Vanilla is a rather expensive ingredient that we use in confectionery, pastry and cooking for its exquisite and delicate aroma. It is produced in tropical regions of the planet such as Madagascar, Tahiti and central America, and its price is generally high. For this reason we usually purchase it in small quantities, whenever we need to use it.
If we want to have it always available at home, an easy and inexpensive way is to keep a bottle of vanilla extract in our kitchen. I could easily find it at the stores, but I always prefer to produce my own homemade vanilla extract, just to make sure that it is pure and contains no preservatives.
The procedure, as you will see, is very very simple, but it requires patience for the final result!
For 250 ml vanilla extract
Ingredients
250 ml vodka (at least 40°)
6 vanilla beans
1 airtight glass jar
1 glass bottle, for storage
Preparation
1. Tear the vanilla beans lengthwise, using the point of a knife. Scrape the seeds from inside and put them in the glass jar. Cut the rest of the beans in 3 cm pieces, and add them in the jar as well.
2. Fill the jar with vodka, close firmly and shake well. Store the jar in a dry and dark place in the kitchen (e.g. in a cupboard that you rarely open) and leave it there for 3-6 months, or even more.
The longer you leave the beans inside the jar, the stronger the extract gets. Just remember to give it a good shake from times to times.
Whenever you decide that the extract is ready, strain it and store it in a glass bottle, outside the fridge, in a dark and dry place. Homemade vanilla extract has no expiration date!
Enjoy!
If we want to have it always available at home, an easy and inexpensive way is to keep a bottle of vanilla extract in our kitchen. I could easily find it at the stores, but I always prefer to produce my own homemade vanilla extract, just to make sure that it is pure and contains no preservatives.
The procedure, as you will see, is very very simple, but it requires patience for the final result!
For 250 ml vanilla extractIngredients
250 ml vodka (at least 40°)
6 vanilla beans
1 airtight glass jar
1 glass bottle, for storage
Preparation
1. Tear the vanilla beans lengthwise, using the point of a knife. Scrape the seeds from inside and put them in the glass jar. Cut the rest of the beans in 3 cm pieces, and add them in the jar as well.
2. Fill the jar with vodka, close firmly and shake well. Store the jar in a dry and dark place in the kitchen (e.g. in a cupboard that you rarely open) and leave it there for 3-6 months, or even more.
The longer you leave the beans inside the jar, the stronger the extract gets. Just remember to give it a good shake from times to times.
Whenever you decide that the extract is ready, strain it and store it in a glass bottle, outside the fridge, in a dark and dry place. Homemade vanilla extract has no expiration date!
Enjoy!
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