When you think of fall produce in Michigan, one of the first things to come to mind might be apples. Whether you enjoy going out and picking them yourself or trying out all the varieties you can find at the farmers market, apples are a fruit staple for the fall season.
You might slice them up for a pie, mash them up to make sauce or just bite into an apple right from the tree. You can also drink up some apple cider, hot, iced or even frozen.
But did you know you can also get that apple cider flavor through a vinegar?
By now, you’ve probably heard of apple cider vinegar. It’s been praised by health and fitness experts as a transformative ingredient in living healthier. In this blog article, we share some of the great health benefits you can take advantage of in using apple cider vinegar.
So we know it’s good for us, but how can we incorporate it into our dishes and diets? While this vinegar sure is sweet, it also carries a sharp tart bite that requires some balance in flavors. If you’re not into taking shots of this vinegar as your morning routine, you’re in luck. There are a plethora of ways you can incorporate this powerful vinegar into your healthy living lifestyle.
How is Apple Cider Vinegar Made?
Apple cider vinegar has its foundation in, yes you guessed it, apples. The process is called fermentation, which brings together crushed apples and yeast. This ferments the sugars in the apples and turns it into alcohol. After that, bacteria - the good, healthy kind - is added in to ferment the mixture further and produce acetic acid, which is the foundation for vinegar.
This acid is what gives vinegar and balsamic vinegars valuable health benefits. This mixture also contains a substance called mother, also found in balsamic vinegars. This is a combination of proteins, enzymes and healthy bacteria. It also is responsible for a murky or cloudy appearance as a vinegar.
Fustini’s Apple Cider Vinegar keeps in that mother substance to amp up the flavor and health benefits. It’s made from Annurca apples that are aged in American Oak wood barrels for a vibrant and rich flavor.
Because of its high acidic content, it’s also important to remember not to go overboard with this ingredient. Use it in combination with other ingredients and in moderate amounts.
What Can I Do With Apple Cider Vinegar?
With such impressive health benefits, this cider vinegar is one you won’t want to pass up, especially in this apple-filled fall season. To help you get started on your apple cider vinegar kick, here we share some ways you can try today using this super ingredient.
Mix it In a Drink
In the health craze of apple cider vinegar, you might have heard of people taking shots of this by making a drink of ACV and water or tea. Adding it to your morning tea or hot water can bring on great health benefits that can get you started on your day. From appetite control to energy-boosting to curing sore throats, you might just want to make this your go-to morning drink.
Pickle Your Veggies
Use apple cider vinegar in your brine to pickle your favorite fall veggies. Throw in some carrots, beets and radishes in with a tart brine made with ACV. This pulled pork sandwich recipe includes a flavor-rich topping made with pickled peaches using Apple Cider Vinegar. That versatile brine can have you pickling fruits and veggies in mason jars all season long.
Spice Up a Salad Vinaigrette
With the abundance of fall produce, it’s easy to whip up a quick salad for lunch or a veggie side dish for dinner. To amp up the fall feels, add in a splash of apple cider vinegar as you make your vinaigrette. Recipes like this Apple Vinaigrette combines the crisp flavor of apple cider vinegar with the savory notes of Cilantro & Onion olive oil, as well as earthy whole grain mustard.
Meat Marinade
The bright and bold flavor of apple cider vinegar makes it a great addition to a meat marinade, like in this zesty Baja Chicken Bowl recipe. In this dish, you’ll combine the vinegar with Cilantro & Onion olive oil, garlic and lime juice to create a balanced and bold marinade for a flavor-rich, veggie-packed dish.
Apple-Fy Your Chicken Salad
Go beyond the mayo-heavy deli spread and make some chicken salad yourself. Whether you put it on a salad, spread it over toasted bread or just eat it with a spoon, this zesty chicken salad recipe brightens up your lunchtime routine. In addition to your typical salad ingredients, this honey mustard dressing incorporates the pop of flavor from the apple cider vinegar as well as savory notes from Garlic olive oil and whole grain mustard. With surprises like apple cider, your standard chicken salad recipe will never be the same.
Take on Taco Tuesday
With the bright, bold flavors of apple cider vinegar, you can transform your Taco Tuesday into a flavor exploration. Use this vibrant vinegar to pickle onions to pile on your taco. Add a splash to some fruity mango salsa. Check out these other great taco toppings you can mix, match and create your own combinations with flavorful vinegars like Apple Cider.
Amp Up Your Apple Cider
Go beyond drinking your apple cider hot or iced with a vinegar option that’s perfect for the fall season. With a wide variety of dishes and flavor combinations to try, you can celebrate the fall apple season with delicious dishes with added health benefits.