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5 Best Mirin Substitutes

You probably have several of these in your pantry right now!

By Georgia Goode
mirin substitutes
Caitlin Bensel

Maybe you've come across an at-home version of your favorite takeout chicken teriyaki or ginger-infused pork, or you're inspired to follow in Ree Drummond's footsteps and try making the perfect rice for sushi at home. All of the ingredients seem pretty basic, until you get to the last one: mirin. What exactly is it?

Mirin is a Japanese sweet rice wine. Similar to sake, but sweeter and with less alcohol, it's made by fermenting cultured rice (koji) and glutinous rice with a rice alcohol (shochu). The mixture is typically aged for several months and the end result is a golden, slightly syrupy concoction full of tangy, sweet complexity. It's especially tasty paired with ingredients like soy sauce for a balance of sweet and salty flavor in a number of Asian or Asian-inspired recipes. But finding true mirin, also known as hon-mirin, on the shelves of American supermarkets isn't always easy. And sure you could buy it online, but when a craving for Ree's teriyaki meatball kebabs hits, you need something quicker.

If hon-mirin isn't stocked at your local grocery store, but you spot aji-mirin, grab a bottle. You may be thinking, "wait, isn't aji-mirin mirin, too?" Aji-mirin isn't true mirin, but it's your next best bet. This sauce is made with water, corn syrup, and rice. It has a lower alcohol content than mirin, but flavor wise, it's the closest match you'll find to the real stuff. If you can't find it either, don't worry. You probably have other worthy substitutions in your pantry right now. Keep reading to find out what you can reach for in a pinch.

1

Rice Vinegar

mirin substitutes
Caitlin Bensel

Rice vinegar has a similar sharpness that mirin does, but be sure to add some sweetener if you make this swap. A 1/2 teaspoon of sugar per 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar does the trick. A splash of fruit juice will also work. Or you can use seasoned rice vinegar (found in the Asian foods section of your grocery store) that is already sweetened.

2

Sake

mirin substitutes
LAW Ho Ming

Sake is a smart swap for mirin because it's already a rice wine. But for dryer sakes, you'll need to add a pinch of sugar to replicate mirin's sweetness. You could also use another sweetener like honey, maple syrup, or a splash of apple juice.

3

Sherry

mirin substitutes
Michelle Lee Photography//Getty Images

If you already have some sherry on hand from making Ree's sherried tomato soup, pull it out of your cabinet to use instead of mirin! It won't provide exactly the same taste, but sherry has a similar acidity and complexity to mirin. It's typically sweet, too, so there's no need to add sugar. Start with just a little as its sharp flavor can become overpowering.

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4

Sweet Marsala Wine

mirin substitutes
Monkey Business Images//Getty Images

Because it is sweet, acidic, and contains a certain umami flavor, sweet marsala wine is a sensible swap for mirin. It does contain less sugar than mirin, so you may want to add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar per tablespoon of marsala wine.

5

Dry White Wine

mirin substitutes
LOVE_LIFE//Getty Images

Dry white wine won't exactly replicate the taste of mirin, but when you're in a pinch, it'll do the job. To match mirin's sweetness, the general rule of thumb is to add about 1/2 teaspoon of sugar per tablespoon of wine before you use it.

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