Rice vinegar is a type of vinegar that is made from fermented rice. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavour. It is used as a staple ingredient in a lot of Asian meals, such as pickled vegetables, sushi rice, salad dressings as well as slaws. However, there may be some days when you are in a pinch and do not have any rice vinegar in your kitchen. There are a lot of simple substitutes that you can use in place of rice vinegar in meals such as sushi and some of them are described below.
Contents
White Vinegar
One of the best substitutes for rice vinegar in sushi is white vinegar. White vinegar is made through the fermentation of white wine for it to become vinegar. It has a mild and slightly acidic taste that makes it an excellent addition to your salad dressings, sauces in addition to sushi. White vinegar also shares a similar flavour profile to rice vinegar, so you can easily use it in place of most recipes that require white vinegar. Take note that white wine vinegar is not as sweet as rice vinegar, so you may need to add a little bit of sugar to help match the flavour of rice vinegar. To use white vinegar in place of rice vinegar substitute it using a 1 to 1 ratio. If you want to add just a hint of sweetness you can add a teaspoon (1 gram) of sugar per tablespoon (15 ml) of the white wine vinegar for your dish.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Another great substitute for rice vinegar in sushi is apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar that is made from apple cider that has undergone fermentation. Apple cider vinegar has a mild taste and a hint of apple flavour and can be used in place of rice vinegar in a lot of recipes including sushi. Also, apple cider vinegar can make a great substitute for any type of vinegar so its something that you must have in your kitchen. You can easily use apple cider vinegar in place of rice vinegar in just about any recipe, such as sushi rice and marinades. Although the apple flavour is fairly weak in apple cider vinegar, you must take note that it may become more pronounced if you use it for certain types of recipes such as pickling. To substitute rice vinegar with apple cider vinegar use an equal amount of apple cider vinegar for rice vinegar in your recipes. To account for the extra sweetness of rice vinegar, you can add 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) of sugar per tablespoon (15 ml) of apple cider vinegar.
Lemon or Lime
You can consider using lemon or lime in place of rice vinegar in sushi. Also, if you are using rice vinegar to add a bit of zing to your recipes such as salad dressings, slaws or sauces, you can easily replace it with a bit of lemon or lime juice. This is because lemons and limes are both very acidic and they can easily mimic the acidity of rice vinegar in a lot of meals. While you can use lemon or lime juice in a lot of recipes that call for rice vinegar, it is important to note that it may change the flavour of the final product and may leave it with a distinct citrus taste. In order to replace rice vinegar with lemon or lime and to add extra acidity to your recipe, replace double the amount of lemon or lime juice for rice vinegar in your meal.
Champagne Vinegar
Also on our list of some of the best substitutes for rice vinegar in sushi is champagne vinegar. Champagne vinegar is made by fermenting champagne to produce vinegar with a light and delicate flavour. It has a mild taste plus it can be used in place of rice vinegar in any recipe that requires the use of rice vinegar. The good thing about champagne vinegar is that it provides a subtle flavour that will not overpower the final product. It also makes an especially delicious addition to seafood dishes, dipping sauces, marinades as well as other dressings. In order to use champagne vinegar in place of rice vinegar use a one to one ratio in your dish.
Seasoned Rice Vinegar
Also on our list of substitutes for rice vinegar in sushi is seasoned rice vinegar. Seasoned rice vinegar is made by adding sugar and salt to regular rice vinegar. You can use it in place of rice vinegar in a lot of recipes. By simply making a few simple adjustments to your recipe, you can easily replace seasoned rice vinegar for regular rice vinegar in your dishes. Seasoned rice vinegar also works especially well in recipes that require additional salt or sugar. You can also use seasoned rice vinegar for other recipes, but keep in mind that the flavour of the final product will be altered. The next time you are out of regular rice vinegar, simply use an equal amount of seasoned rice vinegar to your recipe instead. To use seasoned rice vinegar in place of rice vinegar for each three quarter cup (177 ml) of seasoned vinegar you use, make sure you remove 4 tablespoons (50 grams) of sugar and 2 teaspoons (12 grams) of salt from your original recipe in order to match the flavour of your dish.
Sherry Vinegar
Sherry vinegar is another type of wine vinegar that is made from sherry. It has a distinct flavour that is often described as rich, nutty, and slightly sweet. You can use it in place of rice vinegar in sushi as well as in other recipes. Sherry vinegar makes a great substitute because it has a similar taste and acidity. Sherry vinegar also works very well in place of rice vinegar for sauces, vinaigrettes as well as marinades. You can also use it to pickle vegetables or add a pop of flavour to your main course. For best results, replace sherry vinegar for rice vinegar using a one to one ratio in any dish that requires rice vinegar.
