It’s an absolute necessity have for sushi rice, adds tang to salad dressings and elevates flavor in stir-fries. Rice vinegar can also be used to change essential veggies into bites of briny delight. So whether you’re planning a pickling project for the end of the week or getting your wok out for tonight’s dinner, your recipe calls for rice vinegar. But what should you do when you’re all out? Do not to worry: When you’re in need of a substitute for rice vinegar, simply trade in one of these six ingredients you’ll actually have the option to dish up something spectacular.
What is Rice Wine Vinegar?
Acidity is the sign of a vinegar, but doesn’t mean that all varieties can be used reciprocally. Rice vinegar is the fermented flavor-enhancer of choice with regards to Asian food, but its mild and slightly sweet character can help season and balance any kind of cooking. Otherwise called rice wine vinegar, this ingredient is made by fermenting the sugars in rice into liquor and then acid. Also, here’s another interesting fact: This special sauce comes in a variety of colors, ranging from clear to reddish-brown. Compared to its bolder cousins, rice vinegar has an understated profile—so you don’t need an eyedropper when you add it to dressing—but it actually packs a sufficient punch to brighten up a rice bowl. Fundamentally, this stuff has star power. (Move over balsamic, there’s another vinegar around.)
Since you understand what makes rice vinegar so lovely, you’re probably wondering how you can make your recipe work without it. Not to worry, here are six tasty swaps.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
The subtle sweetness of apple cider vinegar is like rice vinegar and it isn’t too overpowering, making it an ideal 1:1 substitute in sushi recipes, salad dressings and sauces. While the apple character is subtle when used for seasoning and cooking, it will come through if you absorb your veggies in the stuff; so in case you’re planning on pickling, you should pick another vinegar from the list.
2. Balsamic Vinegar
Like rice vinegar, balsamic boasts an all the more smooth flavor profile and plenty of sweetness. But although balsamic stacks up regarding acidity, it has a much deeper and richer flavor so it won’t take a backseat like rice vinegar does. Keep this in mind and opt for a few splashes of balsamic in recipes that don’t need something more subtle.
3. White Wine Vinegar
White wine vinegar is more stronger than rice vinegar and not especially sweet. It’s fruitier as well, which isn’t unexpected since this vinegar gets its start on a grapevine. All things considered, white wine vinegar will work nicely when mixed into a vinaigrette that requires its rice cousin and can be substituted in equal amounts. For different purposes, you can sweeten and soften the flavor of this substitute by adding ¼ teaspoon of sugar for each tablespoon of white wine vinegar. In fact, that little trick creates a near-perfect imitation of the rice variety.
4. Sherry Vinegar
Sherry vinegar is an excellent substitute for rice vinegar since it has a similar balance of acidity and sweetness, just with a slightly richer and nuttier flavor. In spite of the more deeper character, there’s a lot of shared opinion so you can use sherry vinegar instead of rice vinegar in pretty much any recipe (and in equal amounts).
5. Champagne Vinegar
Champagne is fancy, so it makes sense that this vinegar boasts an elegant and delicate taste. What’s more, similar to rice vinegar, the Champagne variety has a light flavor that works well in all the same dishes, from dipping sauces to fish marinades. When your recipe calls for rice vinegar and you’re all out, supplant it with Champagne vinegar using a 1:1 ratio.
6. Lemon Juice
A squeeze of lemon is all you require to add some acidity to your plate and perk up the flavor of richer preparations. In many recipes, lemon juice serves as a great substitute for rice vinegar, however the the distinct citrus flavor doesn’t exactly slide under the radar so before you go this route, size up your recipe to ensure the completed dish doesn’t demand the sweeter and more subtle character of rice vinegar in addition to the tang.. If you want to give this swap a try, substitute double the amount of lemon juice for rice vinegar.
Types of Rice Vinegar
Rice vinegar is a central condiment in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese cuisine. Here are Types of rice vinegar:
1. Black Rice Vinegar
You may have come across black rice vinegar as a dipping sauce; thanks to the combination of black glutinous rice with wheat and other grains like sorghum, the result is rich in umami. Small amounts of black rice vinegar can be used in a recipe that calls for rice vinegar if you’re in a pinch.
2. White Rice Vinegar
This basic, multi-use rice vinegar you’ll find in every grocery store is clean, with an unobtrusive tang. Seasoned rice vinegar, used mostly to brighten sushi rice, combines white rice vinegar with sugar and/or MSG for added flavor.
3. Red Rice Vinegar
Red rice vinegar is made with an already fermented rice and incorporates other grains, similar to black rice vinegar. Sweet, sour, and a little funky. Small amounts of red rice vinegar can be used in a recipe that calls for rice vinegar if you’re in a pinch.
4. Brown Rice Vinegar
Like its base grain, brown rice vinegar brings a few more nutrients to the party, along with a toastier color. It’s often mild enough that it can be used interchangeably with white rice vinegar.
