Cooking Japanese Food Without Mirin: Soy Sauce Substitution Tips

When you open a Japanese recipe in Ho Chi Minh City, you see "1 tablespoon of mirin." But there is no mirin in your kitchen, and you don't have time to run to a Japanese supermarket. In that case, combining soy sauce and sugar can cover mirin's role to a reasonable extent. This article compiles substitution techniques for cooking Japanese food without mirin.

Understanding the Role of Mirin

3 Effects Mirin Brings to Cooking

Mirin is the "unsung hero" of Japanese cuisine. It plays three main roles.

• Sweetness : a milder, more elegant sweetness than sugar that enhances the natural flavor of ingredients
• Gloss and shine : gives simmered and grilled dishes a beautiful glossy finish
• Odor removal : the alcohol content helps eliminate the fishy or gamey smell of seafood and meat

What Changes Without Mirin?

Without mirin, dishes lack sweetness and simmered foods won't develop their characteristic gloss. However, with the right substitutes, the result is more than good enough for home cooking.

3 Substitution Patterns

Pattern 1: Soy Sauce + Sugar

This is the simplest substitution. Replace "1 tablespoon of mirin" with "1 teaspoon of sugar." Use soy sauce in the same amount as the recipe calls for. The sweetness is replicated, but the gloss will be weaker.

Pattern 2: Soy Sauce + Honey

Honey's viscosity serves a similar role to mirin's glossing effect. Replace "1 tablespoon of mirin" with "1 teaspoon of honey." In Vietnam, local honey is inexpensive and easy to find, so it's handy to keep in your kitchen.

Pattern 3: Use Tsuyu (Concentrated Soup Base) for Everything

Yamamori's tsuyu is a well-balanced blend of soy sauce, mirin, and dashi. Using it as a base for simmered dishes eliminates the need to measure soy sauce and mirin separately. It's a great time-saver for Japanese cooking in Ho Chi Minh City.

Dishes That Work Well and Dishes That Are Tricky

Dishes That Work Well

• Nikujaga (meat and potato stew) : add sugar and the result is nearly identical
• Miso stir-fry : the strong miso flavor masks whether mirin is present or not
• Soboro (seasoned minced meat) : soy sauce + sugar provides sufficient seasoning

Slightly Tricky Dishes

• Teriyaki : mirin's natural sugars are ideal for achieving the signature gloss. Using honey as a substitute comes close
• Simmered fish : the odor-removal effect is weaker, so add extra ginger to compensate

Stock Up on Mirin and Seasonings at Farmi

Substitutes work in a pinch, but real mirin truly elevates Japanese cooking. With Farmi, you can order mirin along with other essential Japanese seasonings in one go.

• Kikkoman Soy Sauce : the foundation of Japanese cuisine
• Yamamori Tsuyu : an all-in-one blend of mirin + soy sauce + dashi, a time-saver
• Kikkoman Oyster Sauce : adds richness to stir-fries and can also substitute for mirin's sweetness

Order in Japanese, delivered in as fast as 1 hour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I substitute cooking sake for mirin? Cooking sake has an odor-removal effect thanks to its alcohol content, but it has almost no sweetness. Combining cooking sake + sugar gives a result close to mirin.

Q2. Can I use "mirin-like seasoning" sold in Vietnam? Mirin-like seasoning contains no alcohol and can be used to add sweetness. However, its flavor differs from real mirin, so the final result will be slightly different.

Q3. What is the recommended substitution ratio? For 1 tablespoon of mirin, use 1 teaspoon of sugar or 1 teaspoon of honey as a baseline. Adjust to your preferred level of sweetness.

Q4. Can I buy mirin on Farmi? Yes, the Farmi app carries Japanese mirin. Search in the seasonings category.

Conclusion: No Mirin? Don't Give Up on Japanese Food

Even without mirin, you can make delicious Japanese food using soy sauce + sugar, soy sauce + honey, or tsuyu. Give these substitutes a try when seasonings are hard to find in HCMC. And next time, stock up on mirin through Farmi for peace of mind.

Download the Farmi app and receive Japanese seasonings in as fast as 1 hour.

Related Articles

• Essential Seasonings Guide for Japanese Cooking
• Where to Buy Miso in Vietnam?
• Dashi Substitute Recipes for Overseas

Note: this article and some images were created with the assistance of AI (artificial intelligence) and reviewed by the editorial team before publication.