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Balsamic Glaze Recipe: How To Make Balsamic Reduction

Learn how to make balsamic glaze with this 1-ingredient easy balsamic reduction recipe - it takes 15 minutes! You'll put this balsamic glaze on everything from chicken to veggies.

by Maya Last Updated on December 6, 2020 1 Comment

balsamic glaze in glass pitcher
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From the moment you make this balsamic reduction recipe, you’ll be wanting to put it on EVERYTHING! It seriously upgrades just about any meal. Salads? Yes. Chicken? Yes. Ice cream? YES. And the best thing about this balsamic glaze recipe? It can hardly be called a recipe at all because you only need ONE ingredient! Okay, let me show you how to make balsamic glaze – you won’t want to be without it from now on!

What Is Balsamic Reduction?

Balsamic reduction sauce is a condiment made by reducing balsamic vinegar. When you cook the vinegar, it will thicken, and the end result is a balsamic reduction glaze that’s perfect for meat, salads, and more. It’s thick, but pourable and because it’s been thickened, it’s packed with flavor – much more than what traditional balsamic vinegar tastes like.

Balsamic vinegar is made from grapes, so you can imagine that when you cook it to a balsamic vinegar glaze, it’s going to be somewhat sweet.

Many of the versions you’ll find at the store are bulked up with sweeteners like corn syrup or sugar, though, as adding sugar is much cheaper than more balsamic vinegar. But using the real thing makes for a much better version. No sugar necessary!

How To Make Balsamic Glaze

This balsamic reduction dressing is SO easy to make… are you ready?

  • Bring vinegar to a boil. Add balsamic vinegar to a saucepan and begin cooking it. Bring it to a boil…

TIP: The 2 cups of balsamic vinegar in this recipe will yield 3/4 cup balsamic glaze. You can scale as needed if you need more or less, but the cook time will vary.

balsamic vinegar being poured into pan

  • Turn down heat to simmer. Simmer balsamic vinegar, until it’s just starting to thicken.

NOTE: For the best balsamic glaze, do not overcook it. The balsamic reduction should still be very pourable, because it will thicken more as it cools. If you cook it too long, it will become very thick (and hard to use), and could also burn.

balsalmic dripping off spoon

What Does Balsamic Reduction Taste Like?

This balsamic reduction glaze recipe is super flavorful. It’s naturally sweet, but slightly tangy. It tastes like a thicker, sweeter, slightly sticky balsamic vinegar syrup.

Because the flavor of balsamic glaze is so intensified when the vinegar thickens, you don’t need to use very much of it when you’re serving it. A light drizzle will go a long ways!

pouring balsamic glaze out of glass container on veggies

Is Balsamic Glaze Good For You?

Yes, a balsamic glaze is a healthy condiment! This balsamic glaze recipe doesn’t have any added sugar.

Plus, it’s vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, and whole30! You can even include it in a low carb or keto diet in moderation.

How Do You Store Balsamic Reduction?

Store this balsamic reduction recipe in a glass bottle or jar with a lid. It will last around a week at room temperature.

Another option is to refrigerate it for 1-2 months. I prefer using balsamic drizzle when it’s room temperature (it gets super hard in the fridge), so set it on the counter for a little bit before using.

spoon with balsamic on it

How Do You Use Balsamic Reduction?

You can use this balsamic reduction recipe for anything you like. Here are some ideas that pair well with this balsamic glaze recipe:

  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts – As pictured here!
  • Fall Harvest Salad – Balsamic reduction is delicious on any salad that has crunchy nuts, but goes particularly well with either summer or fall flavors.
  • Grilled Bruschetta Chicken – Balsamic glaze makes the perfect topping for this one-bowl meal.
  • Maple Glazed Salmon – You could add it on top, or replace the maple glaze with balsamic glaze instead.

More Paleo Condiments To Try

If you’re looking for some flavorful paleo condiments, we have some great ones for you! Try them all!

  • Avocado Oil Mayonnaise – Better than the classic version made with vegetable oil. Smooth and creamy, try some balsamic reduction stirred into avocado mayo!
  • Jalapeno Ranch Dressing– Who doesn’t love ranch? This spicy version goes lovely with fries, on salads, or as a veggie dip.
  • Bang Bang Sauce – If you’re looking for a sauce that’s sweet, spicy, and creamy, you should try this bang bang sauce. It’s amazing on shrimp or chicken and cauliflower.

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balsamic glaze in glass pitcher
4.67 from 3 votes

Balsamic Glaze Recipe: How To Make Balsamic Reduction

Learn how to make balsamic glaze with this 1-ingredient easy balsamic reduction recipe - it takes 15 minutes! You'll put this balsamic glaze on everything from chicken to veggies.

Course Condiment
Cuisine Italian
Keyword balsamic glaze, balsamic glaze recipe, balsamic reduction, balsamic reduction recipe, how to make balsamic glaze
Calories 37 kcal
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Author Maya Krampf from WickedSpatula.com
Servings 12 servings
★ Review Print

Ingredients

Please ensure Safari reader mode is OFF to view ingredients.

  • 2 cups Balsamic vinegar
  • saucepan
Click to convert between US & metric measurements:
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

More TIPS about this paleo recipe in the post above!

  1. Pour balsamic into a medium saucepan on the stove.

  2. Bring vinegar to a boil. Once boiling, turn down heat and simmer vinegar for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it reaches desired thickness. You should end up with about 3/4 cup.

  3. Transfer balsamic vinegar reduction to a separate container and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 tablespoon

Nutrition Information Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.
Calories 37
Fat 0g
Protein 1g
Total Carbs 7g
Net Carbs 7g
Fiber 0g
Sugar 6g

Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols (though the latter are rarely seen on this site), because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.

© Copyright Wicked Spatula. We'd LOVE for you to share a link to this recipe, but please DO NOT COPY/PASTE the recipe instructions to social media or websites. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

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    1 Comment

  1. Elizabeth

    ReplyJanuary 16, 2021

    Hi! Thanks for the recipe! I boiled my 2 cups of vinegar for 20 minutes, and it didn’t seem to get much thicker, but it was down to 3/4 cup so I stopped boiling since the post said to be careful not to overcook it and it would be thicker as it cooled. But even after letting it cool and even sitting in the fridge overnight it is still a very thin liquid. I can’t figure out what I did wrong?

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