Alright, here’s a little chef secret: you’re midway through whipping up your favorite shrimp scampi, and bam!
You realize the white wine has vanished.
Maybe it was a ghost, perhaps a very thirsty one.
Before you throw in the apron and order pizza, we’ve got tricks up our sleeve that’ll save dinner – and maybe even turn it up a notch.
Who said you need a fancy bottle to create magic in the kitchen? Not us.
Buckle up, as we’re about to spill the tea (or should we say, wine substitutes) that’ll keep your scampi on point without a drop of the usual vino.
The 5 Best Substitutes for White Wine in Shrimp Scampi
If you’re looking for a delicious, easy-to-prepare seafood dish to make for dinner, shrimp scampi is a great choice.
However, if you don’t have white wine on hand to use in the dish, it can be difficult to know what substitutes work best.
Here are five of the top substitutes for white wine in shrimp scampi.
1 – Dry Vermouth
Dry Vermouth, often classified as an aperitif, is a wine-based beverage that has gone through the process of fortification and flavoring with herbs and spices.
It has a distinctively smoother flavor with less alcohol content than other fortified wines typically used in cocktails.
Its taste is light and slightly sweet, and it has a herbal aroma with hints of sweet melon and citrus.
Its texture is also much lighter than its counterparts having more feel of thin syrup instead of thick liqueur.
When used as a substitute for white wine in shrimp scampi recipes, one must be mindful not to add too much Dry Vermouth compared to the recipe’s requirements for white wine as the flavor intensity will be stronger; pour around half a cup for every cup asked for in the recipe.
2 – Chicken Broth
Chicken broth is a staple for home cooks everywhere, and it’s especially versatile.
Made from boiling chicken bones, veggies, and herbs, it has a rich flavor that imparts immense depth to any dish.
The versatile broth also has a slightly thicker texture than many other broths due to the collagen released when simmering chicken Bones.
It ranges in flavor from mild to strongly savory depending on the seasonings used during the cooking process.
If you’re looking for a substitute for white wine in shrimp scampi, try swapping out the wine with chicken broth—and add some red pepper flakes to round out the flavor.
You’ll be in for a delicious surprise.
3 – Apple Cider
Apple cider has long been a popular drink, enjoyed at festivals and in the comfort of one’s own kitchen.
It is made of apples that have been mashed to release their juice.
It is then fermented until it reaches its unique tartness and sweetness.
Apple cider can be warmed or enjoyed cold, but both ways will give you strong notes of apple alongside an acidity that teases the taste buds.
If you choose to substitute white wine for apple cider in your favorite shrimp scampi recipe, chances are that no one will detect the difference.
All you need to do is reduce the quantity slightly, as apple cider has a more intense flavor compared to white wine.
4 – White Grape Juice
White grape juice is a popular sticky-sweet concoction made from white grapes, their skins, and pulp.
It packs a full nutrient punch, as it contains B vitamins and essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
Its flavor is reminiscent of fresh grapes on the vine, with sweet notes that cut through its tartness.
Mellow and mellifluous, it has a wholesome yet indulgent taste.
If you’d like to substitute white wine for this tasty beverage in a recipe such as shrimp scampi, simply add double the amount of white grape juice for the same zesty result.
5 – White Wine Vinegar
White wine vinegar is a great condiment to have on hand for quickly adding flavor and accentuating the natural flavors in a dish.
It is made by fermenting white wine into an acidic liquid, stripping away any fruity notes in favor of sharpness.
White wine vinegar possesses a slightly sweet taste but with a sharp finish, making it the perfect replacement for acidity from white wine in recipes.
For example, when making shrimp scampi, you can substitute some of the white wine for white wine vinegar for an even sharper flavor that complements perfectly with garlic and butter.
With just the right amount of sweetness to balance out the saltiness in this dish, white wine vinegar is sure to be an excellent substitution.
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