Balsamic Glaze
A crowd-pleasing vegetarian built around balsamic vinegar, honey and garlic — roughly 55 minutes start to finish, and rated easy to make. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 6 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and grill / broiler. At easy difficulty across 6 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: none of the major allergens we track from the ingredients listed.
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Finely mince the garlic and peeled ginger, and grate the tomato on the coarse holes of a box grater, discarding the skin so you have a smooth pulp.
- Warm the olive oil in a small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat and gently cook the garlic and ginger for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add the balsamic vinegar, honey, and grated tomato, and stir to combine, then bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Lower the heat and let it simmer slowly, stirring occasionally, for 12 to 18 minutes until the glaze has reduced by roughly half and coats the back of a spoon.
- Keep in mind the glaze thickens further as it cools, so pull it off the heat while it is still slightly looser than your final desired consistency.
- Season with a pinch of salt, strain if you prefer a smooth glaze, then cool and drizzle over salads, roasted vegetables, or grilled meats.
You'll use: Oven · Grill / broiler · Saucepan · Pan
Ingredient substitutions
- Honey
- maple syrup · agave
Tips & common questions
How long does Balsamic Glaze take to make?
About 55 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 7 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of honey?
Try maple syrup. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Balsamic Glaze vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Balsamic Glaze is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Pizza with balsamic glaze (1126124095).jpg by Father.Jack from Coventry, UK, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.