What is rice cooking wine supposed to do?

Question

or just cooking wine, i don't know. but does it enhance flavor like a lot or is it subtle...what does it do???

Answer 1

In Chinese cuisine, rice cooking wine does three things:

1. it neutralizes odours from fish, seafood and other meats;

2. it slightly sweetens the final dish;

3. it extracts and helps blend flavors and aromas from condiments, especially herbs and spices such as star anise.

A simple recipe is San Bei Ji (which means Three-Cup-Chicken)

1 cup each of rice wine, soysauce and asian sesame oil (hence 3 Cups)

1 head of garlic finely chopped

A 1-inch k**b of ginger, sliced

2.2 pounds of chopped chicken (thigs and legs are great in this)

a few leaves of basil (preferably Asian basil)

Put all ingredients, except basil, in a pot, and simmer until it dries out, and leaves nothing but the coating of sesame oil. Then sprinkle the top with a few basil leaves. It's really that simple!

Enjoy!