This quick 3-ingredient homemade mirin works perfectly as a substitute for many delectable recipes calling for Mirin. All you need is sake, sugar, and water to make it.
What is Mirin
Mirin (味醂 or みりん in Japanese) is a Japanese (cooking) rice wine that offers a subtle, sweet highlight to various dishes, such as udon or teriyaki chicken. It’s often mixed with soy sauce.
What does Mirin Taste Like?
If you’re not familiar with Mirin, the flavor is reminiscent of Sake but a touch sweeter and with less alcohol content. The flavor is similar to a dessert wine, yet a touch more mellow.
Mirin adds that little zip to sauces, transforming them from bland to BAM! If you’ve tried cooking various Asian dishes at home and they seem to be missing something, Mirin might be the one!
Can I Buy Mirin
There are several commercially produced Mirin brands available in the states, but traditional, authentic Japanese hon-mirin (such as Takara) can be a bit more difficult to find.
Brand | Ingredients | Sugar per tbsp |
Glucose syrup, water, alcohol, rice, corn syrup, salt | 7-8 grams | |
Fructose, water, rice, distilled sake, and rice koji (enzyme modified). | 5 grams | |
Water, organic rice, koji (aspergillus oryzae), sea salt | 4 grams |
Kikkoman brand is well known and fairly common, but be aware that it contains corn syrup, an ingredient that is often avoided for health reasons.
If you follow a low carb, diabetic, or Keto lifestyle, Eden Mirin is the lowest sugar option, made with organic rice and without refined sugars. Alternatively, we’ve provided a recipe to make your own keto mirin below.
Make Your Own Mirin
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tbsp water
3/4 cup sake wine
Add sugar and water to a small saucepan and place over medium heat.
Bring to a boil, and allow to boil gently for 2-3 minutes. Then remove from heat.
Dribble the simple syrup into the sake slowly until you reach the desired level of sweetness in your homemade mirin.
Stir to mix and set aside to cool completely. Store in a mason jar in the fridge.
Note: If you’re unable to find sake, you can use a dry white wine such as vermouth.
Keto Mirin
1/4 cup Bocha Sweet
3 tbsp water
3/4 cup sake wine
Add Bocha Sweet and water to a small saucepan and place over medium heat.
Bring to a boil, and allow to boil gently for 2-3 minutes, creating a simple syrup. Then remove from heat.
Dribble the syrup mixture in the sake slowly until you reach the desired level of sweetness.
Stir to mix and set aside to cool completely. Store the homemade Mirin in a mason jar in the fridge.
Once again, if you’re unable to find sake, you can use a dry white wine such as vermouth.
