I want to make sushi, i dont have rice vinegar... can i use anything else to substitute? do i even need it?

Question

so i bought everything today, 4got the rice vinegar... (i have sushi rice though) is the vinegar that important? can i substitute it w. something else if i really need it? If i dont use the vinegar, it shouldnt be plain because at the end i plan on using Ugani Sauce (Eel sauce) so what do u think?

Answer 1

use vinegar instead.

Answer 2

You do not have to use vinegar in your rice. Many people prefer it without. It will taste good either way, just make it & enjoy.

Answer 3

white wine vinegar, or white vinegar with a little sugar

Answer 4

Japanese & Chinese rice vinegars are very different from Western vinegars, so don't use a substitute if you don't have it, the taste will be ruined by the harshness of normal vinegar.

Without the rice vinegar & other seasonings, the rice is tasteless & the rice's final quality seems somewhat affected (though the subtlety may be lost on non-Japanese). The rice & topping are 2 separate entities, though they provide a harmonious synergy of taste, so the availability of unagi sauce (which is actually just teriyaki sauce) doesn't fully compensate for unseasoned rice. Technically you might as well forget about presenting as sushi & just serve plates of plain steamed rice with the toppings as side dishes.

Answer 5

Buy a nice bowl, not to big and not to small.  Cook your rice.  Serve it into your special favorite bowl, the one you spend extra money on, warm up your eel (half piece, EXPENSIVE!) in a little toaster oven.  Plate-up on top of the rice and granish with pickled ginger and a side of spicy kimchee.  Enjoy !

Answer 6

No, you don't have to use it.  The flavor of rice wine vinegar is so subtle the average palate won't miss it. But if you have to use it, dilute some white vinegar with some water...it would be way too strong if you used it straight.  One part vinegar to two parts water or add water until it doesn't smell strong anymore.

Answer 7

You need to get some rice vinegar. That stuff is wonderful and unlike any other vinegar. Go get some!

Answer 8

When in doubt... DON'T. Since, you will be putting eel sauce on it, anyway, no need to mess it up by having a "funny" vinegar taste. The combination of a poorly made vinegar, will ruin the flavor of the eel.