Mirin facts for kids
Mirin (味醂, みりん) is a special kind of rice wine used a lot in Japanese cooking. It adds a unique sweet and tangy flavor to many dishes. Even though it's a type of rice wine, it's mostly used for cooking, not for drinking.
Mirin is a very popular ingredient that helps make Japanese food taste amazing. It gives a lovely shine to dishes and helps other flavors blend together.
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What is Mirin?
Mirin is a sweet liquid made from rice, similar to sake. It's a key part of Japanese cooking because it adds sweetness, a nice glaze, and helps to remove strong smells from food.
Two Main Types of Mirin
There are two main kinds of mirin you might find. One is the traditional, real mirin, and the other is a mirin-like seasoning.
Hon Mirin: The Traditional Kind
The original and traditional type is called Hon Mirin (本みりん). This kind has been made for hundreds of years.
- How it's made: Hon Mirin is made mostly from rice, a special mold called kōji, and alcohol.
- Natural sweetness: It gets its sweetness naturally during the brewing process. No extra sugar is added!
- Alcohol content: It contains about 14% alcohol. This alcohol helps keep the mirin fresh and stops it from spoiling. When you cook with it, most of the alcohol evaporates.
Mirin-fu Chomiryo: The Mirin-like Seasoning
The other type is often called Mirin-fu Chomiryo (みりん風調味料), which means "mirin-like seasoning." This version is different from traditional Hon Mirin.
- Less alcohol: It has very little alcohol, sometimes less than 1%.
- Added ingredients: Instead of natural sweetness, it often has sugar and broth added to it.
- Cheaper price: Because it's made differently and has less alcohol, it's usually sold at a lower price in stores.
How Mirin is Used in Cooking
Mirin is a versatile ingredient that chefs use in many ways to make Japanese dishes delicious.
Cooking with Mirin
When cooking with mirin, especially Hon Mirin, people often boil it for a short time.
- Removing alcohol: Boiling helps to remove some of the alcohol content. This makes the flavor smoother and more suitable for dishes.
- Nikiri Mirin: In the Kansai region of Japan, this boiled mirin is called nikiri mirin (煮切り味醂). It's a common step to prepare mirin for certain recipes.
Popular Dishes Using Mirin
Mirin is a must-have for many classic Japanese meals.
- Teriyaki sauce: It's a key ingredient in teriyaki sauce, giving it that famous sweet and shiny glaze.
- Other dishes: You'll find mirin in marinades, dipping sauces, and glazes for fish, chicken, and vegetables. It adds a lovely sweetness and helps food look appealing.
Images for kids
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A bottle of commercially produced mirin
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See also
In Spanish: Mirin para niños
