How Does Rice Wine Really Work?
Rice wine is one of the earliest types of Asian food that has become popular in the West. Common varieties of rice vinegar include shanzhai (fake), Chinese rice wine, mirin (Japanese rice wine) and sake (dry, dry Japanese wine). Although the exact origins of the rice wine have not been found, it is believed to be native to the Shang Dynasty of ancient China. Although its exact history and use has not been firmly established, it is known that it was first served in courts of the Japanese emperors.
Rice wine is fermented rice that has been steamed, dried and then added to vinegar. In China, rice vinegar is used to make a variety of different foods. It is often used as a sweetening agent in Chinese recipes and is also made into a thick-cream consistency to use as a glaze or topping. In fact, a lot of Chinese dishes and drinks will actually have rice vinegar as a base ingredient. You will find it in Chinese soups, hot pot recipes, stir fries and a variety of other Asian recipes.
You can buy your rice wine vinegar from Asian food markets and specialty shops. There are several Asian food stores in America that specialize in Asian food items and a good Asian food store should have an Asian food wine section. You can also order your rice vinegar online. Although you will not find many Asian food stores in the United States, some Asian food shops are now starting to sell rice vinegar online. Many of the web sites for these shops will also list other Asian food items as well.
Rice wine vinegar is used to make many different Asian food dishes. Rice vinegar is usually used as a cooking agent in Chinese soups, stir fries, salads and even as a sauce for fried rice. It is often used in Asian desserts such as rice cakes, which are basically sweet desserts that use white rice as a filling and the juice or liquor from white rice vinegar is used to make sweet desserts. Rice wine is also used in Asian cookies, cakes that are made with white rice and is sometimes mixed in with white rice milk to make a white rice custard.
One of the most traditional uses of rice vinegar is in Asian recipes for rice soup. Many Chinese soups, including those in Japan and Korea, are prepared with white rice, vinegar, chilies, chicken, and fish. and usually lots of meat. This dish usually has lots of meat and is often served with bread.
If you do not want to eat a lot of meat, you can substitute vegetables like carrots, celery and cucumber for meat in this dish. and add a little soy sauce or vinegar and you will have what is called tofu puffs. The Chinese and Koreans also love using this rice puddings for dipping in different dishes.
Rice wine vinegar is also used in Japanese sushi. A typical Japanese meal consists of two pieces of grilled sashimi, often rice and raw fish, and is served in a bowl of rice vinegar. Many Japanese restaurants serve sushi that has a mixture of white rice vinegar and soy sauce.
In Japan, rice vinegar is often combined with vinegar to make a rice porridge which is served chilled on an open flame. The Asian version of this dish is called o-tayashi, which means grilled rice porridge.
Rice vinegar has also been used in many Asian recipes to make rice cakes and a white rice pudding. Some Asian restaurants also make their own rice cakes in a variety of flavors and styles, and they are served in a decorative pot. on special occasions. In China, rice cakes are the most common dessert and are often served with milk.