Whole Food Plant-Based Chocolate Orange Balsamic reduction made with aged balsamic vinegar, date paste, cacao powder, orange juice, & orange zest. It's delicious over hot cereal, as a garnish for a dessert, or even as a chocolatey salad dressing!
Pour the aged balsamic & pulp-free orange juice into a small saucepan. Then, add the date paste and whisk to combine.
Begin to heat the liquid on low and whisk for a couple more minutes before adding the cacao powder. After adding the cacao, whisk until the powder is well incorporated, it may take a couple minutes more.
Once the cacao powder is incorporated into the liquid, add the orange zest.
Make note of the depth of the liquid
After adding the orange zest, insert a wooden spoon (or a popsicle stick works well) into the liquid vertically make note of the depth of the liquid in relation to the spoon (or popsicle stick). Later, when the liquid is reduced down by ½ (50%), the depth of the liquid will be ½ the height of the original liquid level.
Boil & then simmer the liquid to reduce to a glaze
Bring the liquid to a boil briefly & then quickly turn the heat down to a simmer. Keep at a simmer for about 20-30 minutes, stirring frequently, just until the liquid reduces by almost ½ & the glaze just begins to evenly coat the back of a metal spoon.
Allow the glaze to cool
Next, remove the pan from the heat and set aside, uncovered. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes or so. It will thicken a bit more as it cools (& even more once refrigerated).
Pour the glaze through a fine mesh strainer into your storage container
Once cooled, pour the glaze through a fine mesh strainer and into your desired storage container. This straining step helps to separate out any remaining solids (such as the orange zest) in the glaze and makes the glaze more pleasantly smooth in texture. It may be helpful to use a spatula to help press the glaze through the strainer.
Discard the orange zest.
The glaze can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. OR, it can be kept in a freezer for up to 6 months. The glaze does not freeze solid & can be used straight out of the freezer! Chocolate orange balsamic dressing ready when you are! 😁If your glaze turns out a bit thicker and does become too thick in the cool refrigerator or freezer, you can submerge the container in some warm water to bring it back to a thinner consistency.
Keyword balsamic, chocolate, cream sauce, dairy-free, date paste, dressing, fruit paste, glaze, orange, plant-based, vegan, WFPB, WFPBNO, WFPBSOS