What sauces, spices and foods should I always have in my kitchen if I want to cook Asian food regularly?!
Soy sauce
Oyster sauce
Toasted sesame oil
White pepper - not black pepper
Corn Starch as a thickener
Garlic
Ginger
Cilantro
Onions
Green Onions
Other spices/flavors you may need..
Hoisin sauce
Chili sauce/Sambal
Dried Shiitake mushrooms (adds a lot of flavor)
Five Spice Powder
Fermented Black Beans
Food stuff - canned or dry
rice, of course, long grain rice.
dried noodles
rice noodles
bamboo shoots
water chestnuts
vermicelli (mung bean threads)
straw mushrooms
baby corn
sesame seeds
Food stuff - refrigerated
bok choy
nappa cabbage
Fresh noodles for chow mein
cabbage
tofu
celery
pork
wonton skins
Answers: Bare bones basic sauces and spices
Soy sauce
Oyster sauce
Toasted sesame oil
White pepper - not black pepper
Corn Starch as a thickener
Garlic
Ginger
Cilantro
Onions
Green Onions
Other spices/flavors you may need..
Hoisin sauce
Chili sauce/Sambal
Dried Shiitake mushrooms (adds a lot of flavor)
Five Spice Powder
Fermented Black Beans
Food stuff - canned or dry
rice, of course, long grain rice.
dried noodles
rice noodles
bamboo shoots
water chestnuts
vermicelli (mung bean threads)
straw mushrooms
baby corn
sesame seeds
Food stuff - refrigerated
bok choy
nappa cabbage
Fresh noodles for chow mein
cabbage
tofu
celery
pork
wonton skins
Sauces-Chinese mustard which you can make your own. Gradually add 1/4 cup boiling water to 1/4 cup dry English mustard, stirring constantly, then add 1 teaspoon oil. Sweet and sour sauce & Soy Sauce.
Herbs-Basil, chinese chives, lemon grass, mint. Most of these items can be purchased at organic food stores or asian food stores.
fish sauce
sesame oil
lemon grass
kefir lime
oyster sauce
soy or tamari sauce
cilantro/coriander
coconut milk
canned sliced water chestnuts
sesame seeds
chinese 5 spice mix
garlic
ginger
onions
sesame oil, peanut oil, soy sauce
rice wine, rice vinegar, honey, noodles
tofu, rice, ginger, garlic, green onions
for starters
ginger and garlic.
Definitely fresh garlic. Lots of it. Also soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, green onions, ginger, jasmine rice, chinese broccoli, bean sprouts, rice noodles (you can get these dry or fresh like pasta), sesame oil, pepper, anise, galanga root or powder, and chili powder or crushed red pepper. Wow, I'm hungry for some fried noodles now . . .
:o)
I buy Mr. Yoshida's Sauce by the gallon. It's a sweet soy sauce with a bit of ginger and garlic. Great for marinades and stir-fry.
Foxy, ally, sophra, and usual have great lists! Definitely you need
oyster sauce
soy sauce
rice wine (sake)
sesame oil (the dark kind)
fresh ginger root
garlic
and to their lists I would add
sambal (a fiery Thai garlic-chili paste)
star anise
furukake (Japanese flavoring made of shredded seasoned seaweed)
Garlic, ginger, lemongrass, cumin, coriander, star anise, cardomom, saffron, fennel. And most chinese dishes use fish sauce or soy sauce.
YOU'LL NEED A LARGE SPICE RACK , I MADE ONE FOR 70 BOTTLES , IT'S KIND OF TALL.