New Year, New Ingredient:

Introduce us a ‘new’ (or new-to-you) ingredient you’ve discovered recently and show us how you’re using it in a healthy new recipe.

It’s been awhile since I participated in the Recipe Redux but one of my goals this year is to get back to it! It’s always great to have a fun prompt to decide what sort of recipe I want to create it. Since this month is focused on using a new ingredient I decided to share a recipe where I’m using a common ingredient but in a new way.

I always use various types of vinegar in savory recipes but rarely anything sweet and definitely not any drinks. Today I’m sharing a blueberry drinking vinegar, also known as a shrub. Yes there are many people that drink apple cider vinegar every morning for some sort of weight loss myth but that is completely unsubstantiated and this is nothing like that, this drinking vinegar will actually taste good. Vinegar does have health benefits such as antibacterial and antioxidant properties but weight loss is not one of them and it should be not be regarded as any kind of super food. However when combined with a little fruit and sweetener its much more appealing to drink.

Print Recipe

Blueberry Drinking Vinegar

Ingredients

2 cups blueberries
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
Sparkling water

Instructions

Combine blueberries with vinegar and let sit in fridge 1-3 days
Transfer mixture to wire strainer over a bowl smash blueberries to release juice with vinegar
Heat blueberry vinegar on stove top with honey until boiling
Allow to cool and save as concentrate
Use 1/4 cup concentrate with 1-2 cups sparkling water

I used a berry sparkling water and apple cider vinegar but you could use any variety you like… if you prefer a stronger drinking vinegar add more concentrate and use less for a more subtle flavor. You could also use any fruit you want. This can also be made into a cocktail if you want to add you favorite liquor. I like it plain after or in between meals.