Best Mirin Substitutes

Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine used in cooking to add a sweet and subtle flavor to sauces, marinades, and soups. It’s often used in dishes like teriyaki sauce, glazes for meats and vegetables, and in broths for noodle soups.

A common substitute for mirin is a combination of rice vinegar and sugar or dry sherry. Another option is a mixture of sake and honey, but this may change the flavor profile of the dish. It’s important to note that cooking wine is not a good substitute as it contains added salt.

How To Substitute Mirin In Most Cooking Recipes

Mirin SubstituteInstructionsServing Size
White Wine VinegarMix 1 part white wine vinegar with 1 part sugar and let it sit for 10 minutes. Use as a 1:1 substitute for Mirin.1:1
White WineMix equal parts white wine with sugar. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Use as a 1:1 substitute for Mirin.1:1
SakeMix equal parts sake with sugar. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Use as a 1:1 substitute for Mirin.1:1
Rice Wine VinegarMix 1 part rice wine vinegar with 1 part sugar and let it sit for 10 minutes. Use as a 1:1 substitute for Mirin.1:1
SherryMix equal parts of sherry with sugar. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Use as a 1:1 substitute for Mirin.1:1