8 Dishes, 1 Bottle of Balsamic: Simple and Seriously Delicious

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It may sound weird, but for me, every marinade and dressing sauce has a season. For summer, it’s balsamic. Balsamic, to me, tastes like peak summer, with the tangy undertones and the sharp, vinegar taste that dominates the barbeques, salads, and even desserts. From chicken to vegetables to fruits, everything tastes better when soaked, sizzled, or tossed in balsamic vinegar. If you have a bottle of balsamic ready and waiting in the pantry, you must try these 8 recipes before summer ends. 

Grilled Balsamic Chicken

A 2-3 hour soak in balsamic vinegar transforms a chicken breast piece into a mouthwatering lunch or dinner. You can even marinate the chicken a day before to let it soak up the tangy flavors of balsamic vinegar, before putting it on a grill and cooking it to perfection. Full Recipe: Grilled Balsamic Chicken

Grilled Halloumi and Strawberry Salad

Strawberries, when soaked for a few minutes in balsamic vinegar, turn into these mouthwatering sweet-and-tangy bites of heaven that you want to add to every recipe. If you put them on a grill, the strawberries become ever so much sweeter, with a tender texture and a tangy undertone. Mix them up with grilled halloumi and salad greens. Full Recipe: Grilled Halloumi and Strawberry Salad

Strawberry Shortcakes

Another variation of balsamic-soaked strawberries comes without the grill. That’s right! This recipe works best with strawberries that are not fully ripe; their natural tangy flavor, combined with the tangy balsamic flavor, adds extra tanginess to the sweet vanilla pound cake and light whipped cream. My favorite summertime dessert, if I’m being honest. Full Recipe: Strawberry Shortcakes 

Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

You don’t always have to soak the ingredients in balsamic to get the maximum flavor. Sometimes, just a salad dressing is enough. This comes especially true with this super-easy strawberry goat cheese salad, where the juicy strawberries and sweet candied walnuts are complemented by a drizzle of tangy balsamic vinegar for a diverse flavor palette. Full Recipe: Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

Balsamic Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables

Here, balsamic vinegar acts as a double agent – a marinade for the vegetables and a dressing for the salad. The tangy vinegar taste complements the mild, sweet summer vegetables before they are put on the grill. Full Recipe: Balsamic Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables

Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tarts

This crowd-pleasing appetizer is just another feather in the vast portfolio of balsamic vinegar. This time, it combines with already-caramelized onions and apples, soaking them in its tangy goodness and giving a distinct, balsamic undertone to this appetizer. Full Recipe: Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tarts 

Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash

Finally! A pure summer grilled veggie lunch I can look forward to. A 15-30 minute soak in balsamic vinegar instantly transforms zucchini and summer squash from mild, potentially bland vegetables into a flavorful, delicious side or a light lunch meal. Full Recipe: Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash

Halloumi Pasta

Balsamic vinegar acts as a marinade for all the summer vegetables used in this pasta – from onions to zucchini. The balsamic-coated vegetables, when roasted, surrender their entire flavor to the pasta, making it rich, tangy, and full of summer flavors. Full Recipe: Halloumi Pasta