The Secret For Truly Traditional Chinese Fried Rice

If you have ever wondered how to get your homemade Chinese fried rice as tasty as your favorite takeout spot, the answer lies in one secret ingredient: the sauce. Mirin is a Japanese cooking wine usually featured in teriyaki sauce, sushi rice, marinades, stir-fried noodles, and that bowl of Chinese fried rice that always leaves you craving more. A splash of mirin is the difference between an okay-tasting bowl of fried rice and one that feels like it has been made by hands that have mastered the art of traditional fried rice. 

Mirin's flavorful reputation comes from being a rice wine made through fermentation, which creates a sweet and subtly sugary taste while maintaining a low alcohol percentage (roughly 14%). Traditionally, mirin contributes a potent umami taste to each dish, which ramps up the strong flavors. This works effectively because it balances the flavors within the fried rice. The savory flavors paired with the tanginess of the mirin sauce, complemented by mirin's alcohol content, which is evaporated during the cooking process, bring everything together deliciously. Adding mirin to the fried rice mix guarantees the fuller flavor characteristic of fried rice (you'll seriously be able to tell when it's been left out). The delicious ingredients you chop up and toss into your fried rice make a difference, but slipping in some mirin is the true game-changer. 

Knowing how to work with mirin is essential if your homemade version of this beloved dish is going to pass the taste test. As little as a tablespoon of mirin is usually enough to add a punch to your fried rice. While it may be tempting to saturate the rice in this magic sauce, it's best to be light-handed since mirin's sweetness could throw the flavors out of balance if used in excess. Just as you might season your soy sauce, rice wines such as mirin can be fused with other condiments for extra impact. Mirin pairs well with several spices and condiments that are staples in Asian cuisines such as soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, wasabi, garlic sauce, and chili flakes. Experimenting and combining these flavors is a great way to enhance fried rice with little risk of spoiling its richness. 

Some recipes replace mirin with Shaoxing wine, opting for its saltier taste over mirin. Measurements are pretty similar with only one or two tablespoons needed to enhance the rich flavors in fried rice. If you're opting for a non-alcoholic alternative to mirin, seasoned rice vinegar is an unsweetened replacement with a similar sharp taste. Otherwise, white grape juice, agave nectar mixed with water, and honey add pure sweetness to your plate.