Apple cider vinegar: what food can you add it to, TOP 5 recipes

Apple cider vinegar is a product that is fundamentally different from ordinary table vinegar. The main difference and advantage is the natural composition obtained from apple juice during its fermentation. Due to an intermediate technological step, ripe apples are used to produce cider known as apple wine. Continuing the fermentation process causes the acid bacteria present in the wine to turn the cider into apple cider vinegar.

The natural product has a huge range of properties that are successfully used not only in cooking, but also in cosmetology, and just in everyday life. The beneficial qualities of apple cider vinegar are invaluable for their use for medicinal purposes.

Where do they add

The traditional use of apple cider vinegar is based on its ability to enhance the flavor of food without adding salt, fat or excess calories. Therefore, you can add apple cider vinegar to your food without fear of gaining extra pounds and harming your body with harmful components.

The product is widely used in cooking. Using it:

• season vegetable salads;
• preserve fruits and vegetables;
• prepare sauces and marinades, adjika, ketchup;
• make homemade mayonnaise, mustard;
• marinate meat for later baking or frying.

It should be noted that in combination with other spices it gives dishes a piquant and unique taste.

Pairs well with spices and herbs such as:

• black pepper;
• paprika;
• Tatar spice mixture;
• Italian herbs;
• Provencal herbs;
• Mediterranean herbs;
• Khmeli-Suneli;
• cumin, garlic, dill;
• rosemary, cumin, fennel;
• nutmeg, cloves;
• allspice, bay leaf.

Tip: Do not combine it with dairy products. Acetic acid disrupts their consistency. The milk curdles and turns sour. When combined with sour cream and kefir, flakes appear in sauces, which spoils the appearance and taste of the dish.

Composition and beneficial properties

Apple cider vinegar is a storehouse of nutrients. The vitamins, micro- and macroelements contained in it have a beneficial effect on the human body. This is clearly seen from the table:

In addition, the miraculous composition of apple cider vinegar helps lower blood sugar. Has a beneficial effect on skin and hair. The product is a faithful assistant, providing excellent well-being and good health.

Smell and taste

Apple cider vinegar, which has such an amazing track record of health benefits, has a subtle apple aroma and a pleasant sour taste, unlike its table counterpart with a sharp pungent odor and sharp sour taste.

There are analogues that retain all its properties. These are the supplements that can be purchased in tablet or liquid form:

• with bioperine – for easier absorption of vinegar;
• with cayenne pepper or grapefruit;
• with beets and pomegranate - for taste and color.

Important! When purchasing apple cider vinegar with additives, you should pay attention to the exact composition of the product and its concentration.

How to choose a quality product

To buy good quality apple cider vinegar, it is important to follow simple guidelines. Namely:

1. Study the label. The name should indicate that it is apple cider vinegar, natural. The strength of the product is no more than 6%.
2. Be careful: the shelf life of natural apple product is 6 months. If the label indicates a period longer than these indicators, then it is not a natural product.
3. Natural apple cider vinegar may not be clear. It is slightly cloudy and even has sediment.
4. It is advisable to buy vinegar in glass containers.

There is one more important indicator. The price of the synthetic table analogue is significantly lower than the natural apple product.

How to store

The place where apple cider vinegar is stored should be dark and cool, away from heating devices. Comfortable temperature ranges from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius.Acceptable range: 0 – 35 degrees.

Please note that the organic acids in apple cider vinegar evaporate quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to seal the container with vinegar after use.

TOP 5 most popular recipes

The properties of apple cider vinegar, such as a pleasant sour taste and the ability to destroy bacteria, thereby preventing the process of rotting and spoilage of food, are widely used in cooking. It is added to a wide variety of dishes to give them a spicy taste. Here are the most popular recipes containing apple cider vinegar.

Classic salad with green peas

This beloved dish has been known for a long time. To prepare it you will need simple ingredients found in every kitchen:

• canned green peas - 1 can;
• onions - 1 large onion;
• paste mustard – ½ part teaspoon;
• vegetable oil (any) – 50 ml;
• greens - any type, quantity - depending on preference;
• granulated sugar – 5 g;
• juice of one lemon;
• apple cider vinegar – 10 ml.

It is recommended to pre-soak finely chopped onions in vinegar. This will relieve him of bitterness.

Cooking technology:

1. Prepare the dressing. To do this, mix vegetable oil with lemon juice and mustard. Add salt and sugar.
2. Place the onion in the pre-washed and strained peas and pour over the dressing.
3. Pour the vinegar drained from the onions over the salad, mix the ingredients, sprinkle with herbs.
4. Let the salad brew for 10 – 15 minutes.

The aromatic salad can be used as a side dish for meat, fish dishes or boiled potatoes. You can also serve it as a separate dish.

Pickled eggplants

The best appetizer for meat is eggplant cooked in marinade. The recipe is simple. But it doesn’t work without apple cider vinegar.

Ingredients:

• blue (aka eggplants) – 700 g;
• one large onion;
• 3 – 5 cloves of garlic;
• 50 ml sunflower oil;
• 30 ml apple cider vinegar;
• 10 g sugar;
• the same amount of salt.

The cooking process requires strict adherence to the sequence of steps.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. Immerse the eggplants in boiling water and boil them for 10 minutes.
2. Finely chop the onion and garlic, add sugar, salt, season with vinegar and vegetable oil.
3. Peel the eggplants, cut into cubes or slices, pour in the marinade.
4. Place the dish in the refrigerator for 6 - 7 hours.

Marinated eggplants are an excellent appetizer for meat dishes. They are especially good if apple cider vinegar was used in the marinade.

Meat salad “Men’s Dreams”

This original salad can be prepared as a daily dish or for a holiday table. The ingredients are simple, but the salad turns out so tasty that both men and women will appreciate it.

What you will need:

• 150 g boiled beef;
• 70 g hard cheese;
• 2 hard-boiled eggs;
• 2 tbsp. l. mayonnaise;
• ½ part of an onion;
• 50 ml apple cider vinegar;
• ground black pepper and salt - to taste;
• greens - optional.

It will take no more than 20 minutes to prepare an amazing salad. The main thing is to follow the step-by-step instructions:

1. Pre-cook a piece of beef. Boil the eggs too, remove the shells. These ingredients must be cooled.
2. Cut the onion into cubes or half rings. Marinate in apple cider vinegar for a quarter of an hour.
3. Divide a piece of boiled beef into fibers or cut into pieces.
4. Place the meat in a deep bowl, add mayonnaise and mix well.
5. Drain the vinegar from the chopped onions.
6. Next, lay out the components in layers in the salad form in the following sequence: 1 layer - onion; 2 – beef; 3 – grated eggs and mixed with mayonnaise; 4 – grated cheese.
7. Sprinkle chopped dill or parsley on top of the salad.

Coat each layer of salad with mayonnaise. The salad, laid out in a special form, holds up well. Before serving, carefully remove the pan. The dish amazes with its amazing taste and appearance.

Duck breast in marinade

Preparing the dish is not difficult. The main thing is to follow the recommendations and not break the sequence.

You will need:

• duck breast 500 g;
• sunflower oil – 50 ml (for frying);
• olive oil – 10 ml (for marinade);
• apple cider vinegar – 2 tbsp. l.;
• salt – 0.5 tsp;
• black pepper, rosemary and other spices (according to preference).

For serving, it is advisable to have arugula and pomegranate seeds. This will give the dish a special appeal.

Cooking technology:

1. Prepare a marinade from olive oil, vinegar, salt and spices.
2. Carefully cut the skin of the brisket in the form of squares, without touching the fillet.
3. Pour the marinade over the brisket and place in the refrigerator. Marinating time is from 1 to 10 hours.
4. Remove the fillet from the marinade and dry with a napkin.
5. Fry the breast in vegetable oil until golden brown.
6. Place in the oven until fully cooked, setting the temperature to 200 degrees.

Place the arugula on a platter, place the brisket cut into portions on top and pour over the apple cider vinegar. Decorate the culinary masterpiece with pomegranate seeds.

Spicy Chinese sauce

Preparing the hot sauce will take no more than 20 minutes.And its sweet and sour taste will delight you with its unusual sensations.

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion;
• half a bell pepper;
• 10 ml vegetable oil;
• 1 tbsp. l. soy and tomato sauce;
• 10 ml apple cider vinegar;
• ½ part tsp. Sahara;
• 1 g salt;
• 50 ml pineapple juice.

You will also need 10 g of starch and 1 clove of garlic. Accurate adherence to proportions is the key to success in preparing the sauce.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Sauté peeled and finely chopped onion over low heat for a minute.
2. Remove the seeds from the pepper and cut the pulp into cubes.
3. Add the pepper to the onion and fry, stirring, for about 5 minutes.
4. Add garlic, salt and sugar squeezed through a garlic press into the frying pan. Mix sauces, pineapple juice, vinegar and pour them into other ingredients. Stir the resulting mass and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add starch to the liquid sauce and simmer until thickened.

To obtain a homogeneous consistency, stir the mixture with a blender. Hot sauce can be served with chicken, pork, and potatoes. The savory gravy goes well with mashed potatoes, pasta and rice.

Question answer

Q: Why add vinegar to the marinade for meat?

ABOUT: The presence of apple cider vinegar in the marinade, due to its acid content, softens the meat, making it juicy and tasty.

Q: Can you make apple cider vinegar at home?

Oh yeah. To do this, you just need to make homemade wine from apples, strain it and leave it until it turns into vinegar.

Q: Does apple cider vinegar improve digestion?

A: Absolutely. It activates the production of gastric juice, due to which all digestive processes are improved. However, people with high stomach acidity should limit their consumption of dishes with added vinegar.

There are a lot of recipes using apple cider vinegar. These are not only culinary recipes, but also all kinds of folk remedies for various health problems. The range of uses of the natural product is so wide that its use practically eliminates the need to use synthetic table vinegar. However, despite all the positive characteristics, it is recommended to consume even an extremely healthy product in moderation.