slightly sweet flavor. Balsamic vinaigrette is a mixture made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and/or other spices. It is typically used as a salad dressing but has other uses in the kitchen as well.

What does balsamic taste like? ›

Balsamic vinegar is made from unfermented grape juice, while red wine vinegar is made from fermented red wine. This difference in production process results in two very different flavors. Balsamic vinegar has a sweet, fruity flavor, while red wine vinegar has a sour, acidic taste.

What does balsamic dressing taste like? ›

Balsamic vinaigrette is a rich, dark vinaigrette with a bold, sweet, and tangy flavor. It's most commonly used as a salad dressing, but it also works well as an ingredient in marinades, sauces, and so much more.

What should balsamic taste like? ›

Color and Texture: Traditional balsamic vinegar is glossy, viscous, and dark brown, though it captures light beautifully. It moves like syrup, and has a velvety texture on the tongue. Flavor: A rich, complex sweetness that explodes in the mouth with notes of fig, molasses, cherry, chocolate, or prune.

What flavor does strawberry taste like? ›

Strawberries taste sweet; however, a good portion of that “sweet” perception actually comes from strawberry aroma and flavor! The freshest and tastiest strawberries are a fragrant bouquet of esters, with flavor notes ranging from pineapple to tree fruit such as apple and pear.

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