I'm making a pomegranate-balsamic reduction. It's just begun reducing, and it has a fairly strong bitter aftertaste. Should I be worried?

Question

It's meant to accompany some pan seared foie-gras. It's about 1/2 a cup of pomegranate juice (bottled), 1/4 cup fresh squeezed OJ, and 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar. I also added a couple teaspoons of honey.

pierino · Answer

Basically what you were making is called "gastrique". Typically you would add sugar rather than honey but either way it should still work, but also all balsamic vinegars are not created equal. Some of the supermarket variety are terrible and I don't care if they came from Modena. Balsamic doesn't spoil so it can't be "too old."

cratecooking · Answer

Pomegranate molasses is delicious, good idea!

Yiniverse · Answer

Update: The reduction's done! It's still a little bitter, but not anything overwhelming. I added a lot of extra honey and a bit more balsamic. The fam tried it, and they seem to like it, so, I guess it all works out! Next time, I may start with pomegranate molasses and go from there... Thanks for the help!

cratecooking · Answer

Hmmm how is it now?

Yiniverse · Answer

Brand new! Just bought it today

cratecooking · Answer

It might be your balsamic vinegar. Is it old?

Yiniverse · Answer

Thanks! I was just worried that the honey wouldn't really counteract the bitterness, so I would just have something that's supersweet, with a bitter aftertaste!

cratecooking · Answer

If it's bitter I would add more honey. You want the sauce to have a good consistency so I would compensate with the honey rather than stop. Let us know how it goes!

I'm making a pomegranate-balsamic reduction. It's just begun reducing, and it has a fairly strong bitter aftertaste. Should I be worried?

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