Rice vinegar is a type of vinegar made with rice wine or fermented rice. It is widely used in cooking and helps balance flavors in dishes and prolong shelf life. The rice vinegar has a clear consistency with a yellow tint. It is milder and sweeter than the regular vinegar. It is widely used to make several Asian dishes. It can be added to salads or stir-fry dishes. The rice vinegar has different names across the world. It is called Komezu in Japan, ssal sikcho or micho in Korea, and dam gao or giam gao in Vietnam. The various subtypes of rice vinegar go by different names in these nations.
History of Rice Vinegar
The usage of rice vinegar in China dates back to 3000 years ago. Black rice vinegar and red rice vinegar are popular variations in China. This ingredient is also popular in Japan. The Japanese samurai, who believed that drinking a rice vinegar drink will boost their immunity, drank this frequently.
Culinary Uses of Rice Vinegar
The rice vinegar has a mild flavor and is good for flavoring spices, fruits, and herbs. It is also used on vegetables. A dash of rice vinegar gives salads added taste. It is also frequently added to stir-fries. Rice vinegar can be used even in barbecue rubs.
Popular Rice Vinegar Recipes
Some popular dishes which use this ingredient are the chicken salad, Asian noodles, salad dressings, hot and sour soup, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, and Thai fish cakes.
Cuisines Using Rice Vinegar
The rice vinegar is famous in Chinese cuisine and Japanese cuisine. Other Asian cuisines also use this ingredient in their dishes. The Asian coleslaw and honey beef stir fry are popular dishes in the chinese cuisine. The sushi rice made in Japan uses rice vinegar as one of its ingredients.
Preferable Cooking Methods
The rice vinegar is made by boiling rice water and sugar on medium heat. Yeast is added to this, and the mixture is allowed to rest for about a week to cause fermenting. The mixture is filtered every week for about a month. It is boiled again before storing it in a bottle.
Nutritive Value of Rice Vinegar
The rice vinegar is said to be rich in amino acids, which provide various health benefits. It helps fight the damage caused by free radicals in the body and also boosts immunity levels. It also aids in absorption of nutrients from other food.
Rice Vinegar Buying/Storing Tips
The rice vinegar can be found in the Asian aisle in a supermarket. It does not need refrigeration and has a shelf life of two years. The label of the product can be checked for more information. The rice vinegar can be used in most recipes that use regular vinegar to give a milder flavor.
Related Ingredients
Some types of rice vinegar include the red rice vinegar, black rice vinegar, and the white rice vinegar. The black rice vinegar is used as a dipping sauce as well as used in braised dishes. The red rice vinegar is used in noodles, seafood, and soups. The white rice vinegar works well with stir fries.
Non- Food Uses of Rice Vinegar
Rice vinegar can be used as a cleaning agent. Equal parts of water and rice vinegar can help remove grease from sinks and counters. A few drops of this can also be used when mopping the floor.
Rice Vinegar Trivia
The International Vinegar Museum is in Roselyn, South Dakota. It is the only vinegar museum in the world.