Hold up – we’re talking about chocolate on a blog about health!?
That’s right, we’re talking chocolate, and I promise you it won’t be the only time we do. This Chocolate Balsamic Vinaigrette showcases the bitter notes of chocolate and enhances it with sweet and salt. Balsamic adds acidity and makes for a balanced vinaigrette. It goes great with greens for a unique, simple side salad.
Bitter is an underrated flavor. Sadly, it gets associated with unpleasant tastes in our world chock full of sugar, salt, and fat. Bitterness makes a dish dynamic, and when balanced correctly, can make for a sophisticated flavor profile that’ll have you coming back for more.
Notes for Chocolate Balsamic Vinaigrette
- This recipe involves making a simple chocolate sauce as its main step. If you feel so inclined to stop after making this sauce to enjoy over a bowl of ice cream, or as an add-in to make chocolate milk or hot cocoa, you have my every permission.
- This vinaigrette goes very well with steak! If you’ve never tried it before and are into these flavors, try using cocoa powder, ground coffee, and salt as a steak rub. Be warned that these spices burn easily! Use no hotter than a medium heat to cook your steak if you do this.
- Serve with strawberries for an elegant snack or dessert!
- It’s not the first time I’ve said this, it won’t be the last – the quality of your ingredients make or break simple dishes! Using high quality cocoa powder and balsamic take this vinaigrette to the next level. With these ingredients, you get what you pay for. However, what you have on hand will work just fine too!
Ingredients
Method
- In a small saucepot, combine all ingredients for the Chocolate Sauce.
- Place on a burner on medium-low heat. We only want to heat this up until all the ingredients can be stirred together into a homogenous mixture – only a few minutes. Cocoa powder has a tendency to clump so using a whisk or a fork to stir is your best bet for getting a smooth sauce. Remove from heat and let cool for another few minutes.
- Whisk together Chocolate Sauce and Balsamic. Slowly drizzle in Canola Oil while whisking rapidly.
- Season with salt to your liking.
