Just one whiff of malt vinegar brings me back to my days living in England, where it's used to season comfort foods like fish and chips and beans on toast. The distinctive tangy condiment isn't just for pub fare, however.
Malt vinegar is made by malting barley, brewing it into ale, and then turning the ale into vinegar. Light to dark brown in color, it's flavor is malty, lemony, and slightly sweet. The vinegar is classic accompaniment to cut through the oilness of fried fish and potatoes, but it's also excellent for use in sweet-sour marinades and chutneys, as well as pickles (as long as it has at least 5% acidity).
A few recipes to try:
• A Really Good Tri-Tip Marinade from The Kitchn
• Malt Vinegar-Glazed Chicken at Bon Appétit
• Salt and Vinegar Roasted Potatoes from Framed Cooks
• Tomato Chutney (substitute for apple cider vinegar) from The Kitchn
How do you like to use malt vinegar?
Related: Vinegar: Does It Have a Shelf Life?
(Image: Kate Morgan Jackson/Framed Cooks)
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I just got some malt vinegar the other day for making Salt and Vinegar potatoes (the recipe is at Cooks Country but it's basically red potatoes boiled in salt water, smashed and roasted and topped with malt vinegar.) I found it quite amusing to have my wife smell the malt vinegar as she was found it has a rather harsh smell. She was nervous but we both loved the potatoes and they are joining our list of regular side dishes.
White vinegar on french fries I could never understand. Malt vinegar on fries is sublime!
I use Heinz as that's the only brand available here even though as a Massachusetts resident, I'd rather not give any more money to John Kerry. Are there "better" malt vinegars out there?
I have been known to gross out my family by putting malt vinegar on latkes. I'M SORRY. IT'S GOOD.
I use this EXACT vinegar in my tomato sauce. It just adds enough sweetness, added with a little bit of sugar. Comes out delicious.
Malt vinegar goes well with anything and everything potatoes! Baked potatoes, boiled potatoes, potato salad, and yes, @CHRYSSF - I could even see it being delicious on latkes!
I have, however, never seen Sarson's malt vinegar - only Heinz, which is what's in my kitchen. Are there as many kinds of malt vinegar available in the US as there are other vinegars?
Australian Chef Kylie Kwong uses malt vinegar throughout the recipes in her books. After using it in her recipes, it has become a favorite staple in my kitchen
I'm British and have never heard of anyone putting vinegar on beans on toast...! The linked post includes fries (although I have never heard of that with beans on toast either!), so I imagine the vinegar was for those rather than the beans