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The bottle in the Japanese section that makes teriyaki taste like teriyaki. Here is what it is, when to use it, and what to do if you cannot find any.
What is mirin?
Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine used for cooking, not drinking. It is made by fermenting glutinous rice with rice koji and shochu, which produces a syrupy liquid with a low alcohol content and a clean, mellow sweetness. It gives glazes their shine.
What does mirin taste like?
Sweet, faintly tangy and slightly savoury, closer to a sweet sherry than to sugar syrup. Used in a sauce it rounds off sharp edges and adds gloss. On its own it is too sweet to enjoy, which is why nobody drinks it.
The three types you will see
- Hon mirin. True mirin, around 14 percent alcohol. The best flavour and the hardest to find.
- Shio mirin. Salt added so it can be sold as a food rather than an alcoholic drink.
- Aji mirin. A seasoning made from corn syrup and flavourings, with little or no alcohol. Most common in UK supermarkets.
What can I use instead of mirin?
Mix one tablespoon of dry sherry or sake with half a teaspoon of sugar and use it one for one. For an alcohol free version, use rice vinegar with sugar, at three parts vinegar to one part sugar, then reduce the amount slightly because it is sharper.
- Dry sherry plus sugar. One tbsp sherry to half a tsp sugar.
- Sake plus sugar. Same ratio, slightly cleaner.
- Rice vinegar plus sugar. Alcohol free option. Use a little less.
- Dry white wine plus sugar. Works, though it is more acidic.
What to use it in
- Teriyaki sauce, where it does the glazing
- Katsu curry sauce, for a rounder finish
- Dipping sauces for gyoza and tempura
- Marinades for salmon and chicken
Where to buy mirin in the UK
Supermarkets stock aji mirin in the world food aisle. Japanese and Chinese grocers carry hon mirin, which is worth the upgrade if you cook Japanese food often. Check the label, because the cheap versions are mostly corn syrup.
Frequently asked questions
Is mirin alcoholic?
Hon mirin contains around 14 percent alcohol. Aji mirin, the type sold in most UK supermarkets, contains little or none.
Is mirin the same as rice vinegar?
No. Mirin is sweet, rice vinegar is sour. Swapping one for the other directly will not work.
Does mirin need refrigerating?
Hon mirin is fine in a cupboard. Aji mirin should go in the fridge once opened because it has a lower alcohol content.
Is mirin gluten free?
True hon mirin usually is, since it is rice based. Cheaper seasoning versions sometimes add wheat, so check the label.
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- Mirin. A sweet rice wine used in Japanese cooking.
