Dry Sherry Substitute: 9 Alternatives You Should Try - Recipes.net (2024)

Giddy and thrilled, you’re about to add dry sherry to yourdelicious kung pao chicken. But you discover you’ve already used up the sharp ingredient. No need to panic! In this list, you will find the best dry sherry substitutes to save you trips to the supermarket.

First, what is dry sherry (or dry sherry wine)? A fortified wine, this alcoholic drink gives dishes complex flavors with its nutty, fragrant, and salty tones. What makes it different from the typical wine is its aging and fortification process. This Spanish liquor has higher alcohol content than most drinking wines as brandy has been added to it after its sugar is turned into alcohol.

Unsure of what to use for your savory recipes? Or wondering what substitute for dry sherry wine will you add to your favorite desserts? Then, continue reading to discover what you can use as a replacement from your pantry.

9 Substitutes for Dry Sherry You Can Try

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Whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic, this list has options that will brighten your dishes – all with just the right amount of acid. So if you spot an empty bottle of dry sherry in your cabinet, one of these versatile alternatives might be the right choice in place of it.

Alcoholic

When it comes to ingredient substitutes, you can never go wrong with something that has similar origins to it. Here are alcoholic dry sherry substitutes if you are not afraid of a little booze:

Dry White Wine

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Why go to lengths when you have something that’s almost the same? Sherry comes from dry white wine strengthened by a spirit making the crisp and refreshing drink an ideal dry sherry substitute. Plus, its light and fruity tones are perfect for cooking. Just remember that it has more sweet notes compared to our main ingredient.

Pinot Grigio, Semillon, or sauvignon blanc are a few examples that have lesser sweetness and higher acidity. To use as an alternative, start with a 1:1 ratio.

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Preferred by many, dry vermouth is the perfect alcoholic substitute for soups, stews, and sauces. Both dry sherry and dry white vermouth are a kind of fortified wine, giving them strong booze contents. Similar to dry white wine, this alternative has crisp tart hints. Also, take note that this is aromatized which means it’s infused with botanicals. Lastly, stay away from sweet vermouth since it has a sweeter taste and might affect the flavor profile of your dish.

If you’re whipping up a slow cooker French onion soup but you don’t have dry sherry around, an equal part of this drink gives your creamy dish the right amount of acidity.

Madeira Wine

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Just like the previous substitute for dry sherry liquor, Madeira wine is also a kind of fortified drink. Stemming from the Portuguese Madeira Islands, this beverage has caramel, nut, and sweet taste profiles. Although this won’t bring in the same amount of flavor complexity, its acidity and fruity notes intensify the dish in the same manner as dry sherry does.

If the recipe calls for two tablespoons, use the same amount of Madeira wine as a dry sherry substitute.

Non-Alcoholic

Even though some of the alcohol evaporates once cooked, certain home cooks still prefer purely non-alcoholic substitutes for dry sherry. If you’re staying away from liquor or cooking a scrumptious dinner for the kids, then one of the alternatives below might be perfect for you!

READ ALSO: Cooking With Beer: 10 Beer Recipes to Try

Sherry Vinegar

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With flavors close to dry sherry, you just hit the jackpot if you have sherry vinegar at home. They have the same fortified base but the only difference is that dry sherry has a more salty taste to it. Furthermore, this dry sherry substitute is less potent than red or white wine vinegar. Mix in a tablespoon of sherry vinegar in place of ¼ cup of dry sherry to use it.

White Wine Vinegar

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If you have some white wine vinegar hanging around the kitchen, then your problem might be solved. A bit bolder than dry sherry, this tangy and zingy ingredient amps up your dish using justa small amount. If you need a ¼ cup of dry sherry, just a tablespoon of white wine vinegar is enough to make up for the sourness.

Red Wine Vinegar

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White wine vinegar and red wine vinegar have almost the same flavors. But while the former already has a strong tang, red wine vinegar blends a harsher finish. With a more vibrant grape taste, it further intensifies your recipes with its punchier and fruitier flavor.

Be sure to mix red wine vinegar or use small amounts of it first. Combine it with one teaspoon of vegetable or chicken broth to achieve a complex flavor similar to the Spanish fortified wine.

Read Also: 8 Best Red Wine Vinegar Substitute Choices and How To Make It

Apple Cider Vinegar

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The ever-versatile and reliable apple cider can also come to your rescue when you are out of Spanish liquor. But it has less aged depth and is slightly sweet compared to fortified wine. It also has stronger acidity.

To use this, mix ½ cup of unfiltered apple cider vinegar and ½ cup of water to make a cup of dry sherry.

Vanilla Extract

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Best for desserts, vanilla extract blends in complexities to sauce or cakes similar to how the liquor does. Just remember that it’s sweeter than the original ingredient. So if your treats need a ¼ cup, add one teaspoon of vanilla extract as a substitute for dry sherry.

Fruit Juices

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For more dessert alternatives, you can also go for apple juice, red grape juice, or white grape juice. These fruit juices naturally havesome acid in them, which makes up for the tang and kick that dry sherry has. Aside from these three, orange, pineapple, peach, and apricot juices are good options too. But if the juice is thick, combine it with water to make it thinner. You can use the 1:1 ratio when using any of these as a replacement.

Brighten Up Your Dishes With These Dry Sherry Substitutes

There are tons of options to choose from when you’re out of this Spanish ingredient. While these substitutes don’t have the exact flavors of the dry sherry, one of these will surely save the day. Just make sure to use the right substitution ratio to avoid any flavor disaster.

Share your thoughts on Dry Sherry Substitute: 9 Alternatives You Should Try in the Ingredients Spotlight forum section.

Dry Sherry Substitute: 9 Alternatives You Should Try - Recipes.net (2024)

FAQs

Dry Sherry Substitute: 9 Alternatives You Should Try - Recipes.net? ›

You can use a white wine, brandy or dry vermouth (or, depending on the recipe, red wine, Port, Madeira or Marsala, knowing they will leave some residual flavor). You can also try vinegars—apple cider, wine vinegar or even rice wine vinegar.

What is a substitute for dry sherry in a recipe? ›

Your best bet is going to be another dry fortified wine such as dry (white) vermouth. Dry versions of Madeira and marsala are also acceptable. You can also substitute a dry white wine like sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, pinot blanc, or sémillon. Dry sparkling wines will also work when used in small amounts.

What is a substitute for dry sherry in chicken noodle soup? ›

If you don't keep sherry on hand, a dry white wine works really nicely too. Once you add all the broth, bring the soup to a boil and add the chicken. Since the chicken cooks right in the soup, it really helps to flavor the broth and make it so delicious.

What is a dry sherry? ›

Dry Sherry wines are produced by complete fermentation and thus have a minimal content of residual sugar from the grape juice. Within this group of dry wines we distinguish four different types depending on whether they were aged in what we call “biological ageing” or “oxidative ageing” or a combination of both.

Can you substitute sherry for vermouth in a recipe? ›

Sherry is another acceptable sweet vermouth substitute if you have it; just make sure you are using sherry wine (cooking sherry) and not sherry vinegar.

What is a non alcoholic substitute for sherry in a recipe? ›

To yield about a cup of nonalcoholic sherry substitute, combine 1/2 cup water, 1/3 cup apple juice, 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon soy sauce (to mimic sherry's muskiness). We tested this in our Sherry-Rosemary Pan Sauce, and it tasted very close to the sauce made with sherry.

What is another name for dry sherry? ›

Common dry sherries are fino, manzanilla, and amontillado (though the latter is sometimes sold lightly sweetened).

Can you substitute vinegar for dry sherry? ›

If you have some white wine vinegar hanging around the kitchen, then your problem might be solved. A bit bolder than dry sherry, this tangy and zingy ingredient amps up your dish using just a small amount. If you need a ¼ cup of dry sherry, just a tablespoon of white wine vinegar is enough to make up for the sourness.

Can you substitute dry sherry for white wine in cooking? ›

If the dish calls for a dry white wine, which is often the case, ensure you're looking at a dry white sherry (rather than a sweet sherry). And, add less than you would white wine – you can always add more later if it's working well.

What can I use instead of rice wine or dry sherry? ›

Best Rice Wine Substitutes
  • Pale Dry Sherry.
  • Gin.
  • Dry White Wine.
  • Sake or Mirin.
  • Apple or Grape Juice.
Feb 13, 2024

Is dry sherry like vermouth? ›

Like vermouth, sherry is a fortified wine. But unlike vermouth, it draws its distinctiveness from the funky powers of yeast and oxidation—and the wine itself—rather than added herbal botanicals. Where dry vermouth has a medicinal lilt, dry sherry is mouthwatering: saline and nutty, bright and downright savory.

What is the flavor of dry sherry? ›

Their alcohol content is 15% abv and has a crisp, tangy, yeasty and nutty flavour profile. Fino Sherry is very dry with delicate acidity which leaves a pleasant and fresh aftertaste of almonds. Manzanilla is a fino-style sherry, which has a distinctive salty tang and is fresher than Fino.

Can I use balsamic vinegar instead of sherry? ›

Balsamic vinegar is sweeter and has a stronger flavor than sherry vinegar. Start with a small amount and add additional to taste. 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar = 1-2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar.

Can I substitute pinot noir for sherry? ›

A decent non -alcoholic substitute would be grape juice or fruit punch mixed with mix berry seltzer. Madeira or port are good subs for sherry. Alternatively you can do a light red wine like a Pinot noir but it won't be the same due to the lack of fortification.

Can I substitute mirin for dry sherry? ›

We recommend replacing one tablespoon of mirin with one tablespoon of dry sherry. We recommend adding white sugar to sweeten your recipe. You can add half a teaspoon of white sugar to every tablespoon of dry sherry. If you prefer, you can substitute sugar with honey or any other sweetener.

Can I use sherry vinegar instead of dry sherry? ›

They have the same fortified base but the only difference is that dry sherry has a more salty taste to it. Furthermore, this dry sherry substitute is less potent than red or white wine vinegar. Mix in a tablespoon of sherry vinegar in place of ¼ cup of dry sherry to use it.

Can I substitute red wine vinegar for dry sherry? ›

Another substitute for sherry vinegar? Red wine or white wine vinegar! But note that these two are both much stronger than sherry vinegar. White wine vinegar is a little better of a substitute than red wine, which is the strongest and most acidic.

Is dry sherry the same as red cooking wine? ›

Sherry is VERY different from red wine – way sweeter, much less bold, just a completely different flavor. It's a good accent flavor for a bisque or something but it would be crazy overpowering and not at all delicious in a beef/lamb stew. The good news though is you can definitely use cheap wine in your stew.

What is a good sherry for cooking? ›

Dry sherry is what you want! Cream sherry is a sweeter sherry and more commonly used for sipping. If the recipe calls for sherry, but doesn't designate it as a sweet sherry, then go for dry sherry. You can find it in most grocery stores.

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