Mirin (Japanese Sweet Rice Wine)

Mirin is a Japanese sweet cooking rice wine with a mild, slightly sweet flavour. It is made from fermented glutinous rice and shochu (a distilled alcohol). Usually, mirin contains 14-18% of alcohol content and has a syrupy texture. Mirin is widely used in Japanese cuisine as an essential seasoning ingredient in many recipes like sauces, dressings and stews.

Ingredients

Mirin is typically made with four basic ingredients: glutinous rice, shochu (distilled alcohol or vodka), water, and salt. The rice is first steamed and then fermented alongside the distilled alcohol. After the fermentation process is complete, the mixture is strained to remove any solids and then heated to reduce its moisture content. The final product is a viscous sweet-tasting liquid known as mirin.

Nutritional Facts

The nutritional value of mirin depends on the amount of fermentable sugars it contains. Generally speaking, one tablespoon of mirin contains about 20 calories, 0.2 grams of protein, 0.4 grams of fat, and 4 grams of carbohydrates (including 2 grams of sugar). It also has trace amounts of sodium and other minerals.

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