This elderberry vinegar recipe makes a unique alternative to traditional Balsamic vinegar. Deep, rich, and beautifully smooth it goes extremely well as a salad dressing. It can also be used as a ‘hot toddy’ to ward of the Winter sniffles.
Elderberry Vinegar Recipe Ingredients
- 400g ripe Elderberries
- 500ml of organic red wine vinegar
- 700g of organic cane sugar
Elderberry Vinegar Recipe Instructions
- Put Elderberries in a bowl and pound lightly with the end of a rolling pin.
- Pour over the red wine vinegar, and cover with muslin. Leave for five days.
- Strain through a fine sieve, and pour the liquid into a saucepan.
- Add the sugar, and warm until dissolved. Keep stirring, so the sugar doesn’t burn or start to caramelise. Then bring to a rolling boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Now pour into sterilised bottles and cap. Make sure you use cork or plastic topped caps otherwise, they will corrode due to the vinegar.
Makes: 600ml
I’ve just made the Elderberry Balsamic Vinegar-left the elderberries sitting for 2 weeks in the vinegar (I was so busy!) then made the rest of it. I think leaving it slightly longer has given a depth of flavour from the berries more. Thought I would share this with you so you can try as it’s super delicious! Thank you.
Ps how long do you think it will keep okay?
Angie – Sounds wonderful. With the sugar and vinegar acting as a preservative… at least a year.
I got this recipe from you a couple of years ago. THANK YOU! My kids (3,5,7 years) actually ask for salad so they can use the lettuce as a vehicle for this dressing. My oldest daughter would drink it if I’d let her. Also nice enough for Christmas presents for posh in-laws! Love your emails. As a nervous new forager, I’m learning lots.
Is there anything you can do with the soaked berries after you’ve used them for the vinegar? Seems like a bit of a waste (clearly not but it’s just instilled in me! ?)
Shabs – Don’t know myself. Maybe come up with something and let us all know 😉
Anyway to make the vinegar sugar free ?
Anita – Depending on what you mean by sugar-free. You can use honey, date syrup etc.
I steam extract my elderberries giving me juice. I am trying to figure out the ratio of apple cider vinegar to Elderberry juice and brown sugar for a very incredible balsamic reduction that i have made and love. I can’t find my notes !
Any ideas about ratio’s of fresh juice to ACV would be super . Thank you from an elderberry fan.
Mary