Mirim is a cooking wine made from rice that has a 14% alcohol content. When real Mirim is made, it naturally develops a sweet umami flavor without the addition of MSG, salt, or added sugar. It’s sugar content is what gives a gloss to your dish.
Although real mirim is said to develop its sugar and umami during the natural process of being made, when you look up various Mirim products for sale, you will notice the addition of starch syrup.
Mirim has a clear yellow color that does not alter the color of your dish. Mirim is useful for adding umami flavor, sweetness, and shine to dishes and sauces. It removes unwanted smells and helps to improve the texture of proteins especially fish.
Be mindful of how much you add because it will add a sweet flavor. Mirim needs to be cooked so that the alcohol burns off. So it is less ideal to add Mirim to a dipping sauce that is not cooked.
Real Mirim (without additives) does not need to be refrigerated after opening. Some Mirim products may need to be refrigerated, so check the bottle.
