Serves: 5
Yield: 1 1/3 Cups

2/3 cup dried shiitake stems
1 2/3 cups apple cider vinegar

1. Loosely pack the shiitake stems in a clean pint jar, and add enough vinegar to cover. Put the cap on the jar, and add a label that includes the jar’s contents, the date prepared, and approximate date the vinegar will be ready (5 or 6 weeks from the preparation date). Store in a kitchen cabinet or another cool, dark place.

2. Give the jar a daily shake for the first few days. If needed, add more vinegar to keep the shiitake covered.

3. After 5 or 6 weeks, taste the vinegar. If a stronger flavor is desired, let it steep another week.

4. When the vinegar is ready, pour it through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a bowl, wide-mouth jar, or measuring cup. Before discarding the strained shiitake stems, either squeeze them through the cheesecloth or press them against the strainer with the back of a spoon to get every last drop of vinegar.

5. Transfer the vinegar to a clear bottle or jar, and label it with the type of vinegar and date. Store in a cool, dark place, where it will keep for at least a year.

For a Change . . .
• Substitute rice vinegar for the apple cider vinegar.
• Use the caps and/or stems of one or more mushroom varieties, such as porcini, morels, and portabellas. If using fresh mushrooms, use 1 1/2 cups.
• Substitute sun-dried tomatoes for some of the dried shiitake stems.

TIP . . .
Although you can use entire mushrooms for flavoring vinegars and oils, I prefer to steep the tough stems and save the caps for other recipes!

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 5
Calories from Fat: 0

More Recipes from the Going Wild in the Kitchen Cookbook:
Flavored Vinegars
Flavored Vinegar-Making "Basics"
For the Best Results...
Shiitake Vinegar
Ginger Rice Vinegar
Nettles Vinegar
Pine Needle Vinegar
Cherry Vinegar
A Splash of Color
Orange-Pear Vinegar
Orange-Pear Vinegar with Nettles and Ginger
Strawberry-Vanilla Vinegar
Taste of Spring
Go Wild with Vinegars and Oils Mix and Match
Flavored Oils
For the Best Results (Oils)
Giving the Gift of Flavored Oils and Vinegars
Garlic Flower Oil
Basil Oil
Basil-Cilantro-Lemon Oil
Fennel-Calendula Oil
Garlic Basil Oil
Mushroom Orange Oil
Hot Pepper Oil
Tarragon and Thyme Oil
Lemon-Mint Oil