Rice wine

A Chinese cooking wine (like Shaoxing) made from fermented rice — different from Japanese sake and from sweet, syrupy mirin. Adds savory depth to marinades and stir-fry sauces; dry sherry is the standard substitute.

Rice wine

Used for

  • marinate
  • stir-fry sauces
  • braises
  • deglazing

In the kitchen

  • deglaze
  • whisk into marinade
  • simmer to cook off alcohol

Picking it at the store

  • Shaoxing wine (often labeled with salt added) is the everyday choice — save the unsalted 'drinking' version for actually drinking
  • Dry sherry substitutes well in a pinch; sweet sherry does not

Related terms

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