What is Rice Vinegar?
Speaking of vinegar at home, you must have heard of Mizkan vinegar, right?
It is no exaggeration to say that we hold 90% of the household vinegar share.
This vinegar is so-called grain vinegar, and it is almost always placed in supermarkets. Rice vinegar, which has a packaging similar to grain vinegar, may have been familiar to you.
However, when asked if they have actually used it, many people would say that they have never used it.
By the way, I have a bitter memory that I accidentally bought rice vinegar, and my parents sent me to purchase grain vinegar again.
This time, we will focus on rice vinegar and introduce information such as its efficacy, recipes using rice vinegar, and how to use it.
Content ListFive Health Benefits Brought by Rice Vinegar
It is said that white rice contains only a small amount of B vitamins and is not very nutritious.
However, when white rice is fermented and processed into vinegar, 15 amino acids and more than 70 organic acids are produced.
In particular, recent studies have revealed that rice vinegar contains a large amount of citric acid and has high health effects.
Health Benefit 1 Diet effect
Originally, it is said that vinegar has a dieting effect, also no exception in rice vinegar. The amino acids and citric acid components contained in vinegar help burn fat, and it is said that the effects of dieting are high due to these factors.
Health Benefit 2 Fatigue recovery effect
After exercising or when you are tired from work, lactic acid probably accumulates in your body, making your body acidic. It is said that the abundant amount of citric acid contained in moromi vinegar decomposes lactic acid and sugars, changing the acidified body to alkaline and recovering from fatigue.
Health Benefit 3 Preventive effect of kidney stone
Rice vinegar contains a high concentration of citric acid, which inhibits the growth of kidney stones. Kidney stones are said to be common in men over the age of 40, but it is said that drinking rice vinegar has a positive effect on prevention.
Health Benefit 4 Improve blood circulation and improve stiff shoulder etc.
Rice vinegar is said to have the effect of making it easier for muddy blood, which causes arteriosclerosis, to flow cleanly. This is expected to effectively prevent and improve diseases caused by blood flow, such as back pain and stiff shoulders.
Health Benefit 5 Hypertension prevention
Vinegar can help prevent high blood pressure. Although it does not have an immediate effect, it is expected to improve the constitution of hypertension by continuing to consume it.
Recommended Pure Rice Vinegar Products
What is the Difference Between Rice Vinegar and Grain Vinegar?
Rice vinegar and grain vinegar are both product names that you often see in supermarkets, but what exactly are the differences?
Grain vinegar
As the name implies, grain vinegar is vinegar made from grains (rice, wheat, sake lees, corn, etc.). The vinegar from Mizkan, a major vinegar maker, is also grain vinegar, and you may have seen it at home once. The price range is reasonable, and it is characterized by refreshing acidity and a slight vinegar scent. It has a variety of uses and is helpful in Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine.
Rice vinegar
Unlike grain vinegar, rice vinegar is vinegar made by brewing only rice as the main ingredient. Its taste is mellow, and rice’s sweetness, umami, and flavor make it a living vinegar. In the past, acetic acid was strong and wasn’t easy to use, but it seems that it has become easier to use in ordinary households due to improvements in the manufacturer.
It is said that this rice vinegar and sushi rice go best with each other, and most professional sushi chefs use rice vinegar. It seems that each craftsman has his own personality by adding sugar, salt, and original seasonings together with rice vinegar. Because the raw material is rice, it is also characteristic that many of them are made in Japan.
Proper use of rice vinegar and grain vinegar
Basically, I think you should use it correctly according to your preference. Grain vinegar has a simple and refreshing taste with no peculiarity to be used for anything. Rice vinegar is said to be compatible with Japanese food. The taste can be tightened by combining vinegar, sushi vinegar, or the hidden flavor of simmered dishes.
For the differences between rice vinegar and white vinegars, check our articles below:
Learn More About Rice Vinegar Here!
How to Eat Rice Vinegar Deliciously
Like grain vinegar, rice vinegar has a little strong acetic acid, so it is not suitable for drinking. It is best to mix it with food and eat it.
Here, we will introduce recipes using rice vinegar.
Rice Vinegar Dressing
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Rice Vinegar
- 1 tbsp Oil (salad oil)
- 1/4 tbsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 2 tsp Soy sauce
Instructions
- Mix rice vinegar, oil and soy sauce.
- Add salt and sugar, melt together, and it is completed.
- Pour the rice vinegar dressing on your favorite salad and dishes!
Red Shiso Juice (with Organic Rice Vinegar and Black Sugar)
Ingredients
- 400 g Red shiso leaves (red perilla leaves)
- 250 ml Organic rice vinegar
- 1 cup Black sugar
- 1.5 litre Water
Instructions
- Cut the stem of the shiso and take only the leaves, wash them repeatedly with clean water and then drain the water.
- Put approx. 1.5 L of water in a pot made from other than aluminum, then boil the water.
- Add 1 cup of organic rice vinegar in the pot, then add red shiso, and boil them for about 5 minutes.
- Take the red shiso leaves. Put it in a strainer, then squeeze it with chopsticks, ladle, etc., but do not touch with hand.
- Add a cup of black sugar in the pot and reboil it, skim off the scum (froth or foam that floats on the surface of liquid) if there are any.
- If you see the heat (steam-like air) coming, take the bottle to store the juice.
- Disinfect the bottle by spreading a small amount of rice vinegar to the inner lid and spout.
- When it cools down, keep it refrigerated.
- You can drink it immediately as it is. But if the concentration is too thick for you, you can add water and ice.
Notes
- Because this is using vinegar, do not use aluminum pot. Since vinegar is added in from the beginning, the red colour will remain beautifully even if the shiso leaves are taken from the water.
- Because of if you use ordinary vinegar or citric acid, and white sugar, the juice won't turn out nicely, please use organic rice vinegar and black sugar.
Shrimp Relish
Ingredients
- 125 ml Peanut oil
- 15 cloves Garlic finely chopped (minced)
- 5 pieces Bird's eye chillies
- ½ inch Dried shrimp paste (blachen) (or 1 cm)
- 250 g Dried prawns (shrimp)
- 125 ml sesame oil
- 50 g Chopped driedspring onions (scallions)
- 125 ml Red rice vinegar you can use the white one too
- 2 teaspoon Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce
Instructions
- Heat the peanut oil and stir-fry the garlic, chili, and shrimp paste until the garlic softens. Then allow to cool. Combine the dried prawns with the sesame oil.
- Stir the dried spring onions and the chili-and-garlic mixture. Add the vinegar and fish sauce.
- Seal in an airtight jar. Serve as an accompaniment to savoury dishes.
Lightly Pickled Cucumber and Eggplant
Ingredients
- 1 piece Cucumber
- 1 piece Eggplant
- ½ piece Red chili pepper
- ½ teaspoon Sesame Oil
- 3 tbsp Soup stock
- 1 tbsp Rice vinegar
Instructions
- Cut the cucumber and eggplant in one-bite size.
- Put cucumbers and all seasoning in plastic bags, tie the plastic's mouth so that the air in vinyl can escape, and pickle them for 15 to 30 minutes.
- When they had pickled, then it's complete. This is a simple and convenient recipe when you want to eat pickled cucumber and eggplant easily.
Chirashi Sushi
Ingredients
Mixed vinegar ingredients
- 450 g Rice
- 4 tbsp Rice vinegar
- 4 tbsp Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Salt
Ingredients
- Crab Proper amount, to your liking
- 2 tbsp Salmon roe dipped in soy souce/shoyu
- 2 Eggs
- Mitsuba (Parsley; East Asian wildparsley) Proper amount, to your liking
Instructions
- When the rice is finished cooked, mix the "mixed vinegar ingredients" and make sushi rice.
- Cut the crab into one-bite sized pieces.
- Cook the eggs, cut them into small pieces resemble string.
- Mix the "ingredients" with "mixed vinegar ingedients". When they are all mixed, then it's complete.
- Enjoy your chirashizushi by yourself, with families, or with your beloved ones!
Notes
Q & A about Rice Vinegar
- I would like to drink undiluted rice vinegar for health and beauty. Is it okay?
- Rice vinegar has a slightly tart solid acid component, so it may not be easy to drink the undiluted solution as it is. If you want to incorporate rice vinegar into your daily life, it is best to put it in a dressing or vinegar dish and eat it with other ingredients.
- Is vinegar other than rice vinegar good for my health?
- Vinegar other than rice vinegar is also considered to be good for your health. Apple cider vinegar, black vinegar, tomato vinegar, etc., have different health effects, so please try them.
- I heard that rice vinegar is not good if you drink too much. Is it true?
- Vinegar is acidic and can hurt your stomach if you drink it on an empty stomach. It is said that about 30 ml is enough for daily use. Also, if the vinegar component remains in your mouth, it may dissolve the enamel of your teeth, so be sure to brush your teeth after drinking.
Recommended Rice Vinegar
Rice vinegar is not only used as a seasoning for Japanese dishes, but its health benefits have been attracting attention in recent years. Here, we will introduce the recommended rice vinegar handled by Kawashimaya.
You can also check our other vinegar & rice vinegar products here.
