A splash of mirin adds umami to this fresh fruit sauce. Mirin is a Japanese sweet rice wine that's intended for cooking. It's often sold in the Asian food section of supermarkets.
Author: Mark Reinfeld
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings (about 1 cup)
Ingredients
1 cup chopped strawberries
7 tablespoons (scant ½ cup) water
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 teaspoon mirin
½ teaspoon minced mint leaves (optional)
Pinch cardamom
Pinch cinnamon
Instructions
Place the strawberries and water in a small sauté pan and heat over low heat until the strawberries start to break apart, approximately 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the sweetener, mirin, mint (if using), cardamom, and cinnamon, and stir to combine.
Notes
Variations: Experiment with different fruits such as blueberries or mango. A small amount of coconut, soy or rice milk may be added or creaminess. You can also vary the type of sweetener you use to create different flavors. I've used maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and sucanat (unrefined whole cane sugar).