Sushi question- what is mirin?!
I want to make my own sushi at home- what do I put in the rice after it's been cooked?
Thank you!
Answers:
Mirin is a sweet Japanese cooking wine. Using mirin as an ingredient when preparing meats and sauces helps to... ... In appearance, mirin has a golden hue that is very pleasing to the eye. In addition, the inclusion of this sweet cooking wine will also provide slight sheen when used to prepare fish and various types of meat.
Prepare sushi vinegar (sushi-zu) by mixing rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a sauce pan. Put the pan on low heat and heat until the sugar dissolves. Cool the vinegar mixture.
Spread the hot steamed rice into a large plate or a large bowl. Please use a non-metallic bowl to prevent any interaction with rice vinegar. It's best to use a wooden bowl called sushi-oke. Sprinkle the vinegar mixture over the rice and fold the rice by shamoji (rice spatula) quickly. Be careful not to smash the rice.
To cool and remove the moisture of the rice well, use a fan as you mix sushi rice. This will give sushi rice a shiny look. It's best to use sushi rice right away.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirin
http://www.bigoven.com/uploads/mirin.jpg
mirin is sweetened, while regular rice vinegar is not