Mirin

Mirin is a very sweet Japanese cooking wine made from glutinous rice which can be bought from most Chinese grocers as well as Japanese food shops. It is used as a tenderizing marinade, as one of the ingredients in a number of dipping sauces and – in conjunction with soy sauce, sake and aromatics – as a poaching or braising liquid for meat and fish. It imparts sweetness to a dish and, when used as a baste, gives a lacquered glaze. When mirin is not available, mix sake with sugar in the proportion of 1 tablespoon of sake to 1 teaspoon of sugar.