Mirin: The Unsung Hero of Japanese Cooking

Mirin: The Unsung Hero of Japanese Cooking

Mirin is an essential ingredient in Japanese cooking, yet many people are unaware of its significance and the reasons behind its use. Here are some key reasons why Mirin is so important: 

• Prevents Starch Leakage: Mirin helps to prevent the leakage of starch during cooking, ensuring that dishes maintain their desired texture. 

• Prevents Ingredients from Falling Apart: It helps to keep ingredients intact during simmering, preventing them from falling apart. 

• Eliminates Odors with Alcohol Content: The alcohol content in Mirin helps to evaporate unpleasant odors, making it ideal for marinating fish and meat. 

• Quickly and Evenly Infuses Umami: Mirin has the ability to quickly and evenly infuse umami flavors into dishes, making it perfect for time-saving cooking. 

• Adds a Delicious Glaze and Shine: It gives dishes a beautiful glaze and shine, enhancing their visual appeal. 

When purchasing Mirin, always look for "本みりん" (hon-mirin) and not "みりん風" (mirin-fu). Although both are labeled as Mirin, they are entirely different products. Hon-mirin is a fermented product with numerous benefits, while mirin-fu is merely a sweetener. 

Japanese Mirin traditionally uses Japanese Shochu in its production. However, being in Long Beach, we can get creative. Instead of Shochu, you can use any distilled alcohol above 25%. My favorite combination is Mirin made with Rum. It has a darker color and a caramel-like taste that lingers on your tongue. My friend's favorite is Vodka. 

You can learn how to make Mirin at our Long Beach Koji workshop. Stay tuned for announcements on our Instagram when we are ready to host the workshop. Check our Mirin in our Koji Lab Diary.

 Mirin is an essential ingredient in Japanese cooking, yet many p