10 Essential Ingredients for Asian Cooking: Your Pantry Starter Guide

Asian cuisine is diverse, flavourful, and filled with unique ingredients that make every dish memorable. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to try Asian recipes for the first time, stocking up on a few essentials can make all the difference. From Japan to Korea, China to Thailand, here are ten must-have ingredients that will elevate your Asian cooking at home. Let’s dive into this flavourful journey and discover what makes these ingredients so special!

1. Soy Sauce (酱油 / 醤油 / 간장): Soy sauce is one of the most versatile ingredients in Asian cuisine, used for marinades, sauces, and as a table condiment. Made from fermented soybeans, it adds a salty, umami flavour to dishes. There are different types, like light soy sauce for seasoning and dark soy sauce for colour. Try using it in stir-fries, dressings, and dips.

Find more information about which soy sauce will best suit your purposes here!

2. Rice Vinegar (米醋 / お酢): Rice vinegar has a mild, slightly sweet flavour, making it perfect for salads, sushi rice, and sauces. It’s often used in Japanese and Chinese recipes to add brightness without overpowering other flavours. Keep a bottle handy for dressings and pickling!

3. Sesame Oil (芝麻油 / ごま油): With its strong aroma and nutty taste, sesame oil is a staple in Asian kitchens. Often added at the end of cooking to preserve its flavour, a small drizzle goes a long way. It’s a must for Korean bibimbap and adds depth to soups, noodles, and stir-fries.

4. Miso Paste (味噌): Miso is a Japanese fermented soybean paste that comes in various flavours, from mild white miso to stronger red miso. Rich in umami, miso is used in soups, marinades, and dressings. It’s also known for its health benefits, thanks to probiotics and essential nutrients.

5. Gochujang (고추장): This Korean red chilli paste is spicy, slightly sweet, and packed with umami. Gochujang is the backbone of many Korean dishes like bibimbap, kimchi jjigae, and spicy Korean BBQ marinades. It's thick and concentrated, so use it sparingly.

6. Fish Sauce (鱼露 / ナンプラー): Fish sauce is a pungent liquid made from fermented fish, primarily used in Thai, Vietnamese, and Filipino cuisines. It provides an intense umami flavor and works as a salt substitute in many recipes. Add it to stir-fries, soups, and sauces to bring depth to the dish.

7. Coconut Milk (椰奶 / ココナッツミルク): A creamy staple in Southeast Asian cooking, coconut milk is made from grated coconut flesh. It adds richness to curries, soups, and desserts. Commonly used in Thai, Filipino, and Malaysian cuisines, coconut milk is essential for creamy, aromatic dishes.

8. Dashi (出汁): Dashi is a Japanese stock made from dried bonito flakes, kombu (seaweed), or shiitake mushrooms. It forms the base for many Japanese soups, including miso soup, and enhances the umami in sauces and stews. Dashi is a quick way to add depth to any Japanese dish.

9. Hoisin Sauce (海鲜酱): Known as the “Chinese BBQ sauce,” hoisin sauce is sweet, salty, and packed with umami. It’s a thick sauce often used in stir-fries, marinades, and as a dipping sauce for spring rolls and Peking duck. Hoisin sauce is a must-have for Cantonese and Sichuan-style cooking.

10. Sriracha (ซอสพริกศรีราชา): This popular chilli sauce from Thailand has taken the world by storm. Made from red chilli peppers, garlic, vinegar, and sugar, Sriracha is spicy and slightly tangy. It’s perfect for adding a spicy kick to noodles, soups, and even non-Asian foods like burgers and tacos!

Stocking up on these 10 essential Asian ingredients will open up a world of culinary possibilities in your kitchen. With these pantry staples, you’ll be able to experiment with various flavours and recreate authentic Asian recipes with ease. Browse our store and pick up these ingredients to start your journey into Asian cooking today!