A L’OLIVIER Fruit Vinegars

France’s oldest (1822) oil and condiment makers – A L’OLIVIER – makes 7 fruit vinegars – Passion Fruit, Mango, Raspberry, Fig, Black Currant, Tomato, and Espelette Chili Pepper (a red pepper grown in the Basque region) – that make a refreshing addition to summer salads. With a thick sauce-like texture and a fruity-tart sweetness, the natural bright-colored A L’OLIVIER fruit vinegars are smooth and delicious as is – or as the perfect addition to olive oil for a light summer dressing.

Simply chop up a large bowl of mixed fresh greens. Cut up a fresh ripe avocado and a cucumber and add to the greens. Add a handful of chopped fresh basil, parsley, and dill. Toss the salad and then drizzle with any of the fruit vinegars for a refreshing light summer salad. For an even richer flavor, mix the fruit vinegar with a bit of olive oil and then drizzle over the salad. Add a few toasted pumpkin seeds or walnuts and the salad is ready.

Or chop up fresh cucumbers, add chopped dill, a bit of salt and pepper, and then drizzle fruit vinegar over the salad for a delightful variation of a summer favorite. Simple, easy, but oh, so delicious.

Full of fruit pulp, the vinegars can also be tossed with fresh fruit, mixed with plain yogurt, added to sparkling water for an adult non-alcoholic drink reminiscent of kombucha, and used instead of apple cider vinegar with mayo-based dressings and tossed with diced cabbage to make a fruity cole slaw.

Smooth and delicious, the vinegars are beautifully packaged in a 200 ml bottle and sell for about $13 per bottle at Whole Food Markets, www.igourmet.com, and other fine grocery retailers.