Cooking sherry is a type of wine that is used in cooking. It’s a bit like a reduced-sugar wine vinegar, and it’s often used to add flavor to sauces and stews.
The thing about cooking sherry is that it’s not easy to find. If you live in the United States, you might have to order it online because it’s not available at all grocery stores or even most liquor stores. And if you live outside the U.S., or even just in a different part of the country, your options are likely even more limited!
But what if you really want to make an amazing stew or sauce? And what if you have no idea where else you can get cooking sherry? What are your options?
Well, we’ve got good news: There are lots of substitutes for cooking sherry out there! You don’t have to miss out on all the great food recipes that call for this ingredient just because you can’t find any locally—you just need some creativity!
Here are some ideas for cooking sherry substitutes.
what is sherry?
Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown and fermented in the region of Jerez, Spain. The wine is aged in barrels, which gives it its characteristic nutty flavor and amber color. Sherry is typically served as an aperitif, with dessert, or as an accompaniment to food.
Sherry is made in a variety of styles, including fino (dry), manzanilla (lightly sweet), amontillado (medium sweet), oloroso (nutty) and cream sherries. The most famous style is fino, which gets its name from the word for “dry” in Spanish. Fino sherries are light-bodied and dry with crisp acidity. They are aged in barrels made of American oak, giving them rich flavors of vanilla and caramel alongside nuttiness from the barrel aging process.
Manzanilla sherry comes from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain and has been produced there since the 16th century when fishermen would make this type during their off-seasons. It’s typically aged in American oak barrels between three months and two years before being sold as Manzanilla Pasada—or “aged manzanilla.” Manzanilla Pasada has a salty flavor and a pale yellow color with a briny, fishy aroma.
Amontillado is aged in barrels for at least one year, but unlike fino sherries, amontillados are aged using French oak. Like most sherries, amontillados have nutty flavors that come from the barrel aging process. As amontillados age, their flavors become more complex and evolve into a buttery brandy-like taste.
Drinking Sherry vs. Cooking Sherry
Drinking Sherry
Drinking sherries are made with Palomino grapes grown in the Jerez region of southern Spain. They’re aged in a solera system, which means they’re blended in such a way that the oldest part of the blend is always a small fraction of the total volume. The result is a complex and unique flavor profile that varies from one producer to another.
Cooking Sherry
Cooking sherry is made with Pedro Ximenez grapes and is not aged in wood. It’s used primarily for cooking because it has a high sugar content (15-20 percent) and low acidity (3-4 percent).
Dry Sherry vs. Sweet Sherry
A dry sherry is one that has been aged in a solera system, which means that the wine is blended with older wines as it ages. A sweet sherry is one that has not been aged in this manner, and therefore has not developed this balance of tannins and sugars. In fact, it can range from being unsweetened to very sweet.
The two types of sherry are generally differentiated by their alcohol content: Dry sherries are 15%-16% ABV, while sweet sherries range from about 15% to 17%. However, there are some exceptions to this rule; for example, fino and manzanilla sherries can be classified as both dry and sweet depending on whether they are aged in a solera system or not.
7 Cooking Sherry Substitute
1. Dry Vermouth
The most common substitute for cooking sherry is dry vermouth. You can use it to replace cooking sherry in most recipes. The only exception is when you’re making a recipe that specifically calls for cooking sherry.
Dry vermouth is made from white wine and herbs, and it has a similar flavor and color to sherry. It’s slightly sweeter than sherry, though, so if you’re using it to replace sherry in a recipe, you may have to reduce the amount of sugar called for in the recipe. Dry vermouth comes in both sweet and dry varieties; use whichever you prefer based on the type of dish you’re making.
2. Dry White Wine
You can use dry white wine in place of cooking sherry in most recipes. Dry white wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Riesling, have a high acidity that works well in dishes that need a dash of acidity to brighten them up. You can also use dry white wine to deglaze the pan after sautéing meat or chicken.
3. Chicken Stock and Lemon
If you don’t have cooking sherry on hand, a combination of chicken stock and lemon juice can be used as a substitute. For example, if you want to make a pan sauce for steak or chicken, combine 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons flour over medium heat in a saucepan until thickened, about 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup chicken stock and simmer until thickened again, about 5 minutes more. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice into the sauce before serving on top of your dish.
4. Cognac
If you can find a brandy that has been aged for at least 15 years, it will produce a similar flavor to cooking sherry without having to pay high prices. This can also be used in place of port if needed.
5. Port
Port is another fruity fortified wine and works well as a substitute for cooking sherry because it has similar flavors. If you’re looking for something less expensive than port, use Marsala instead.
6. Marsala
Marsala is made from Sicilian grapes and has been fortified with alcohol like cooking sherry does; however, it does not contain sugar like cooking sherry does so it’s not as sweet tasting as some other options listed here.
7. White wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or sherry vinegar
These vinegars can be used as an alternative to cooking sherry. They have a very similar flavor profile and can be used in most recipes that call for cooking sherry. White wine vinegar is the most common substitute for cooking sherry. It can be used in any recipe that calls for it as well as to marinate meat and fish dishes. Apple cider vinegar also has a similar flavor profile to cooking sherry and can be used in most recipes that call for it. Sherry vinegar is another alternative but it’s less commonly used than the other two.
White Wine Vinegar
The flavor of white wine vinegar is milder than that of wine, so it works well in dishes that need a little acidity but not much flavor. White wine vinegar can be substituted for cooking sherry in recipes like egg salad and potato salad.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has a more complex flavor than white wine vinegar, and it also contains an array of nutrients. This type of vinegar has been used as medicine for centuries, but it’s also great in cooking. Use apple cider vinegar to replace cooking sherry in soups, stews and sauces that are served over rice or potatoes.
Conclusion
Cooking Sherry is a type of wine that is used in cooking. It is made from the fermentation of grapes, and it has been used in cooking for hundreds of years. When you are trying to make your own recipes, it can be difficult to find the right ingredients. Cooking sherry substitute is one way to make sure that your recipes come out just as they should.
Cooking sherry substitute can be used in many different dishes. You can use it as an ingredient in soups and sauces, or even on top of your favorite dish! Cooking sherry substitute is a great way to add flavor to your meal without adding calories or fat.
If you are looking for a way to replace cooking sherry, there are many options available for purchase online. You can search for cooking sherry substitute on eBay by typing “cooking sherry substitute” into the search bar at the top of any page. This will give you an array of products from which to choose from so that you can decide which one fits best with your tastes!
