Chocolate and Balsamic Vinegar are two different ingredients and great in their own right. However, the origins of these two aren’t so far apart.
Chocolate is a fermented cacao bean that has undergone a series of processes to get to the delicious ingredient that we now know.
Balsamic vinegar is aged and fermented grape juice reduced down to a sugar concentration of 30% then aged in barrels.
These two very special ingredients are used for many different things. Chocolate is often eaten as a luxury bar or added to desserts while Balsamic vinegar is typically added to savory food.
The marriage of these two is extraordinarily amazing.
Everyone loves chocolate!
Chocolate makes people happy. It literally helps the human body produce serotonin, a happy hormone. Other than the fact that eating a piece of chocolate makes us feel like smiling, it literally allows us to do this.
Chocolate is a specially processed piece of seed from the cacao bean and it undergoes so much to make it great. We don’t know how the Mayans exactly figured out how to make chocolate or what made them drawn into picking up a rotting cacao bean and turning it into something good but we do thank them for experimenting with the cacao bean.
Children, teenagers, young adults, middle-aged adults and seniors enjoy chocolate. It creates a feeling of joyful bliss and it helps so much that the marketing for most chocolates resonates with people.
Can I make chocolate sauce in advance to serving food?
Chocolate is used in many kinds of dishes but mostly desserts. Chocolate is added to cakes, frosting, breads, custards and sauces. Creating these in advance is mostly a must for making desserts because of the fact that you have to assemble them later on and they just simply need to last.
You can make chocolate sauce ahead of time before serving, at any time. One of the best things about chocolate is that when made right, which most people do, it lasts a very long time. Of course you have to consider proper storage and all but the point is that it lasts long, therefore you can make it ahead of time.
Vinegar is another preserving agent used to preserve many things like pickled food and it cooks food without heat.
Together, chocolate and vinegar are a good example of food that lasts forever. We’re kidding. We mean “food that lasts a long time and can be made ahead of time”.
Ingredients for chocolate balsamic sauce
- Balsamic Vinegar. You don’t need to use the very expensive kind of Balsamic vinegar to make chocolate balsamic sauce. You can use simple balsamic vinegar and reduce it.
- Cocoa Powder. Cocoa powder is used in this recipe to better gauge the flavor and texture of the chocolate sauce. Use unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Sugar. Sugar is added to balance the acidity of the vinegar.
- Salt. We like using rock sea salt for cooking. Do so as well!
- Water. Water is vital in this recipe because it allows us to manage the consistency of the sauce and it dilutes the cocoa powder.
- Vanilla. Vanilla is added for flavoring. You may use vanilla extract for this.
Tips and Tricks
Don’t forget to stir
This recipe requires a lot of reducing. Remember to occasionally stir the vinegar and the chocolate mixture.
Make ahead of time
You can make balsamic chocolate sauce ahead of time and in big batches. You can simply store them in airtight containers such as jars and chill.
Cool before mixing
It’s important to cool both the vinegar and the chocolate mixture separately before mixing.
How to make chocolate balsamic sauce
This is very easy that you can do it with your eyes closed or maybe a tiny peep!
In a saucepan, reduce the balsamic vinegar under low heat, stirring occasionally. We will be using 3 cups of balsamic vinegar. You must reduce it to roughly 2 cups of balsamic from the 3 cups.
Meanwhile, in another saucepan, pour the water, cocoa powder, sugar and salt and reduce under medium heat for 5 minutes to slightly thicken. Remove from heat and then stir in the vanilla.
Cool the vinegar and chocolate mixture and then mix together. Store in an airtight container.
What goes well with chocolate balsamic sauce?
One of the great things about chocolate balsamic sauce is that it goes well with a lot of things from savory to sweet. Chocolate balsamic sauce is like the gateway that bridges chocolate into the savory world of dishes.
You can drizzle chocolate balsamic sauce over meats, salads and cakes such as cheesecakes and butter cakes. You may also add this sauce into a Vodka Martini or other cocktails.
Savory Balsamic Chocolate Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 cups Balsamic Vinegar
- 1⅓ cups White Sugar
- ¼ tsp Salt
- 1½ cups Cocoa Powder
- 2½ cups Water
- 2 tsp Vanilla
Instructions
- In a saucepan under medium heat, reduce the balsamic vinegar while stirring occasionally until it reaches the portion of 2 cups.
- Meanwhile, in another saucepan, mix the sugar, salt, cocoa powder, and water and stir. Reduce under medium heat for 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Cool both the balsamic vinegar and chocolate mixture separately.
- Mix the two together then store in an airtight container.
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