What is mirin and where can you buy it?
Discover what mirin is, where to shop for it, and how to use it in our ingredient glossary
Check out our guide to mirin, including where to buy it and plenty of recipe inspiration, then read about panko breadcrumbs, gochujang and kombucha.
What is mirin?
Mirin is a sweetened rice wine used in Japanese cooking. It’s similar to sake but is sweeter and has a lower ABV. It’s great for marinades, salad dressings and stir-fries, as well as broths, glazes and sauces. Mirin is a key ingredient in teriyaki sauce.
Where to buy mirin
Sainsbury's Mirin, £1.90/150ml, Sainsbury's
Cooks' Ingredients Mirin Rice Wine, £2.50/150ml, Waitrose
Clearspring Organic Japanese Mikawa Mirin, £4.89/150ml, Amazon
Mirin recipes
Teriyaki sauce
Traditionally teriyaki is more of a glaze than a sauce but it’s great to have on hand as it works well with so many things. Try it as a marinade or glaze for meat and fish, or drizzle it over steamed veg or dumplings.
Crispy Chinese-style chicken
Try this crispy chicken recipe with crunchy greens. This super-easy meal for three is packed with punchy flavour and comes in at just over 400 calories.
Braised ox cheeks
An easy, slow-cooked ox cheeks recipe with punchy soy and mirin flavours. Enjoy it spooned over rice, tossed with noodles, stuffed into steamed buns or even wrapped in Chinese pancakes.
Soba noodles with seared tuna and soy mirin dressing
Japanese soba noodles are made from buckwheat and wheat flour and can be found in most supermarkets and health food stores. Asian shops also sell a variation made with green tea, which has a lovely colour.
Healthy one-pot chicken
A twist on a classic pot roast, this healthy chicken dish is infused with aromatic flavours, from the umami of miso to the grassy freshness of pak choi. Serve it up on Sunday for an alternative roast to feed the family.
Gochujang roast celeriac noodle bowls
These nourishing vegan noodle bowls are bursting with colour and texture, from gochujang roast celeriac and crispy radishes to bright edamame beans.
Teriyaki salmon
A classic salmon teriyaki recipe by chef Hidenori Ohata. This makes for an impressive dinner party starter. You can find mirin and sake in Asian supermarkets.
Togarashi tomahawk
This BBQ steak recipe is a real crowd pleaser. We have created a togarashi spice mix to give the steak Japanese flavours of sesame, nori seaweed and zesty dried mandarin, and basted the steak in miso and rice wine vinegar.
Roasted roots with umami dressing
Add some extra flavour to your dishes with umami, a deep savoury taste sensation that can be used as a salad dressing or to perk up a side dish of roasted vegetables.
Foil-baked mushrooms
Check out this flavoursome veggie mushroom side dish from Scott Hallsworth's Asian 'junk food' restaurant, Freak Scene.