Dry red wine is essential in making several recipes as it helps in enhancing the flavor and color of recipes. It is used often in making dressing, stocks, or marinades. Oftentimes, wine is used in recipes to add moisture, tenderize meat or deglaze a pan. However, if you don’t have a bottle of your favorite dry red wine or any dry red wine, do not despair. We will provide you with 7 substitutes for dry red wine.
Red Wine Nutrition Facts
Substitute For Dry Red Wine
Red Wine Vinegar
Red wine vinegar is an excellent option to use as an alternative for red wine in recipes. It contains water and acetic acid alongside other compounds found in wine. Red wine vinegar also has a similar flavor to dry red wine, so you wouldn’t notice much of a difference if you use this as a substitute for dry red wine. Wine vinegar is used majorly when making liquid-based recipes like salad dressing and marinades. Red wine vinegar tastes better when it is used as a replacement for dry red wine in beef stock, vegetable stock, or beef broth.
Wine vinegar is usually more acidic than regular wine, so we recommend that you water it down to reduce its acidity before using it in recipes. For example, you should mix red wine vinegar and water at a 1:1 ratio. Red wine vinegar contains a little alcohol content, so if you are cutting alcohol from your diet, you may want to avoid using red wine vinegar.
Pomegranate Juice
This is another great alternative for dry red wine. Pomegranate juice can be used by people who restrict alcohol from their diet. It has a rich and fruity flavor and is ideal for making savory recipes like in making salad dressings and sauces or when used in a glaze. Pomegranate juice has less acidity than red wine and it helps in boosting the flavor of almost all recipes it is used in. Because it contains less acidity than dry red wine, you can decide to add a tablespoon of vinegar to it.
Cranberry Juice
Although not the best choice, cranberry juice is another alternative for dry red wine in recipes. Cranberry has a similar color, flavor, and acidity to dry red wine and should be used in the same proportions as a dry red wine in recipes. However, it tastes sweeter than dry red wine does, so it will be best if you decide to use the unsweetened cranberry juice in your recipe. If you think your recipe will turn out sweeter than it should, you can decide to add a tablespoon or two of vinegar to the cranberry juice before cooking to balance the flavors in your recipe. This alternative is best when you’re making sauces.
Red Grape Juice
Dry red wine is basically fermented grape juice, so it makes sense that it will be a great substitute for dry red wine. Because of their similarity in taste and color, grape juice should be used in a 1:1 replacement. When using red grape juice in place of dry red wine, you can add a small amount of vinegar to either add more acidity to your recipe or to reduce the sweetness of the red grape juice. The vinegar should be added to the red grape juice before it is used in the recipe. Red grape juice mixed with vinegar is great for marinating meat or vegetables.
Tomato Juice
Because of its similar level of acidity, tomato juice can be used as a red wine alternative. However, tomato juice has a slightly bitter flavor, so you may have to mix it with another fruit juice so as not to alter the flavor of your recipe. Tomato juice and red wine both have similar colors and similar acidity. When cooking with tomato juice, we recommend that you taste the recipe while cooking because of its distinct taste. This alternative is best used for recipes that require marinating. Tomato juice should be used in a 1:1 replacement for dry red wine in recipes.
Beef Stock
Beef stock can be used to replace dry red wine in recipes. It is used as the base for a variety of dishes including sauces and soups. This liquid performs the same function red wine does in recipes. Use the same quantity of chicken, beef, or vegetable stock to replace dry red wine in recipes. However, you can add 1 tablespoon of vinegar for each cup of stock because it contains less acidity than red wine. The vinegar also helps in tenderizing the meat in recipes. Its deep color makes it a great replacement for dry red wine. Beef stock can be used in a 1:1 replacement for dry red wine.
Liquid From Canned Mushrooms
The brine from canned mushrooms can be used to replace red wine in some recipes. Its flavor is very similar to that of dry red wine. The brine gets most of its flavor by absorbing the flavor of the mushrooms. Because of its savory flavor, we recommend that you use this alternative in savory recipes. However, if you need a little sweetness in your recipe, you can simply mix it with cranberry, pomegranate, or red grape juice. So, if your recipe calls for 2 cups of red wine, you should replace it with 1 cup canned mushroom brine and 1 cup red grape juice.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Is there any non-alcoholic substitute for dry red wine?
There are several non-alcoholic substitutes for dry red wine in cooking such as cranberry juice, red grape juice, tomato juice, and pomegranate juice amongst many others.
How can I substitute canned mushroom brine for dry red wine?
When substituting canned mushroom brine for dry red wine, you should use it in a 1:1 replacement. Simply meaning that you use canned mushroom brine in the same proportion as dry red wine.
Can lemon juice be used as a substitute for dry red wine?
No, it cannot be used to substitute dry red wine. Its taste profile and color make it suitable as a white wine substitute.
Conclusion
That is it on the substitute for dry red wine. We hope that the substitutes on this list are very helpful in your cooking journey. Until next time.