Rice Vinegar Substitute: 5 alternatives

With a substitute for rice vinegar, you can still prepare Japanese dishes. The mild aroma is an essential part of Japanese cuisine and should not be left out. With our alternatives, the dishes get the necessary acidity.

Rice vinegar alternatives for connoisseurs

Rice vinegar is ideal for Japanese dishes because of its characteristically mild taste. Mild types of vinegar that do not overpower the taste of the other ingredients are therefore also suitable as a substitute.

• Light Balsamic Vinegar: Light balsamic vinegar is the best rice vinegar alternative because it is extremely mild. The aroma is comparable to rice vinegar due to the lower acidity and is therefore ideal as a substitute.
• Apple Cider Vinegar White Wine Mixture: Use either a low-alcohol or free white wine and mix it with some apple cider vinegar. Be careful with the apple cider vinegar so the mixture doesn’t become too acidic.
• Dark balsamic vinegar: Dark balsamic vinegar is a good substitute for dark rice vinegar compared to white. The aroma is significantly stronger, but not too acidic.
• Champagne vinegar: If you don’t mind a slightly alcoholic note in your Japanese dishes, use champagne vinegar. The pleasantly mild note is an excellent substitute. In general, many French kinds of vinegar are good alternatives to rice vinegar.
• Caution: Always use a little less of the alternatives. Rice vinegar is still a bit milder, so don’t use the same amount as in the recipe.

Make your own rice vinegar substitute

If you don’t have any of the rice vinegar alternatives mentioned, you can mix your own. The mixture is also suitable if you do not want to do without the basic aroma of rice vinegar. To do this, proceed as follows:

• Ingredients: soy sauce, wine, or apple cider vinegar
• Put a little vinegar in a bowl and add a few drops of soy sauce. Give the mixture a quick stir.
• Taste the mix. Depending on the intensity of the vinegar and the selected soy sauce, you may need to add a few more drops of the seasoning sauce. If the taste of soy sauce is too intense, add a little water.
• The mixture can be used immediately. It is particularly suitable as a dip or for cold dishes. The soy sauce makes the mixture somewhat reminiscent of rice vinegar, especially if you use it with rice.