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    Home » Italian Recipes

    Balsamic Glaze Recipe (Balsamic Reduction)

    Published: May 20, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    384 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Balsamic glaze is super easy to make at home. It only takes about 15 minutes and one ingredient to make this easy recipe. This balsamic reduction is perfect for chicken, beef, salads, sandwiches and even desserts. 

    balsamic glaze pouring into a glass jar.

    Homemade sauces and condiments are the best, right? We've got rave reviews for our tahini sauce, aioli, basil pesto and Greek tzatziki, all of which are super easy. This balsamic reduction is another delicious condiment to make at home, much better than going to the store to buy one. 

    Table Of Contents:
    • What Is Balsamic Glaze?
    • Why You Should Make Balsamic Glaze At Home
    • What's Balsamic Glaze Made Of?
    • How To Make Balsamic Glaze
    • What Is Balsamic Glaze Good For?
    • Storage
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More Italian Recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    What Is Balsamic Glaze?

    Balsamic glaze is basically a reduction of balsamic vinegar, hence the alternative name "balsamic reduction". Essentially, balsamic vinegar is simmered in a sauce pan for about 15 minutes until it's reduced in half and has the consistency of maple syrup or warm honey. Sometimes, sweeteners such as white sugar, brown sugar, honey or maple syrup are used to make this recipe. However, when reduced, balsamic reduction gains sweetness even without using a sweetener. 

    Of course, this glaze is available in many supermarkets. That being said, I always prefer to make it at home because it's healthier, and in my opinion, tastier if made with quality balsamic vinegar. Moreover, you can also save time and money by making this glaze at home. 

    You can use balsamic glaze on salads, pizza or grilled meat.

    Why You Should Make Balsamic Glaze At Home

    When it comes to glazes and condiments, I always prefer homemade to store-bought because I know what goes into a homemade condiment and I can control the additions such as sweeteners.

    When I was at the store and checked out a bottle of balsamic vinegar glaze, which is available in the oil and vinegar aisle, usually right by the vinegar, I was shocked by the amount of added sugar and preservatives that come in that small squeezable bottle. 

    Therefore I decided to make my own by using only one ingredient: quality balsamic vinegar. It takes just a few minutes to make this tasty glaze at home and you can make a large batch to keep in the fridge and use it on salads or pizza. 

    What's Balsamic Glaze Made Of?

    You only need two ingredients for this recipe, balsamic vinegar and honey. You can leave out the honey.

    Balsamic reduction is mainly made of balsamic vinegar. Some may add some kind of sweetener to the recipe as well. Here we use honey to make the recipe but I have also made this glaze without any sweetener and it always comes out perfectly. 

    How To Make Balsamic Glaze

    Add the balsamic vinegar to the pot with the honey and cook until thick and syrupy.
    1. Pour the balsamic vinegar and the sweetener (if using) into a saucepan. 
    2. Turn the heat on to medium and bring the vinegar to simmer. Stir occasionally to check the consistency.
    3. Simmer until the glaze is thick and has the consistency of syrup. The glaze should cover the back of a spoon. 
    4. Let it cool and come to room temperature. The glaze will become thicker as it cools. 

    What Is Balsamic Glaze Good For?

    There are so many ways to use this homemade glaze. Here are some of our favorites:

    • Salads: From burrata with tomatoes and peach to caprese salad or caprese skewers, you can use this glaze to add flavor to salads. 
    • Protein: We love adding this glaze to our caprese stuffed chicken, use it as a marinade to make balsamic chicken or top caprese chicken. You can also use it to glaze chicken kabobs.
    • Pizza: Drizzle a bit of this glaze on a caprese pizza or our favorite Mediterranean pizza for a boost in flavor. 
    • Sandwiches: It pairs very well with avocado caprese sandwich which you can have for a light lunch or dinner. 
    • Pasta: I love serving roasted vegetable pasta with some balsamic reduction on the side. So good! 
    • Vegetables: We enjoy drizzling a bit of balsamic reduction on our oven roasted vegetables, grilled asparagus or make some glazed brussel sprouts and serve them as a side dish. 
    Bottle of balsamic glaze with a spoon in it.

    Storage

    Pour the glaze into a clean glass jar with a tight lid and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Balsamic vinegar will lose its flavor if stored at room temperature. 

    Frequently asked questions

    How long does this glaze last?

    Balsamic vinegar glaze usually lasts about one month in the refrigerator. 

    What does balsamic glaze taste like?

    If you wonder what homemade balsamic glaze tastes like, it is sweet and tangy. It has a deep intense flavor therefore a little of it would go a long way. It has the consistency of maple syrup or warm honey. 

    Sweetener, yes or no?

    Many recipes call for a bit of honey, brown sugar or maple syrup to be added to the vinegar when making the glaze. Adding a sweetener to balsamic will reduce the cooking time and add a hint of sweetness to the glaze. You can make balsamic reduction glaze recipe with or without sweetener, depending on how sweet you like the glaze to be. 

    Can I substitute the reduction for the vinegar?

    Substituting one for another depends on the recipe you're making. Balsamic vinegar glaze has the consistency of syrup and is sweeter than the vinegar because of the cooking process therefore usually it's best not to use balsamic vinegar in place of the glaze. 

    Which balsamic vinegar to use?

    When making balsamic vinegar glaze, it's important to use quality balsamic vinegar. Traditional balsamic vinegar comes from the Modena and Reggio Emilia regions in Italy and the region of origin is normally labeled on the bottle. Balsamic vinegar comes in a variety of sizes and prices therefore make sure you're getting what matches your preference and budget. 

    The glaze should have the consistency of syrup.

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    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Balsamic Glaze Recipe (Balsamic Reduction)

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Balsamic glaze is so easy to make at home. It only takes about 15 minutes and one ingredient to make this easy balsamic reduction recipe. This balsamic glaze is perfect for chicken, beef, salads, sandwiches and even desserts. 
    5 from 27 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 1 cup
    Calories 481 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups balsamic vinegar
    • ½ tablespoon honey optional

    Instructions
     

    • Place a saucepan over medium low heat.
    • Pour in balsamic vinegar and honey into the sauce pan. Stir well.
    • Bring the vinegar to a light boil then simmer and stir occasionally for about 15 minutes.
    • Cook the glaze until it's reaches the consistency of syrup. The glaze should cover the back of a spoon.
    • Take the glaze off the heat. Cool and store in a glass jar.

    Video

    Notes

    • You can make this glaze without any sweetener. 
    • There are many ways to use balsamic glaze. Here are a few suggestions:
      • Salads: From our easy Mediterranean salad to caprese salad or caprese skewers, you can use this glaze to add flavor to salads. 
      • Protein: We love adding this glaze to our caprese stuffed chicken recipe. You can also use it to glaze chicken kabobs.
      • Vegetables: We enjoy drizzling a bit of balsamic reduction on our oven roasted vegetables or make some balsamic glazed brussel sprouts and serve them as a side dish. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 481kcalCarbohydrates: 96gProtein: 3gSodium: 118mgPotassium: 571mgSugar: 85gCalcium: 138mgIron: 4mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

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    384 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tara

      May 25, 2022 at 3:02 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this tasty and versatile recipe! Loved it on top of my salad.

      Reply
    2. kushigalu

      May 24, 2022 at 8:42 pm

      5 stars
      I have never tried making balsamic glaze at home. SOunds fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    3. Casey

      May 24, 2022 at 8:10 pm

      5 stars
      I buy this all the time ...until now! Can never buy store bought again! Homemade is SO MUCH better, and EASYYY!

      Reply
    4. Anita

      May 24, 2022 at 6:22 pm

      5 stars
      I love this balsamic glaze and always buy it from the store. Never knew it's this easy to make at home. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.

      Reply
    5. Irena

      May 24, 2022 at 5:20 pm

      5 stars
      I was searching for a homemade recipe as I have run out of my store-bought balsamic and need some for my eggplant Caprese salad. So many of the recipes are loaded with white sugar, I am so glad I found yours. Turned out perfectly and I love the added honey flavor!

      Reply
    6. Cathy

      January 27, 2022 at 1:31 pm

      Could you do the same with white balsamic?

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        January 28, 2022 at 12:47 am

        You can use white balsamic vinegar 🙂

        Reply
    7. Mahy

      April 29, 2021 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      I would have never thought balsamic reduction is so easy to make. Thanks so much for sharing this fabulous recipe!

      Reply
    8. Jess

      April 29, 2021 at 12:31 pm

      5 stars
      Never buying store-bought again!!

      Reply
    9. veenaazmanov

      April 29, 2021 at 12:01 pm

      5 stars
      Interesting and I really need to check on it. My kitchen needs to have a bottle in store too.

      Reply
    10. Jessica Formicola

      April 29, 2021 at 11:52 am

      5 stars
      Oh I love balsamic glaze! It tastes so great on so many things, but I've never made my own. Can't wait to try!

      Reply
    11. Sonia

      November 15, 2019 at 10:38 am

      This is just perfect! I love that it's just 2 Ingredients and this will.be perfect on the shrimps I am making tomorrow.

      Reply
    12. Suzy

      November 15, 2019 at 9:26 am

      5 stars
      We love how easy it is to make and are big fans of adding the honey! It is really good over salmon too!

      Reply
    13. Jenn

      November 15, 2019 at 8:51 am

      5 stars
      Eureka! So this is how it's done... I love balsamic vinegar and now I'm off to make some of this glaze!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        November 18, 2019 at 8:00 am

        Hope you enjoy this!

        Reply
    14. Sally Humeniuk

      November 15, 2019 at 8:47 am

      5 stars
      What a great, quick recipe. I don't need more jars of specialty condiments that I don't use regularly but I always have honey and balsamic vinegar in the house. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        November 19, 2019 at 11:30 am

        Hope you enjoy this!

        Reply
    15. Kelly Anthony

      November 15, 2019 at 8:36 am

      5 stars
      Such a great staple to have on hand at all times. We love putting this on broccoli.

      Reply
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