7 things you need to do when you come visit Japan
If you are considering or already decided upon visiting Japan, here is a list of what you should not miss out on when you come and visit.
Mirin (みりん)
While soy sauce may be the first condiment that may come to your mind when you think of Japanese food, this relatively unknown condiment is just as important when making really good Japanese food.
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A little bit about Mirin (みりん)
Mirin is a sweet rice wine which is mainly used to flavor and glaze your ingredients when you are cooking. Along with soy sauce, Mirin is one of the most important condiment if you want to make sure that your Japanese food is top-notch and legit Japanese flavoring. Mirin adds a distinct sweetness and aroma to your dishes that comes from the fermentation process of the rice, which makes a very subtle yet huge difference in how dish turns out. By adding this condiment to the dish, it has the effect of tenderizing the whatever you are cooking, as well as getting rid of any unwanted aromas that comes with the ingredient you are cooking with.
Below are some of the more famous Japanese dishes that requires Mirin in the preparation of the dish.
・ Chicken Oyakodon (親子丼)
・ Gyudon (牛丼)
・ Tempura (天ぷら)
・ Udon (うどん)
Where can I find Mirin (みりん)?
Mirin can be found in your nearest Asian supermarket. However, you may not have access to one depending on where you are, in which case, it might be best to order it on Amazon. While you may find cheaper knock-off versions made by non-Japanese companies, some condiments may taste completely different to what it really is, and therefore, we advise you to purchase ones from established Japanese brands, such as Kikkoman (specializes in Soy sauce), Takara (specializes in liquor based sauces), Mizkan (specializes in Vinegar). It might be a little bit more expensive, but if you are making the effort, spending much time and money to make the meal, you might as well get the proper one in order to make sure it does not turn out wrong. Mirin also comes in large amounts, whereas the actual amount that you use each time is not much so it is definitely worth getting a legit one.
Recipes using Mirin (みりん)
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Oyakodon (親子丼)
Oyakodon (親子丼), means “parent-and-child donburi” in Japanese. This is because the meat (=parent) and the egg (=child) are cooked together, which is then poured on to a bowl of rice.
Yakitori (焼き鳥)
Yakitori (焼き鳥), meaning “grilled bird” in Japanese, is a dish composed of different kinds of meat and vegetables (not just chicken) that are skewered and cooked on a grill.
Shougayaki (生姜焼き)
Shougayaki literally means ginger sear/fry. Shougayaki is cooked with this slices of pork and simmered in a sauce made of soy sauce, mirin, onion, garlic and grated ginger cooked fried in the pan.
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