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If you could not use rice vinegar (for reasons of food allergy, perhaps), what could you use instead in sushi rice?

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    Wow, almost all of my favourite foods are on the "banned" list. Must be a very serious allergy to go to those lengths... – Aaronut Oct 06 '10 at 17:13
  • The linked page contains so many rumors, half-truths, and outright lies that this question is questionable. To get a feel for how intricately linked the human body is to bacteria and fungi see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_flora – ThinkingCook Oct 06 '10 at 17:35
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    Vinegar is often used to kill mold and slow the growth of things like bacteria. That's why it's used as a preservative; such as in pickling. I doubt vinegar is the cause of your allergies. – GeneQ Oct 06 '10 at 17:38
  • I thought the same, @ThinkingCook - but the truth is I don't really have the biology expertise to make an informed statement. Substitutions are substitutions, regardless; even if the question is flawed, we should try to answer it directly, and include any other indirect information that might be useful at the same time. – Aaronut Oct 06 '10 at 18:00
  • @ThinkingCook-- that page isn't representative of the advice my girlfriend got from her doctor, it's just the first thing I found and looked reasonable. She was def. advised against soy sauce, and found the vinegar thing elsewhere (I think) –  Oct 06 '10 at 18:13
  • So the question is, if we don't have the biology expertise to know whether there is a valid reason for substituting soy sauce and vinegar, how could we possibly know that a substitute was in fact any better? Suppose I suggest lemon juice for vinegar -- maybe it is just as bad or even worse? – ThinkingCook Oct 06 '10 at 18:20
  • @ThinkingCook Yeah, the linked source is sketchy (and selling products). Before replying I Googled and found this more reputable link at WebMD which at least verified the vinegar bit: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/mold-allergy – ceejayoz Oct 06 '10 at 18:34
  • @ceejayoz -- definitely a better link, thanks. It still seems like we will have trouble making suggestions on substitutes without really knowing the biological science. – ThinkingCook Oct 06 '10 at 18:47
  • This articles mentions about pasteurized vinegar in the section discussing mold-like growth: http://www.thecitycook.com/cooking/advice/faq/000017 – GeneQ Oct 06 '10 at 18:51
  • @ThinkingCook: You're right, if we don't have the expertise or experience, then we can't know and can't answer reliably. My earlier comment was really intended as a polite rebuke to keep a more civil tone. Obviously I was too subtle, so let me be clear: Please try to be a little less confrontational. – Aaronut Oct 06 '10 at 19:08
  • I've edited the question in a way that I think respects ThinkingCook's objections –  Oct 06 '10 at 19:19
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    @Aaronut -- sorry, I must have misunderstood this line in the FAQ Please note that the following subjects are considered off-topic here: * General health and diet issues – ThinkingCook Oct 06 '10 at 19:20
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    @ThinkingCook: The key word in that bullet point is *general*. This is not a health question. It is a culinary question about ingredient substitution; the allergy background simply narrows down the list of possible answers (this is a good thing). We are not trying to ban all questions that involve health issues, simply those which are *only* about health/diet and not cooking or culinary techniques. – Aaronut Oct 06 '10 at 19:36

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I would probably use diluted white cranberry juice, as being the flavour closest to rice wine vinegar. I am not sure if the acidity would be sufficient, however; you may need to add lemon juice. A substitute for soy you will not easily find, as the development of those sorts of flavours requires fermentation.

  • I'm going to try this! –  Oct 07 '10 at 17:13
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    Bragg's Liquid Aminos are not fermented (but still made from soy, if that's an issue). It's a common substitution for soy, but I've only had it in things, not straight up to compare. – Joe Dec 08 '16 at 17:05
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Sushi is by definition food involving vinegar, so in this case, a substitution would produce a different food. There are several options for writing out the word sushi in Japanese, and instructively, one of the options is 酸し. A form of sushi consistent with its history and origins but not involving the application of vinegar directly would involve fermenting rice and fish together and allowing acids to form naturally (like narezushi or oshizushi). Those acids from fermentation are mostly likely mostly acetic acid anyway, just like you'd produce in sourdough fermentation, so the distinction is almost moot.

But words are somewhat flexible entities, and you could fairly make the case that お酢 refers to acid in the abstract, even from a linguistic perspective. In fact, yuzu juice is, in some reasons, sold under the name ゆず酢, even though the actual product is straight pressed juice, not yuzu vinegar. There are also yuzu vinegars, but at least idiomatically, in some regions, it's within the realm of imagination to consider alternatives, however unlikely. Notably, to the best of my knowledge, Tokyo is not in one of the regions that uses the word "yuzu-su", and Tokyo is the historical center of modern sushi (e.g. the non-fermented type) as we know it.

If you chose the abstract idea of acid, other types would be your substitute for vinegar. Verjuice, yuzu juice, possible sudachi juice, daidai (similar to seville orange) juice, all in dilute forms, might be worth experimenting with, but I'd be disinclined to call the result sushi.

As for soy sauce, in Japan, there is a sesame seed-based soy sauce substitute meant for the narrow market of soy allergy sufferers in Japan, but you'd essentially be unable to eat out anywhere in the country if you were dependent on it.

JasonTrue
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I cannot find easily rice vinegar in my country. I've found that the rice vinegar in a bit lighter than other vinegars,

Given that I use about 2 part of cider vinegar and 1 part of water. But if the use of any kind of vinegar is a problem I think that diluited acidic stuff (like lemon juice + water) should reproduce the taste (you can do your experiments).

pygabriel
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You could also use Mirin and a dry white wine at a push. These are both slightly acidic and go quite well with rice.

Michel Van Mellaerts
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I have an intolerance to yeast, so vinegar is out for me. I love sushi, but cannot use vinegar for the rice, because it causes me a lot of joint pain.

I use salt, sugar and a little wasabi mixed with three tablespoons of water...adding a very tasty filling such as crabstick, cucumber, avocado and a spread of creamed cheese. Very healthy and tasty. Salmon and tuna are good, too, with red pepper, chili, cucumber etc.

moscafj
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Jean
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If the reason is an intolerance to yeast or trace alcohol, "non brewed condiment" can be used as a (considered lower quality) vinegar substitute. It is in the end a synthetic vinegar.

rackandboneman
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What about lemon juice and wasabi?

(I don't have any experience with the allergy to base this on, but some quick searching indicates these would be ok allergy-wise.)

Rebecca Chernoff
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  • How about forgetting about sushi and just enjoy sashimi; slices of raw seafood with maybe a squeeze of lemon and wasabi. Sushi will never taste right without the two essential ingredients; after all without sushi-zu (sushi vinegar) and soya sauce...well it's technically not a nigiri sushi (slices of raw seafood on top of rice). – GeneQ Oct 06 '10 at 18:03
  • I was interpreting the question as asking about the broad term of sushi, so I'm not sure how this differs from my answer? – Rebecca Chernoff Oct 06 '10 at 18:07
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    Sashimi is not sushi. Anyway, I'm not challenging your answer. I'm supporting it. I'm just adding that maybe our friend should get rid of the rice altogether. It'll taste bad without the soy and vinegar. +1 for you. – GeneQ Oct 06 '10 at 18:11
  • *sushi* seems to get used in a similar way someone might say *coke* but mean *dr pepper*. A broad category. – Rebecca Chernoff Oct 06 '10 at 18:16
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    Many non-Japanese conflate sashimi and sushi, but the two dishes are actually distinct and separate. If we use precise terms for Western cooking; it's only fair to do the same for Eastern cooking. IMHO. ;-) – GeneQ Oct 06 '10 at 18:20
  • @GeneQ, there are general terms for any number of things. It isn't limited to Eastern cooking. (; – Rebecca Chernoff Oct 06 '10 at 18:25
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    @rchern We're all here in pursuit of excellent cooking. Each of us brings to this community different strengths. My purpose is not to split hairs or to show off; but as someone who has lived in that country and learnt to cook their food; it's just not natural for me to use term sushi in that manner. And I'm just sharing what I learnt. – GeneQ Oct 06 '10 at 18:39
  • You're not showing off. Right or wrong, generalities are common. Unfortunate maybe, but meh. – Rebecca Chernoff Oct 06 '10 at 18:48
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    "sushi seems to get used in a similar way someone might say coke but mean dr pepper." you mean... incorrectly? Particularly on a site such as this, it is _essential_ that we use the correct, precise terms. –  Oct 06 '10 at 23:14
  • @roux, this is getting so far from where I was initially headed - it isn't worth it at this point. (: – Rebecca Chernoff Oct 06 '10 at 23:21
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I am unable to use soy sauce and use of vinegar is limited because of an allergy to wild yeasts. A recent product on the market is Vege Spread, it would require testing regarding amount of product to liquid in the finished product but may prove useful for your planned recipe. Product is produced by Freedom Foods. Sorry if brand names are not permitted.

gypsybird
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I agree with the poster above. You really don't even need rice vinegar. I love sushi with or without vinegar. Taste about the same to me. Only time sushi rice taste bad is when they add too much vinegar or its not cooked right. I do like a little sugar mixed with the water in the steamer. Don't think I'd ever miss the vinegar even though I still use a little of that also.

Sushi chef
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Just skip the rice vinegar or use any vinegar that you have. The only need for vinegar is to apply a few drops onto rice to make acid taste.

Captain Comic
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What about just plain Worcestershire sauce? It is diluted white vinegar, has suger and salt... might work?

Kdy
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    Nvm, the molasses was horrendous. I ended up using apple cider vinegar, water and mixing it with 2 tsp salt and 2 tsp sugar – Kdy Apr 03 '19 at 17:31