Who knew that making homemade herbal vinegar dressing was that easy.
You’d be surprised too by the lovely flavors and intensity of the fresh herbs infused for a lovely herbal vinegar.
Learn how to make this DIY herbal vinegar step by step.
Also learn about the herbs used in this recipe and their health benefits further below.
A punch of sweet aromas dominate the room, it smells so wonderful from the garden herbs, even though they haven’t been crushed yet.
It is certain to release the wonderful fragrance of the herbs, smashing them to smithereens is the way.
The aroma these herbs emit seems be that of a more medicinal fragrance, but will be used in a interesting culinary manner.
There are uncountable amounts of different herb, all own different amazing aromas, tastes, and medicinal values.
Humans have been using plants for ages in their cooking but more as to season and flavor.
If you compare to the use of vegetables, which add substance to a dish.
Early on, the nutritional and health benefits were discovered.
Apart from medicinal and nutritional properties, some herbs are also considered holy in different cultures.
It’s unimaginable, at least for a full on herb fan like I am.
Just imagine, no mint tea, no basil on pizza, no tarragon in a homemade gherkin pickle, seems to me more like a horror film!
How different would be our cooking without herbs?
In my homemade herbal vinegar I have added 6 exclusive, flavorful herbs from our home garden.
As mentioned before, each herb contains a unique flavor to mesmerize your taste buds and some yet will benefit your health greatly!
The 6 herbs are…
Savory is a sunny warm weather herb related to thyme and rosemary.
There are 2 main savory groups the winter and summer savory and about a 30 different species.
The herb is used a lot’s in Italian cooking, in middle Europe it is mostly added to pork dishes as flavor.
Marjoram and Oregano are closely related, but the first is more common and popular in central Europe. Oregano however is greatly favored in America.
Marjoram is sweeter and less tangy then the latter.
The herb is dried and extensively used in dishes such as Ratatouille, sometimes it is even used to replace oregano!
Oregano reminds us of the warm dry Mediterranean sea and yum Italian, Greek and Turkish cuisine.
In fact the herb itself is aromatic, warming flavors hence it has become a staple herb in many western kitchens.
A dash is used on pizzas, pasta sauces, kebabs and even salads.
Oregano is known to be an excellent antiseptic too, curing stomach ailments and sore throats, and it contains antioxidants.
Thyme for centuries has been known to give purifying aromatic flavors to cheese and liqueurs.
Apart of that it was much used in religion as incense or sometimes even given as protection against evil.
Thyme is an essential herb in the french cuisine, the herb mix “Herb de Provence” contains thyme too.
Thyme oil is used in antiseptic and anti fungal treatments, a tea infused with the herb may help to treat a bronchial infection.
Sage contains large amounts of essential oils, apart from that it is a must have herb in the European cuisine.
The British are particularly fond of this unique tasting herb type from the mint family.Â
Modern medicine shows possible uses of Sage as an anti sweating , antibiotic, anti fungal, astringent, antispasmodic, estrogen, hypoglycemic and tonic agent.
Tarragon also known as the dragon herb, is one of the 4 fines french herbs.
A must in some of the typical french dishes such as Sauce Bearnaise or as mentioned earlier above vinegar pickled gherkins.
In Azerbaijan, Armenia and other countries, Tarragon is used to flavor a popular soft drink.
Many garden pests dislike tarragon’s odor and that’s why it is a useful plant to keep next to other herbs as protection.
How to make this herbal vinegar dressing?
While making this exceptional vinegar dressing, it is important that you use fresh herbs and some good apple vinegar.
Use a mortar and pestle to crush these herbs, using this method helps extracting the most out of these herbs.
To a glass jar add the crushed herbs, shallots and vinegar.
Keep it in the sun for 2 weeks, shaking the content every day once in a while.
It’s pretty quick and easy to prepare your own home made Salad dressing and then too a healthy, refreshing one too, such as a herbal Vinegar!
Follow the step by step instructions to guide you in the making and don’t forget to have fun while doing so! 😉
- 16 grams Savory
- 3 grams Marjoram
- 3 grams Oregano
- 5 grams Thyme
- 3 grams Sage
- 13 grams Estragon
- 2 small shallots
- 450 ml Apple Vinegar
- Glass jar with vacuum seal
- Mortar
- Funnel
- Strainer
- Glass bottle
- Collect the fresh herbs. Weigh them to the required amount. In a mortar smash one batch at a time. That will help to release the herbs aroma oil. Keep in a clean glass jar
- Roughly cut the 2 shallots and add the bits as well to the herbs in the glass jar.
- Pour Apple Vinegar over the herbs and shallots till it is all covered, to the top.
- Keep the closed jar for 2 weeks in a sunny place and shake it every day at least ones.
- After 2 weeks, strain the herbal vinegar well into a prepared clean glass bottle. Store in a cool place. Ready to be used!
