What Is Rice Wine Vinegar?
Rice wine vinegar is manufactured from rice wine. Rice is first fermented into wine before further fermented into vinegar.
Rice Vinegar vs. Rice Wine Vinegar
There is no difference between the two. Rice wine vinegar is just another name for rice vinegar, a special seasoning in Oriental dishes.
Substitutes for Rice Wine Vinegar
- Sherry vinegar – Sherry vinegar is derived from sherry, which is already a top rice wine for various dishes that require savory and sweet undertones. The flavor of sherry vinegar is often described as only slightly sweet, nutty, and quite rich. It has a similar flavor profile to rice wine vinegar because of its moderate acidity and sweetness. Use sherry vinegar for salads and even for pickling vegetables and fruits.
- Seasoned rice vinegar – This is a modification of the traditional rice wine vinegar. Use this as a substitute if you need additional saltiness and sweetness to your dish. If you use this type of vinegar, cut down on adding sugar and salt, so these flavors don’t become too overwhelming.
- Champagne vinegar – Yes, this vinegar is manufactured from champagne, and it is one of the lightest and classiest types of vinegar around. Due to the mildness of champagne vinegar, use to add only subtle acidity to your recipes. Champagne vinegar is great for marinades, dressing, and various sauces. Since the taste is a little different, add some sugar to the mix to make up for the lack of sweetness.
- Lime juice – Lime juice is a good choice if you want a strong acidity presence in the food. The citrus flavor is different from the vinegar flavor profile, so make sure that you adjust how much you add each time. Also, you can adjust the sweetness if you like.
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