If you’re cutting out alcohol, you probably know all about non-alcoholic drinks. However, what about cooking? Many recipes out there call for making use of wine. As it turns out, there are some good wine substitutes out there. These can help you make some good meals while keeping alcohol away from you…
Wine Substitutes: Non-Alcoholic Options
Vinegar
The first of the wine substitutes you can use is vinegar. Vinegar is very versatile, and can be made from a number of different things. However, red and white wine vinegar are the options which get the closest to wine. They’re especially useful in liquid-based recipes, like salad dressings, but can be used for cooking as well.
However, keep in mind that vinegar is much more acidic than wine. It helps to water it down a bit before using it in your dish. Also, it is technically possible for these options to contain very small trace amounts of alcohol. Still, it’s usually disappears during the fermenting and cooking process. Double-check before you buy just to see if your vinegar might have some.
Pomegranate juice
Pomegranate juice is one of the more interesting wine substitutes. The juice is very acidic, and adds a boost to the flavor of many foods. Plus, the flavor, aroma, and acidity are very similar to red wine, making it an excellent substitute. It especially excels as a dressing, or as a glaze.
One of the nice things about pomegranate juice is the added health benefits. Pomegranate juice is very rich in healthy antioxidants. It’s also been liked to potentially lowering blood pressure, a common risk factor for heart disease.
Ginger Ale
Ginger ale might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about wine substitutes. However, it actually can be a pretty handy alternative. It’s best when used as a replacement for white wine, due to it’s similar appearance and taste.
Ginger ale is especially handy as a meat tenderizer, due to the acidity. Still, keep in mind that ginger ale, like the name implies, has a ginger flavor to it. Therefore, try to use it in dishes that will benefit from a little bit of ginger flavor.
