Recipes with vinegar

Greek village salad (horiatiki) layers wedge-cut tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, green pepper, onion rings, and black olives under a sharp oregano-garlic vinaigrette. No lettuce, no fuss, all summer.

Three-layer cake with two chocolate buttermilk layers and a yellow layer, sandwiched with caramel filling and topped with rich chocolate frosting. Show-stopper celebration cake.

Taco salad with a fresh cumin vinaigrette, toasted tortilla chips, cooked turkey, ripe avocado, and cheddar. Lighter than the diner version with a sharp dressing in place of creamy sauce.

French cabbage salad with crispy bacon, garlic, and hot tarragon vinegar tossed over shredded cabbage. Warm, tangy, and ready in 10 minutes flat.

Crunchy no-mayo coleslaw with shredded red cabbage, cauliflower, and carrots tossed in a tangy tarragon-dill vinaigrette. A vibrant, make-ahead side dish that holds up at cookouts and potlucks.

Pork shoulder stir-fried with garlic and ginger, then simmered in a spicy peanut sauce with dark soy, sesame oil, and dried chiles, served over steamed bean curd and preserved radish.

Old-fashioned jelly top cookies made with molasses, lard, and warm spices. Rolled, dipped in egg white and sugar, then topped with a jewel of firm jelly.

Seared sirloin steak braised with sliced apples, onions, honey, and red wine vinegar in a tomato-broth sauce. Serve over noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes for a hearty dinner.

Ground turkey simmered in a tangy homemade barbecue sauce with apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, chili powder, and Worcestershire, piled onto kaiser rolls. A leaner, no-grill sloppy joe that's ready in 30 minutes.

No-cook tuna rice salad tossed in a tangy sweet-and-sour vinegar dressing with fresh tomatoes, red onion, celery, scallions, and green peas. Low-fat, filling, and ready in 20 minutes from pantry staples.

A from-scratch turkey chowder simmered from the carcass with carrots, celery, potatoes, and diced turkey, served with a caramelized cranberry compote and sour cream. The most elegant way to use your Thanksgiving leftovers.

Lighter potato salad dressed with nonfat yogurt and mustard instead of mayo. Loaded with broccoli, corn, peas, and dill for a colorful, veggie-packed side dish.

French-style vegetable stew with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and green pepper simmered in a Dutch oven. A ratatouille-inspired one-pot dish ready in under an hour.

Kung Pao-style chicken stir fry with deep-fried peanuts, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sherry, and white vinegar. Egg-and-cornstarch coated chicken cubes get a velvety, glossy finish.

Easy chunky gazpacho built on V8 juice with finely chopped cucumber, carrot, radishes, celery, green pepper, and tomato. No-cook chilled summer soup, ready to refrigerate in 15 minutes.

A rich, British-style curry sauce built on brown stock with curry powder, Worcestershire, white wine vinegar, and plumped raisins. Pungent, slightly sweet, and built to coat chicken or lamb.

Three-ingredient honey mustard vinaigrette with apple cider vinegar, stone ground mustard, and honey. No oil, ultra-light, and ready in under 5 minutes.

Home-style Chinese chicken deboned by hand, velveted in egg and cornstarch, twice-fried to a crackling crust, and tossed in a tangy vinegar glaze. Served over wilted garlic spinach restaurant-style.

A rich chocolate coconut layer cake made from scratch with unsweetened baking chocolate, brown sugar, and light cream, topped with a pink cinnamon candy boiled frosting. Retro baking with serious wow factor.

Healthy meat loaf packed with sauteed cabbage, shredded carrots, and potatoes mixed into lean ground beef with whole wheat bread crumbs. More vegetable than meat, baked covered then uncovered for a golden crust.

Marinated sirloin steak strips grilled on skewers with teriyaki marinade. Soy sauce, ginger, and brown sugar create sticky-sweet finger steaks ready in 3 hours.

Grilled sole fillets topped with a bold Catalan romesco sauce blending tomatoes, hot chilies, toasted hazelnuts, garlic, fresh mint, and dry sherry. Ready in 30 minutes.

Sliced Roma tomatoes layered with sweet Maui onions, fresh basil, and a drizzle of white wine vinegar and olive oil. A breezy, no-cook island-inspired salad ready in 20 minutes.

Pickled nasturtium seeds: the frugal gardener's homemade caper substitute, brined in spiced white wine vinegar with shallots, tarragon, and horseradish. Peppery, briny, and completely free.

Brazilian-style grilled chicken salpicão with charred red onion, carrots, parsley, and a Spanish paprika mayo dressing. Finished with crunchy potato straws on top. Ready in 30 minutes for a bright weeknight chicken salad.

Peanut butter dip with fruit jam, molasses, vinegar, and sesame seeds blended into a bold, sweet-tangy spread. A big-batch dip for parties, picnics, or snacking with fruit and crackers.

Warm tomato vinaigrette with passata, herbed white wine vinegar, olive oil, and fresh parsley. A 4-ingredient sauce for grilled fish, chicken, pasta, or salads.

Fiery pork and bamboo shoots over crispy rice noodles: stir-fried slivered pork with winter bamboo, Thai chili paste, and ginger served over a cloud of deep-fried puffy rice stick noodles.

Blackberry vinegar chicken with a rich and flavourful demiglace. Great for a special occasion.

Sauteed rice noodles in the Thai pad thai style with shrimp, bean curd, pickled turnip, egg, bean sprouts, ground peanuts and fresh chili. Tangy, savory, and finished with lemon.

Greek marinated smelts fried in flour, then simmered in a white wine and vinegar marinade with herbs and mustard. A classic cold appetizer served chilled, perfect for a meze spread.

Seared salmon over loaded seafood fried basmati rice with oysters, shrimp, scallops and crawfish, drizzled with chipotle sesame vinaigrette. A Southwestern-Asian mashup plate with bold layered flavors.

Crisp spinach salad tossed with water chestnuts, mung bean sprouts, hard-boiled eggs, and crispy bacon in a sweet-tangy dressing. Make the dressing a day ahead to let the flavors meld.

Mike's fish fumet is a clean, aromatic homemade fish stock simmered from fish trimmings, leeks, and herbs with a splash of tarragon vinegar for brightness. The French base for chowders, seafood soups, and pan sauces.

Made this while cleaning out the refrigerator... thus the name. John

Fruit mayonnaise is an old-fashioned sweet-tart dressing made by thickening fruit juice and a little vinegar with egg, no oil at all. Spoon this glossy, tangy dressing over fruit salads or use it as a creamy dip.

Greek cabbage-tomato salad with shredded cabbage, fresh tomatoes, and black olives dressed in oil and vinegar. A simple, no-cook Mediterranean side dish in 20 minutes.

Chicken breasts soaked overnight in a bold marinade of pineapple juice, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs. Grill or pan-fry for a sweet-tangy crust with a kick of red pepper.

Tangy grilled chicken with a Scotch bonnet and white wine marinade, sweetened with tomato paste and brightened with vinegar. A Caribbean-inflected chicken built for hot coals.

Pit-style pork shoulder roast smoked over hickory wood chips with a tangy mustard-vinegar BBQ sauce. Slow-grilled for 3 hours using indirect heat until falling-apart tender.

Lemongrass chicken stir-fry marinated in fish sauce, rice vinegar, and scallions then wok-fried with chili peppers. Topped with peanuts, bean sprouts, and fresh cilantro for an authentic Thai flavor.

Plum good pie with fresh plum wedges arranged like petals over a buttery from-scratch crust, dusted with cinnamon sugar, and bound with beaten eggs into a custard-fruit hybrid.

Sichuan shredded pork in yu shon (fish-fragrant) sauce with wood ear mushrooms, water chestnuts, and hot bean paste. A spicy-sweet-sour stir-fry that hits every flavor note.

Red beans tossed in a bold balsamic-prune dressing with fenugreek, coriander, and chili-garlic paste. A chilled bean salad bursting with sweet, tangy, spicy layers.

Just vegetables, very healthy, especially when you are eating some meat!

Warm ham salad with a cooked vinegar dressing tossed with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and green pepper. Topped with American cheese strips and sliced hard-boiled eggs.

Slow-simmered black bean soup with smoky ham hocks, bell peppers, and a whole sour orange for a subtle citrus depth. Thickened with browned flour for a rich, velvety bowl of Southern comfort.

Individual ham loaves made from ground pork and ground ham, baked in a sweet brown sugar-mustard-vinegar glaze and basted every 15 minutes. A Midwestern classic that's part meatloaf, part glazed ham.