Balsamic Port Sauce with Dried Cherries and Rosemary Recipe

Balsamic Port Sauce with Dried Cherries and Rosemary

Makes 2 cups

30 minutes or fewer

Keep some of this sweet-and-sour sauce in a microwavable bottle in the fridge so you can warm it and drizzle over vegetarian sausages, baked sweet potatoes, quinoa, or couscous.

1 cup dried pitted sweet cherries
1 tsp. olive oil
3 shallots, minced (½ cup)
1 ½ tsp. minced fresh rosemary
¼ tsp. ground allspice
1 cup ruby port
½ cup orange juice
½ cup low-sodium vegetable broth
⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. cornstarch

1. Place cherries in saucepan with 1 cup hot water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside.
2. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add shallots, rosemary, and allspice; sauté 3 minutes. Stir in port, orange juice, broth, and vinegar. Drain cherries, and add soaking liquid to saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 12 minutes.
3. Dissolve cornstarch in 1 Tbs. cold water in bowl. Add to port mixture, and cook 1 minute, or until sauce thickens. Stir in cherries, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.