A.K.A

Shaoxing, Shao Hsing

What is it?

Brewed from rice and water, rice wine is a staple of drinking and cooking in China. It adds an acidic element to stir-fries and sauces and tenderizes in marinades. Chinese rice wine should be golden in color, with nutty flavor undertones.

Don’t have it?

If you can’t find a good imported Chinese rice wine, good quality dry sherry is a fine substitute. Don’t substitute Japanese rice wines (sake or mirin), which have different flavors altogether.

How to choose:

Look for a brand imported from China; domestic brands are usually of low quality.

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Recipes

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  Recipe

  Pickled Shrimp

  Giving shrimp and crisp vegetables an overnight bath in a zesty spiced brine transforms them into a bright and tangy dish. They’re fantastic served with flatbreads for a snack or…

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  Recipe

  Steamed Chicken with Preserved Black Beans and Ginger

  What’s remarkable about this dish, from San Francisco chef Charles Phan, is that instead of developing flavor step-by-step, you stir together a bunch of ingredients—chicken, ginger, soy sauce, preserved black…

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  Recipe

  Bánh Mì with Red-Cooked Pork

  Bánh Mì are one of the best products of the French-colonial influence on Vietnamese cuisine: a light, crisp baguette stuffed with paté, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs. Fillings range from roasted…

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  Recipe

  Sesame-Ginger Tofu and Shiitake Kebabs

  Extra-firm tofu is meaty and filling, and absorbs the potent flavors of a marinade, making it a fine addition to summer kebabs, whether you're a strict vegetarian or just an…

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  Recipe

  Steamed Black Cod with Scallions and Rice Wine

  Called sablefish in Europe, black cod is one of the richest-tasting fish on the market. It is buttery and luxurious and nearly impossible to overcook. You can substitute dry sherry…

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  Recipe

  Soy-Braised Kabocha Squash

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  Recipe

  Shrimp Fried Rice (Chau Fan)

  Unless you’re shopping in a Chinatown liquor store, it’s hard to find a good-quality white rice wine. Most supermarkets and even Chinese food markets offer only “cooking wines,” and these…

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  Recipe

  Grilled Sesame Chicken Wings

  The wings can be roasted in a 400° oven on a broiler pan on the center rack. They take about the same amount of time to cook as on a…

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  Recipe

  Chicken Noodle Soup with Ginger, Shiitakes & Leeks

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  Recipe

  Ginger-Sesame Asparagus

  You could use this flavor combination with green beans as well. Either way, cut the vegetable into small, angled pieces. Hoisin sauce, rice wine, and toasted sesame oil are all…