5 Ingredients For Cooking All Kinds Of Asian Cuisine

From traditional Indian, Chinese to spicy Thai – if you’re looking to cook up some amazing Asian food, there are a few key ingredients you’ll want in your kitchen pantry.

From India, Japan and Korea to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam – each Asian country offers its own distinct flavors, dishes, ingredients and cooking styles. ready with everything you need for your culinary adventure into Asian cuisine.

1. Soy Sauce

The word “soy” refers to the soybean plant, which is a legume that is processed into different types of food. Soy sauce as we know it today developed in China and Japan, with the earliest evidence of its use dated back to at least 1000 AD. It is made by fermenting either soybeans or wheat with different types of bacteria and fungi, yielding a light and dark soy sauce both contain rice vinegar as an acidifying agent.

Soy sauce has been an essential ingredient in Asian cooking for hundreds of years. It is made from fermented soybeans and salt, which give it its distinct flavor. There are now numerous types of soy sauce available on the market, ranging from light to dark and even black. Soy sauce can be used in a variety of dishes, such as stir-fries and marinades, to add umami flavor.

2. Sesame Oil

If you’ve recently dived into the ocean of Asian cooking, then you’ve probably come across sesame oil. But did you know that sesame oil comes in all shapes and sizes? With its different flavors, colors, and depths of flavor, there’s an unique variety of sesame oils out there: each boasting its own unique set of benefits for all your stir-fry recipes!

Cold pressed sesame oil

Cold-pressed sesame oil is the most common type that you’ll come across in your local grocery store. It’s what is used in all the recipes you’ll find here on this site too, like my go-to 30 Minute Sesame Noodles. It’s a versatile type of sesame oil that has a fruity aroma with floral notes and a medium viscosity at room temperature. Its flavor profile is sweet, nutty, and buttery.

Organic sesame oils

Organic sesame oils are made from oil that is cold-pressed then filtered through layers of charcoal to remove any impurities or other undesirable flavors. It’s often used in salad dressing and Asian dishes where a nutty flavor is desired. Organic sesame oils are said to have a slightly different flavor profile than cold-pressed sesame oils as it has stronger notes of peanut butter.

3. Chili Paste

If you love Asian cuisine, then you must know about chili paste. This condiment adds amazing flavor as well as spice to many Southeast Asian dishes like curries, stir-fries and more. Chili paste is made by grinding a variety of chillis together with other ingredients like garlic and ginger to make a thick paste-like substance. Depending on the region the chilli used may vary resulting in a unique chili paste that can vary in texture, color and spiciness! So if you’re looking for fantastic flavor and heat then try out the many different types of chili pastes available in your local supermarket!

4. Ginger

Ginger has been in use for more than 4,500 years and is now a popular ingredient in many Asian cuisines. It has come in many forms such as fresh, crystallized and ground as well as different varieties like white and black ginger.

What is ginger? Ginger is a perennial plant native to tropical regions of the world, mostly in Asia. It belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and has soft rhizomes (underground stems) that can be peeled and used in different ways for cooking. In addition to its culinary uses, ginger also has medicinal properties.

There are three main types of ginger: white, black or yellow, and red. White ginger is known for its light, lacy, fibrous texture and has a lightly sweet, citrusy flavor. Black or yellow ginger has a firm, meaty texture and a slightly pungent, peppery flavor. Red ginger is the most acidic of the three and has a very strong, spicy aroma.

5. Garlic

Garlic is one of the most commonly used ingredients in Asian cuisine – and it has been for centuries! Throughout the continent, different regional cuisines have adopted garlic as a readily available, strong flavoured seasoning which can help to enhance lots of dishes. Garlic comes in many forms such as fresh cloves, dried or ground garlic powder, pickled garlic or even garlic paste and each type has a host of culinary uses.

You’ll find fresh garlic in your grocery store in the produce section, usually displayed in sealed bags or containers. If you just need a small amount to use as you cook, chopping up some fresh cloves and adding them to your dish will give you a burst of flavour. While fresh is an option for when you’re looking for an extra kick of flavour

Conclusion

Experiencing new and delicious flavors of the continent is easier than ever with access to exotic Asian food ingredients. It’s time to fill that pantry up with the right staples and get to cooking up some amazing dishes! Whether you’re looking for standard asian ingredients such as noodles, seasonings or sauces, or are looking for something a little more out of the ordinary, we promise there is a wealth of flavors awaiting you in the world of Asian cuisine.