Discover the authentic in Asian cuisine food
Korean fish sauce, or Aekjeot/Aecjeot, is made from either fermented anchovy or sand lance. It’s salty, a little sweet and provides a delicious umami flavour. Koreans use this product in making some types of Kimchi for flavour and to speed up the fermentation. It is also used to make some Korean side dishes, soups and stews. Note that Aekjeot cannot be substituted with Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce.
The purple-coloured, slightly bitter rind is used as a vegetable in Japan, with the rind stuffed with minced chicken or pork and flavoured with miso. The leaves are made into a tea-like infusion, while the vines are used to make baskets.
Used as a vegetable in soups and stir-fries. The juice of this fruit is a natural remedy for jaundice. The xylem of dried mature specimens is used as a bath sponge (loofah).
Also known as green laver, aonori seaweed is a delicate, calcium-rich seaweed most commonly sold as dry flakes, which are sprinkled over noodle dishes, takoyaki octopus balls and okonomiyaki pancakes.
Baby bok choy is a vegetable with soft green leaves, a crunchy pale green or white stem. It has same appearance as bok choy but its size is smaller. It has mild flavour and is suitable to be cooked in many ways such as steam, stir-fry, and boil.
Baby corn is a harvested pre-mature corn. It can be eaten both raw and cooked. The whole baby corn is edible unlike mature corn. Baby corn is usually used in soup and stir-fry dishes.
Bael is originated in India and Southeast Asian countries. It is usually used as medicinal fruit. It provides many benefits such as relieving digestive and urinary problems, preventing diabetes, and preventing fever.
You might’ve seen bamboo steamers at yum cha, but they’re a useful utensil for your kitchen. Steaming is a great way to cook dishes without losing nutrients and flavour like you would by boiling. To use a bamboo steamer, simply stack them in a pot over simmering water, with the food that takes longest to cook at the bottom, and wait until your food is ready.
An essential tool for making sushi. It’s made from natural bamboo and has the same look and feel to a traditional mixing spoon. Bamboo sushi rice paddle is ideal for mixing sticky rice that combines with the sushi vinegar and other seasonings together with it. It’s also best to wet the rice paddle with water before using to avoid the rice sticking.
The crimson coloured Banana flower is used as a vegetable in many Asian dishes. Banana Blossom is a valuable source of vitamins B6, C and potassium. To use, remove outer leaves and slice or dice to use in salads, stews, stir-fries or soups. Commonly found in Banana Blossom Salad and Hot and Sour Thai Soups.
Banana leaf is used for cooking, food wrapping, and food serving in many Asian countries since it is large, waterproof, and flexible. Using banana leaf as food wrapper enhance the sweet scent to the food. It also prevent the food from burning and loss juice or water. It is inedible unlike most parts of banana tree.
Barley the oldest type of cultivated cereal grain found in temperate climates around the world. Historically, this grain has been used as a source of food grain, animal feed and in the fermentation of beer and certain other distilled drinks. When used as a food grain, it can be used in porridge or in gruel.
An aromatic leaves that are commonly used in cooking. It has a floral and herbal scent that is somewhat similar to oregano and thyme. It can be used whole, fresh, dried or ground. Usually used in slow-cooked dishes like stews, sauces and soup and the leaves are removed before serving.
Belacan is a dried fermented shrimp paste used in Malay cooking. Unlike other shrimp pastes, like Kapi or Mam Ruoc, belacan is dried into a hardened block. This product provides a savoury depth to curries and pastes like Sambal Belacan. Before using it, belacan should be roasted. Cut the belacan into thin slices and toast in an oven or pan until brown – just be wary of its pungent smell!
Also known as Thai chillies, they are used extensively in Thai cooking to add heat to curries and salads, but are a popular ingredient throughout all of Southeast Asia. When using Bird’s Eye Chilli, note that the spiciest part is the seed, so it’s best to remove them when cooking for those with a lower spice tolerance.
Bitter melon is also known as bitter gourd. It is originated in India and Africa. It has bitter taste and cucumber-liked shape. Bitter melon contains insulin-liked compound which helps in reducing blood sugar level, cleansing the liver, strengthening eyesight, curing hangovers, developing healthy hair and glowing skin.
Black sesame is often used as a garnish in both Western and Asian cuisine. However, black sesame provides a great nutty flavour in everything from ice cream to macarons, and soup to porridge. They have a slightly bitter, nutty taste and are a bit more intense than white sesame seeds. Toasting them in a dry pan helps to bring out their flavour.
Also known as Clitoria Ternatea, or bunga telang, this flower is widely used in Southeast Asia as a natural food colouring. An extract is used to make some of popular dishes in Malaysia, such as pulut tai tai and nasi kerabu. Often, blue butterfly pea flower is drunken as a tea or in colourful drinks. To use it, simply add a few dried flowers or powder in water and watch as the water turns a vibrant blue colour.
Bonito flakes are prepared through a process of smoking and drying the fillets of fish, which are then thinly shaved. This ingredient is combined with dried kelp to make dashi—a base used for broths and soups. Bonito flakes are also used to garnish dishes like takoyaki, okonomiyaki and ramen.
Brown rice is eaten as a healthier whole grain substitute to white rice. With the bran layer and cereal germ intact, brown rice has a number of nutritional benefits. While it usually requires a longer cooking time, brown rice has a nutty flavour and chewy texture that makes it a delicious alternative.
Also known as “fingered citron”, The Buddha’s hand is an unusually shaped fruit segmented into finger-like sections, It is called Buddha’s hand in Chinese (佛手柑), Japanese (仏手柑), Korean (불수감) and Vietnamese (Phật thủ). Unlike other citrus fruits, most varieties of the Buddha’s Hand fruit contain no pulp or juice. Used mostly chiefly to perfume rooms and personal items, the Buddha’s Hand is sometimes used as a flavour in desserts, savoury dishes and alcoholic beverages or candied as a sweet. The sliced, dried peel of immature fruits is also prescribed as a tonic in traditional medicine.
Butternut squash is a type of pumpkin. It riches in antioxidants and vitamin A. It is usually used in savory dishes in Western countries, however in Thailand, butternut squash is used to make desserts.
Candlenuts are found in many Malaysian and Indonesian recipes. They’re usually ground into a paste and used to thicken and provide a creamy texture to curries, sambals and satay sauce. Although they look like macadamia nuts, they’re more bitter, slightly toxic and have a laxative effect when eaten raw.
Chia is considered as one of the superfood as it contains many nutrients and provide many health benefits. Chia riches in antioxidant, fiber, protein, calcium, phosphorus, and omega-3. Eating chia can helps in lowering the risk for heart disease, reducing blood sugar level, and making the bones become stronger. Chia also suitable for people who are on weight loss diet.
Known as sil-gochu in Korean, chilli threads are primarily used in Korean and Japanese cuisine to garnish. Sprinkling a pinch of bright red chilli threads on top of your dish is an easy way to make it look visually appealing. Lightly toasting chilli threads helps to bring out their flavour.
Cchilli oil made by pouring hot oil onto a bowl of dried chillies. The oil cools and blends to exude the spicy fragrance, most often used as a dipping sauce or for zesty stir-fry dishes.
Also called as “cassia cinnamon” and is originated in Southern China. It is used primarily for their aromatic dark red-brown colour bark which is used as a spice for its strong and spicy flavour. It can be bought in any regular or Asian grocery.
Chinese pearl barley is also known as Job’s tear. It has round and shiny grains since the bran is removed. It is used for thickening soups and stews, and also features in snacks and desserts. Chinese pearl barley is also a gluten free grain, so it’s perfect as a substitute for those who can’t eat gluten. According to Chinese medicine, this grain has cooling properties.
This utensil gets its name from the pattern of its wire mesh basket, which looks like a spider web. With a much wider surface area than a slotted spoon, the spider is perfect for picking up blanched vegetables, cooked noodles or deep fried food from hot oil or boiling water. It can also be used to skim impurities from the surface of stocks and broths.
Unlike rice vinegar which has fruity flavour, black vinegar or Chinkiang vinegar has a dark colour with a fermented, malty taste and wooden character, thanks to its long aging process. An essential ingredient to make sweet-sour sauce, cold salad, hot noodles, as a dipping sauce for dumplings, and a great marinade for grilled pork chops.
Black vinegar is also known for health benefits such as lowering cholesterol, improving digestion and detoxifying your body.
Choy sum is a popular Asian green vegetable, used in stir fries and soups. They can also be blanched and eaten as a side dish in a meal. Choy sum will sometimes have small yellow flowers, which are safe to eat.
A leafy plant whose leaves resemble those of the flowering Chrysanthemum. The leaves have a bitter strong flavour and are rich in vitamin B. Use the leaf in salads or sauté as you would spinach. The stems can also be cooked and when tender, resemble asparagus stems.
Although it’s known as ‘black bean paste’, Chunjang is actually a fermented mixture made from soybeans, flour and caramel. The paste tastes salty and slightly sweet. It is a key ingredient in Jajang, a thick black sauce, which is used to make the popular noodle dish Jajangmyeon. Chunjang is also served alongside raw onion and Danmuji (yellow pickled radish) in many Korean restaurants.
Cinnamon is a flavour many of you will know. In Australia, cinnamon is generally associated with sweet dishes. However, in different cuisines across Asia, cinnamon sticks are mostly used for savoury dishes, and can be found in recipes for curries or as part of the broth for Pho. As with other spices, toasting cinnamon sticks in a dry pan helps to bring out the flavour and aroma.
Claypot is a traditional looking pot that is usually used to make Chinese and Southeast Asian Cuisine. It has sandy texture outside and is glazed inside. Claypots need to be soaked in water and seasoned before using.
Used for more heavy duty work than regular knives, cleavers are an essential kitchen utensil. They can be used to cut through small bones and sinew or hard vegetables. The side of the blade is also useful for crushing ingredients like garlic. It should noted that they’re different from the similarly-shaped Chinese chef’s knife, which is used to prepare boneless meat and vegetables.
Cloves are aromatic flowers bud from clove tree. They are dark brown in color and have stick-liked shape. They have strong scent and hot taste; thus, they need to be roasted and grounded before using as food ingredients.
Coconut cream is one of the main ingredients in Thai desserts. It has paste-like consistency and has mild sweet taste. Coconut cream is almost similar to coconut milk. However, the consistent of the coconut cream is more concentrated.
Coconut milk is extracted from white flesh of mature coconuts. It has creamy texture and is used in making both sweet and savoury dishes.
People are genetically predisposed to either love or hate coriander. Also known as cilantro, the herb tastes bitter and soap-like for some; others get a more pleasant tart, citrus flavour when they eat it. It is primarily used, like parsley, to garnish dishes or is eaten as a fresh salad ingredient, such as in Banh Mi.
Available both ground or whole, coriander seeds are a common spice used around the world. In Asian cuisines, they are often toasted, and then ground up with other spices to create spice mixes or for curries. They have a slight citrus flavour, and taste very different to fresh coriander leaves.
Cornflour, also known as corn starch, is used widely throughout Asian cuisine. To thicken up a sauce or gravy, simply mix a bit of cornflour and cold water in a small bowl and stir it in. Tapioca starch also does the trick. Just make sure to cook it out to remove the floury taste.
Cumin seeds are used in North China, especially in Uyghur cuisine. The seeds carry a slightly bitter, spicy, pungent flavour, and can be dry toasted to draw out a nutty dimension to the seeds.
Daikon is a type of radish with a mildly sweet, slight peppery flavour and a crunchy texture. This root vegetable is prepared in Korea as kimchi, pickled with carrot and eaten in Vietnamese Vermicelli Salad or Banh Mi, or grated and eaten with sashimi. In Chinese cuisine, the versatile vegetable is used as an ingredient in soups, stews, Radish Cake and Chai Tow Kway.
It’s a kind of stock used in Japanese cuisine that’s usually used as a base for miso soup, clear broth soup, noodle broth soup and any different kinds of broth that has a noticeable savoury taste or an umami flavour. Usually made from simple ingredients like dried kelp, dried bonito flakes and or different kinds of mushrooms and water that is boiled and simmered over a long period.
While often translated as ‘Wild Sesame Oil’, Deulgireum comes from toasted perilla seeds. Like sesame oil, Deulgireum has many applications in Korean cuisine, but tastes slightly earthier. Aside from being used as a cooking oil, for example to sauté vegetables, perilla oil is used in salad dressings, condiments and dipping sauces. Deulgireum has a shorter shelf life than other oils, so it’s best to use it within a year.
This Korean fermented soy bean paste is comparable to Japanese Miso, but much stronger. It has a distinct umami flavour, and is salty and slightly sour. It’s used to enhance the flavour of stews and soups, and to create the condiment ssamjang. Doenjang is a quick way to add depth and flavour to any meat or vegetables you’re cooking.
Dolsot translates to ‘stone pot’ in Korean. More like a bowl, this contraption is used to cook and serve hot rice dishes, most notably Bibimbap. Place directly onto the stove, the rice cooks against the sides of the Dolsot and becomes crispy. Just be careful handling a Dolsot because they can get really hot.
Dragon fruit is a nutritious fruit. The flesh of dragon fruit is either white or pink. It contains omega-3 and omega-6. It can be eaten fresh or eat with ice cream or other desserts. It also used in making drinks and jam.
Also known as ikan bilis in Malaysia, dried anchovies are one of the components in the popular dish nasi lemak and are sometimes used as an ingredient in sambal. In Korean cuisine, they’re also used to make stock. Dried anchovies are even eaten on their own as a snack – it’s best to toast them in a dry pan before eating them.
Dried chillies are a fundamental part of Sichuan cuisine, where they’re used to provide spice. Often, dried chillies will need to be rehydrated before cooking with them in a recipe. Soaking them in lukewarm water for 20-30 minutes should do the trick.
Dried coconut flakes are dried, unsweetened, grated coconut meat; a common ingredient in rice and curry dishes of Southeast Asia. They are usually toasted and is used as garnish for desserts, salads and a variety of savoury and sweet dishes.
Sometimes referred to as aromatic ginger and is different from the regular variety of Chinese ginger that we know and has a peppery flavour. Used in any Asian oriental dishes usually together with oyster sauce or ginger sauce for a marinade.
Dried shrimp are small, sun-dried shrimp that provide a umami seafood flavour to dishes. This ingredient is widely used across Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines. Dried shrimp are used in Cantonese XO sauce, some variations of sambal, soups, salads, dumplings, congee, fried rice, or simply eaten as a snack.
The tangerine and mandarin orange peels are dried in the sun before storing. They’re then aged for several month or years. The longer the peel is aged, the more it has a depth of flavour. Its aromatic bitter and sweet flavour is usually added to sweet and savoury Chinese dishes. To use, soak the peels in water to rehydrate and scrape the bitter white part before using.
Made from red seaweed, dulse is soft and chewy, but you’ll find it more commonly used in its dried, flaky form as a flavouring in salads and soups.
Ear mushroom has dark grey-brown color with flat cap. The shape of ear mushroom resembles an ear. Therefore, it is called “ear mushroom.”
Edamame is a popular side dish made from using soybeans that haven’t been fully ripened. Compared to fully ripened soybeans, these beans are usually sweeter in taste. Edamame are typically blanched in hot water and then served with salt. Alternatively, in Japan, the unripened soybeans are sometimes blanched in salt water and then served without salt.
Enoki mushrooms are also known as enokitake. They have long, thin white stalks and white caps. They are widely used in many Asian cuisine. Hot pot, soup, noodle, and stir-fry dishes are some of the ways that enoki mushrooms can be cooked.
Eomuk, sometimes called ‘Odeng’, is a Korean fish cake. It is made from fish paste, which is most often deep-fried. In Korea, Eomuk is a popular ingredient included in soups, hot spots, stir-fries or simply eaten on a skewer as a street food. Eomuk should be available at most Asian or Korean grocery store in the frozen section, or can be made at home.
Fish sauce is a pungent, amber-coloured liquid. This condiment has an intense fishy smell, but is salty with a distinct umami flavour. A staple throughout Southeast Asia, it’s used to make dipping sauces like Thai Prik Nam Pla or Vietnamese Nuoc Cham, but can be used to marinade meat, or is simply added to a dish as a seasoning. But remember: a little bit goes a long way.
Five-spice powder is a spice mixture of five spices including star anise, cloves, fennel seeds, Chinese cinnamon, and Sichuan pepper. It is usually used in making soup, marinated meat and stew. Can be bought at any Asian grocer.
Garlic is a species of plant in the onion genus, where it is closely related to a shallot, leek or chive. It is used around the world, with the bulb of the garlic plant with its numerous fleshy sections called cloves being the most commonly used part. These cloves can be eaten raw or cooked, or used for medicinal purposes.
Garlic chives, also known as Chinese chives or Asian chives are a species of onion and have a sweet, garlicky flavour. They are often found as an ingredient in dumplings and steam buns, or are used as an Asian green in soups, noodle soups and stir-fried dishes. In Korea, they’re called ‘buchu’ and are eaten as Namul (Korean vegetable side dish), made into Kimchi or cooked in Buchimgae (Korean pancake).
Gingko nuts are small yellow nuts. They are originated in China, Korea, and Japan. They have mild sweet taste. They are used in desserts and soups, and appetiser.
There are several different varieties of Ginseng, such as Korean, Vietnamese, American and South China. This root is prized for its medicinal qualities – although studies on its health benefits are inconclusive. Most accessible in its dried form, ginseng is used to infuse into soups, teas, drinks, poaching liquid and liquors, impart a bitter flavour.
Glass noodles are string-liked, transparent noodles. They are made from mung beans. They are used in many Southeast Asian dishes such as spring rolls, spicy salad, and soups.
Glutinous rice flour is made from long grain sweet rice. When it encounters with heat, it becomes very sticky. Therefore, it is usually used in making dumplings and desserts.
Gochugaru is a vibrant red coloured powder made from sun-dried chillies, which are then ground up to make this Korean culinary staple. It is used to add spice in Korean cooking and can be find in kimchi, as well as a number of other dishes. Gochugaru tastes hot, with a sweet and slightly smoky undertone.
Gochujang is a spicy red chilli paste that’s a staple in Korean cuisine. It’s usually used in Korea to marinade meat, add some spice to stews and soups, and included in dipping sauces. It has a thick, sticky texture, so is best thinned out with liquid before using.
Goji berry is one of the superfood. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, iron, zinc, and antioxidants. It helps in improving immune system which helps preventing the flu. Goji berries available in store are usually dried and taste sweet, often used for soups, desserts and drinks.
Physically known for its small seed pod shape, has a triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, thin papery outer shell and small. The green pods are light green and has a smaller shape. Has a strong, distinctive taste with an intensely aromatic, resinous fragrance. Green cardamom is one of the most expensive spices by weight but little is needed to add flavour in sweet or savoury dishes.
Green mango or raw mango is nutritious as it riches in vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and 82% of magnesium. It helps the body in treating blood disorders, relieving digestion problems, and prevent excessive water loss. It is usually eat with salt and dipping sauce.
It has a distinctively fresh and lemony aroma and taste compared the black, white or chilli peppers that are commonly used. It has a powerful aroma and gives a unique numbing sensation in your mouth. Because of its lemony aroma, it’s great with fish, chicken and vegetables. Can be used for stir-fry, braised dishes or soups.
Guava has green skin and white flesh. Its seeds are inedible. It can be used as ingredients and also be eaten raw. Many Asian countries consume guava as snack with sugar and salt dip or plum and salt dip.
Guk-ganjang is a byproduct of making doenjang (fermented soybean paste). Known in English as ‘soup soy sauce’, it’s most commonly used by Koreans to season soup; because it’s saltier and lighter in colour than other soy sauces, using Guk-ganjang doesn’t darken the colour of the soup. It is also used for Namul (Korean vegetable side dishes).
Hairy Melon is also known as white gourd and winter melon. It has has white flesh and fine hair on its skin. It can be used in curry, stew, soup, and stir fry. It is beneficial for immune system since it contains more than 19% of your daily vitamin C per serving,.
Growing on the coastlines of Japan, Korea and China, hijiki seaweed is a firm, nutrient-dense seaweed that resembles little black twigs when dried. It cannot be eaten raw, but when it is rehydrated in water, it will swell to three to five times its size. Hijiki has more texture and bite than delicate wakame, adding body to dishes.
Hoisin sauce is a sweet dark red-brown sauce made from fermented soybeans, plums, garlic, sugar, salt, and spices. It is used as dipping sauce in many Chinese cuisine.
Ichimi Togarashi literally means “One Flavour Chilli Pepper”. Is a popular Japanese ingredient and condiment but is also known to be a remedy for colds and flu and is also good for the stomach. Ichimi Togarashi consists of seven different mixed spices and can be used in different dishes like soup, stir-fry, steam, etc.
Jackfruit is the largest fruit in the world. It is originated in South Asian and Southeast Asian area. It can be eaten as fruit and used as ingredients. Ripe jackfruit has sweet taste and smell. Thus, it is usually used in making desserts.
Unlike Western mayonnaise, Japanese mayo is made with apple cider or rice vinegar, and egg yolks. It has a thicker texture and a yellowish colour, with a much tastier flavour.
Soy sauce was introduced to Japan by Chinese Buddhist monks since the 7th century, but the shoyu tastes quite different from its ‘original’ version. Instead of the pure saltiness from brined, fermented soybeans, shoyu is an equal mix of soy and wheat. The result is a slightly sweet, salty, and sherry-like flavour.
Jasmine rice is a long-grain rice variety with a fragrant aroma reminiscent of pandan or popcorn, and is named after the jasmine flower due to the colour of the rice. With a slightly nutty and sweet flavour, this rice is usually served steamed and complements Thai and Chinese dishes, like curries, stir-fries, braised dishes and grilled or fried meat.
Jeotgarak is the name for chopsticks in Korea. Unlike in other Asian countries, Korean chopsticks are actually made of metal. Historically, chopsticks were made of silver to prevent royals from being poisoned and others adopted this trend. Although they’re heavier, Jeotgarak are more hygienic.
An essential Japanese ingredient. Can be used as a flavouring base to noodles, dipping sauce and many other dishes as this can be easily used to any kinds of food. Can be found in any Asian grocery but You can make your own kaeshi with a good quality dark soy sauce, white sugar and good quality mirin and can be stored in the fridge for months.
Also known as makrut lime, kaffir lime is a citrus fruit used in Southeast Asian cooking. Predominantly, the leaves are used, but the zest and juice of the fruit can be cooked with as well. You can use the leaves whole when infusing in a curry or soup, but when cooking into a dish or using for garnish, cut out the spine and finely shred. Kaffir lime leaves also keep well in the freezer.
A tender and sweet leafy vegetable high in antioxidants and widely used in south-east Asian cuisine. Commonly served stir-fried with minced garlic and chilli.
Hotter than English mustard without the sour aftertaste, Karashi is on the same level as wasabi, but is even more savoury. Best served with tempura, oden pot (boiled eggs, daikon, konjac and dashi broth), natto beans and shumai dumplings.
Koikuchi literally means “dark mouth”, a Japanese regular and all-purpose soy sauce that has a salty, deep umami flavour. It is generally used as a condiment or any types of cooking and is the most popular soy sauce sold in Japan. It is made from 50% soybeans and 50% wheat plus salt and yeast.
This is the most commonly available form of edible seaweed, with kombu and wakame being the two most popular. Kelp is common in both Japanese and Korean soups or with sashimi. These are especially served fresh as a salad with some sesame oil on a bed of lettuce.
Lanzones are also called Langsat. They are originated in Malaysia. They have sweet taste and slightly juicy flesh. They can be eaten raw and be made into syrup. Some parts of lanzones plat can be transform into traditional medicine.
Lup cheong is originated in China and Hong Kong. It is a air-dried pork sausage that contains both sweet and salty taste. It is normally served as traditional side dishes in Cantonese cuisine.
Lemongrass is used throughout Southeast Asia in a variety of regional cuisines, providing a slight citrus flavour and scent to dishes. It’s used in curries, soups and braised dishes, or to flavour drinks and teas. Bruising lemongrass helps to release its flavour.
Lime is one of the citrus fruits that originated in Asia. It is small in size and has green color. It is usually used as ingredients, especially in Thai cuisine. Apart from using lime in food, lime can also be consumed in the form of juice. Lime riches in vitamin C; hence, it has anti-inflammatory properties.
Longjing Tea is sometimes called by its literal translated name Dragon Well tea, is a variety of pan-roasted green tea from the area of Longjing Village in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. It is produced mostly by hand and renowned for its high quality, earning it the China Famous Tea title.
Lotus leaf is inedible. It is used to wrap food, especially for steamed rice menu. Using lotus leaf to wrap food prevents the food from losing juice or water. Hence, the food will not be too dry when eating.
Also known as genkon, lotus root is popular throughout South and East Asia, where it is cheap and plentiful. Its texture is crisp and crunchy like a water chestnut but, lotus root cannot be eaten raw, and must cooked first. To eat lotus root, peel off the skin and cut to chunks for soups or thin slices for frying.
Lotus seeds are widely used in Chinese cuisine for its medicinal properties and nutritional benefits. They’re most often found in soups, made into a paste used as a filling for many Chinese pastries, or crystallized and eaten as a snack during Lunar New Year. Lotus seeds are most accessible in their dried form; it’s best to soak them in water overnight before using them.
Sushi rolling mats are made from bamboo sticks, which are woven together with cotton string. Called ‘Makisu’ in Japanese, they are used to create Makizushi – more or less the type of the sushi we find here in Australia. After using and cleaning one, ensure that it has thoroughly dried to prevent mould or bacteria, or cover in plastic wrap to reduce the cleaning effort.
Also known as Tamagoyakinabe, this specialty tool is endemic to Japanese cuisine. A Makiyakinabe is a square or rectangular pan used to cook Tamagoyaki, a Japanese omelette made from several layers of egg rolled together. The shape of the pan allows each omelette layer to be cooked at a consistent thickness. The size and shape of the Makiyakinabe differs from region to region.
Mangosteen is a sweet and slightly tart fruit with a tough purple-coloured outer rind. Similar to a mandarin, simply cut through the outer rind to access the white fruit on the inside.
Made of finely grounded green tea leaves, Matcha is prepared in a similar fashion to ground coffee. Scoop a small serving of matcha powder into a bowl and add 60-80ml of water of 70-85°C, not boiling. Stir thoroughly until no powder is left and serve. The drink is milky with smooth and subtle flavours.
The soup base ingredient for soba and udon dishes, Mentsuyu combines sake, mirin, soy sauce, kombu and dried bonito flakes. There are two types: Kaketsuyu, simmered sauce for boiled noodle soups; and Tsuketsuyu, tasty cold sauce for chilled soba. The mentsuyu flavour is a sophisticated blend of beany, wine-like and light salty taste that lingers in your mouth. Add a few spoons of mentsuyu and your noodles instantly transform into a world of authentic yumminess.
Mini apple eggplant is the smaller version of apple eggplant since they have similar color and shape. People usually use mini apple eggplant in curries without cutting it into smaller pieces.
Mirin, known as a Japanese cooking rice wine, is an important condiment in Japanese cooking. It’s a sweet and syrup-like liquid that is used to season and add sweetness to teriyaki, ramen or stir-fries, remove the strong smell of fish and meat, or to provide a glaze to grilled food. There are several types of mirin with varying levels of alcohol content, ranging from lower than 1% to 14%.
Mitsuba means “three leaves” it refers to how the leaves grow on its skinny stems. Compared to parsley and coriander, it has a soft scent and a subtle flavour. You can just chop the leaves and steam and use them fresh since the heat tends to bring out the bitterness but can also be used and added to soups, salads and stir-fries.
Monk Fruit, also known as Luo Han Guo, is native to Thailand and China. It was the subject of a health food fad, where the fruit was marketed as a no calorie sweetener and made into an extract or sweetener. However, for Chinese consumers, monk fruit is bought dried and made into tea or soup, and prized for its medicinal properties.
Mooncake are a sweet pastry eaten to celebrate the Moon Festival. Known for their intricate patterns on the outside, mooncakes are shaped in a mould. Traditionally, these mooncake moulds were wooden blocks with the pattern carved into them. Nowadays, most mooncake moulds are a plastic spring device that’s used to stamp on the pattern, resulting in a cleaner design.
Popularised in Europe during the middle ages, mugwort has been used in China, Japan and Korea for centuries. Some mugworts have also found a use in modern medicine for their anti-herpetic effect. Some dishes use mugwort, called ssuk, is still a common ingredient used in many dishes like rice cakes and soup. Mugwort has also been used to flavour beer before the introduction of hops.
Mulyeot was traditionally a malt syrup made from barley, but today is sold as corn syrup. It is used in Korean cooking for making sweets, or to add a sweetness and a shiny glaze to braised or grilled dishes. Ssalyeot, a brown rice syrup, is often used as a substitute. Mulyeot is not as sweet as cane sugar or honey, so using these as substitutes is not preferable.
Also known as moong bean or green grams, the mung bean is packed with nutrients and is used in many recipes ranging from soups, to paste made for pancakes, and gravy. Because they’re dried, if you’re not cooking them in a soup, they need to be soaked in water overnight before being cooked.
Split mung beans are used for both savoury and sweet dishes. In Korea, split mung beans are used to make savoury Bindae-tteok pancakes. In desserts, a mung bean paste is used to fill things like mooncake or glutinous rice dumplings, or boiled to make pudding or porridge. To cook split mung beans, soak them in water overnight and steam until soft.
Mung bean sprouts feature in many different cultural cuisines across Asian. They’re a versatile ingredient and can be eaten raw or cooked. In Vietnamese cuisine, they’re eaten fresh in vermicelli salad or with noodle soup (like Pho or Bun Ho Hue). However, bean sprouts are cooked into Malaysian and Peranakan stir-fried noodle dishes, or are blanched, marinated and eaten as a side dish in Korea.
Nabe or nabemono. Literally means as Nabe “cooking pot” + mono “thing”. It is a variety of Japanese hot pot dishes. Nabe is either a soup or stew dish cooked with vegetables, fish or meats in a pot. It’s a common Japanese food especially during winter and is best to be eaten together with your family or group of friends.
Traditional Japanese food made from soybeans that are fermented with Bacillus subtilis. Often served during breakfast together with karashi mustard, soy sauce, chives or other seasonings and cooked rice. It has an acquired tased because of its powerful smell, strong flavour, sticky and has a slimy texture. Also contains a good amount of nutrients as the soybeans have been fermented that created conditions that promote the growth of probiotics.
Nori are dried seaweed sheets used extensively in Japanese cuisine, most often to wrap sushi and onigiri. It is also used as a garnish or eaten as a snack. Known as Gim in Korea, seaweed sheets are used to make Gimbap or toasted and eaten as a side dish or snack. It is not necessary to soak Nori sheets in water when using to make sushi rolls at home.
Nutmeg is large, oblong, dark brown seeds with hard shells. It is used as seasonings because of its flavour and fragrance. Before using as ingredient, it needs to be cracked, roasted, and ground.
This beautiful root vegetable hails – as the name suggests – from the Japanese island of Okinawa. It’s rich in vitamin A, B6 & C, manganese, dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium, carotenoids, iron, protein, calcium, and naturally occurring sugars. How’s that for a super food! The benefits of eating this little purple beauty are evident in Okinawa where a large number of centurions live on the island.
Onggi (or Korean earthenware crocks) are traditionally used to make and preserve fermented products used in Korean cuisine, such as Kimchi, Doenjang (fermented soybean paste) and Gochujang (fermented chilli paste). Although these clay crocks have been replaced in many Korean households with glass and plastic containers, many still use them, claiming they produce greater fermented products due to the microscopic holes in the clay.
It’s a traditional Japanese grater that comes with different shapes and sizes. Originally made from copper or steel. Nowadays, it’s usually made from stainless steel or aluminium. This is used in grating wasabi, ginger, turmeric or any vegetables that can be made for sauces and or condiments for your Asian inspired dishes.
Dried oysters are a delicacy in China, and are especially popular during the Lunar New Year. They have a strong seafood smell and add lots of flavour to dishes, and can be included in soups and congee, or stir-fried with vegetables. Dried oysters require soaking in water before they are cooked with.
Oyster mushrooms are mushrooms with oyster-shaped cap. Their color can range from white to grey or tan to dark brown. Oyster mushrooms can be used as ingredients in numerous Asian cuisine especially Japanese, China, and Korean cuisine. They are used in soups, stir-fries and stuffings.
Oyster sauce is a thick, rich sauce with a hint of sweetness made from oyster extracts, sugar, salt, water and thickened with cornflour. This sauce is used widely in Chinese cuisine in stir-fries, stir-fried noodles, marinades or simply to dress blanched vegetables.
Palm sugar is used to add sweetness to both savoury and sweet dishes in different Southeast Asian cuisines, and can be compared to brown sugar. It’s made from the boiled down sap of palm trees, which is then poured in a mould and set into a solid block. To use, cut or shave off chunks from the blocks, or melt the blocks in a microwave with some water.
Pandan leaves (or screwpine leaves) have both savoury and sweet applications in Southeast Asian cuisine. Pandan is the key ingredient in Pandan Chicken, where it’s used to wrap chicken before it’s fried, and is found in many curry recipes. Pandan paste is used to provide colour and an aromatic scent to many desserts, like vanilla is in Western cuisine.
Pangko, literally means, “pan” meaning bread, and “ko” meaning flour. A Japanese-style breadcrumb that’s mostly used in coating for deep-fried foods like tonkatsu. It has a light coating and has a crisper, airier texture compared to the types found in Western cuisine. It can be easily found in any Asian grocery stores as it is also widely used in any fried Asian cuisine.
Pea eggplant is a tiny green eggplant that grows in clusters. This type of eggplant is frequently used in curries.
Pennywort is also known as Gotu Kola. This green herb is originated in India, Sri-Lanka, Northern Australia and Southeast Asia. It has many health benefits such as relieving headache, reducing anxiety, and improving nervous system, memory and eyesight. Pennywort can be used in Thai salad and can be blended as juice.
A persimmon is the edible fruit of the Diospyros genus of trees. The ripened fruit is sweet in taste, although if consumed before having ripened, the fruit will be bitter in taste. The most commercially common type of persimmon is the Japanese persimmon, with these being used in many different forms of preparation ranging from being dried to being preserved in limewater.
Beni Shoga, or pickled ginger is a type of tsukemono (Japanese pickle) made from thin strips of pickled ginger. The red colour is traditionally derived from red perilla while those sold commercially, the red colour often comes from artificial colouring. This helps cleanse your taste buds after eating sushi or sashimi which is usually served together. Also often served on the side as an optional condiment
Pineapple is a tropical plant that can be used as ingredients for different cuisine around the world. Pineapple can be used to make beverages, fried rice, and soup. It can be used to tenderize meat as it contains the bromelain enzyme which can break down proteins.
A popular culinary ingredient in Japan, Korean and Russia. It’s a salted roe of Alaska pollock. In Korea, the roe of Alaska pollock is traditionally called myeongnan, and the salted called myeongnanjeot. It was then introduced to Japan after World War II and is called metaiko in Japanese and the milder, less spicy roe is called tarako.
The Pomelo is the largest citrus fruit, similar in appearance to a large grapefruit. It features a thick rind layer that when cut into reveals a white, red or sometimes pink flesh that can be compared in flavor to a sweet, mild grapefruit. Although the skin is largely considered bitter and inedible, it is sometimes candied or made in to marmalade.
Ponzu actually originated from the Old Dutch word ‘pons’, as in ‘fruit punch’. But instead of a beverage, it’s a sour sauce made by simmering mirin, rice vinegar, dried fermented tuna flakes and seaweed; then cooled and mixed with either juice from lemon, yuzu, sudachi, daidai or kabosu (Japanese lime and small orange or grapefruit variants).
Ponzu is delicious as a marinade for yakitori chicken or grilled fish, or as a dipping sauce for shabu-shabu hot pot dishes and sashimi.
A Japanese citrus-based sauce. It has a thin, watery consistency and dark brown colour and can either be made from kabosu or yuzu juice. Its versatile flavour can be used in a lot of ways. Can be used as a dipping sauce like shabu-shabu or dumpling, or marinade for meat and fish and also can be used as a dressing for vegetable salads or cold noodles.
Pork rind is also known as pork crackling. It made up of pork skin that is deep-fried. It is crispy and salty. It is used as accompaniment in many Thai dishes such as noodles, fried-rice and chilli pastes.
Most often found in Asian restaurants as an appetizer, prawn crackers are also widely available for purchase around Australia in Asian grocers. Prawn crackers are made with prawn, tapioca flour and water, which is rolled out, steamed, thinly sliced and dried before being packaged. When deep-fried, these dried chips puff up and make a great snack.
Rayu is a Japanese chilli oil. In its simplest form, rayu is sesame oil, which is infused with chilli, imparting a red colour. Rayu can be found in Japanese restaurants, where it is enjoyed with gyoza or ramen, and is also used as a cooking ingredient. Taberu rayu is a popular version that’s less spicy and contains fried garlic, fried onion or dried shrimp for texture.
Red dates are actually jujube fruit, which naturally turns red when dried. They are often candied and eaten as a snack. Red dates are also used in Korean and Chinese cuisines to make tea, juice, wines and vinegar. Red date is a key ingredient in the sweet dessert soup Ching Bo Leung or Che Sam Bo Luong.
Sichuan peppercorn isn’t related to pepper but are dried husks of an ash shrub. Remove any tiny black seeds from the husks, and use the husk either whole or grounded into powder. Prized for its mouth-numbing properties, the sichuan peppercorn itself isn’t spicy but the numbing sensation is said to reduce the sichuan chilli pepper’s heat and enhance its taste.
For those who regularly eat rice, a rice cooker is a great investment. It can be tricky to cook rice on the stove, especially when you’re feeding a family or large group. Rice cookers allow you to cook rice perfectly and consistently without burning the bottom layer. Cooking times and method will vary based on your rice cooker, and what rice and how much of it you’re cooking.
Rice flour is made from white-long grain rice. IIt is an essential ingredient in Asian cooking; for use int desserts, cakes, pastries and noodle-making.
Rice noodles are made from rice. There are various kinds of rice noodles which are differentiated by the size.
Rice Vermicelli are a thin type of noodle made from the grains of rice. These noodles can be found in many different cuisines throughout Asia due to their versatility. These uses can range from being cooked in a stir-fry, to being used in soup dishes, to being incorporated in to salads.
Literally the ‘su’ in sushi, rice vinegar is the base ingredient that shapes sushi rice and gives its light tangy taste. Also used to marinate meat and fish, make tsukemono pickles, like sashimi and tataki dipping sauce, as well as seasoning for nabe hot pots when combined with mirin, dashi and shoyu.
Also called rock candy. It is refined, crystalised sugar in small cubes or irregular shapes made from an unprocessed sugar cane. Its colour can be white or yellowish and it’s a bit transparent. It tastes less sweet and milder compared to the regular sugar. It’s a common ingredient used in Chinese cooking.
Roselle is a red flower that contains many benefits. Drinking hibiscus flower tea tend to have lower blood pressure and a healthier cardiovascular system. It can be used to make jam and beverages such as roselle juice and roselle tea.
Sake is produced by fermenting rice, and is consequently known as ‘rice wine’. However, sake’s brewing process is actually more similar to beer than wine; the rice starch is converted into sugars, which ferment into alcohol. ‘Sake’ in Japanese actually refers to all alcohol. What we know as ‘sake’ is actually nihonshu. Undiluted sake’s alcohol content is 18-20%. Sake can be enjoyed at different temperatures.
Closely related to the Chinese Sichuan peppers, which comes from plants of the same genus. Sansho is known to be one of the traditional ingredients in the Chinese five-spice powder as well as Japanese seven-flavour seasoning. Although they have pepper in the name, like Sichuan, Sansho is not related to black pepper but are both related to citrus plants. It has a peppery heat and a hint of citrus fragrance.
Another flavour enhancer, sesame oil is most often used for dumpling fillings and to complete your stir-fry dishes. For the extra aroma, get the toasted version with a dark amber colour instead of the untoasted yellow ones. Don’t use too much of it though. The sesame oil fragrance can overpower your other ingredients. Just a complimentary touch is enough for most dishes.
Shallot has purple-red color and small onion-liked shape. It is used in many Asian cuisine since it has aromatic scent. It can be eaten raw and cooked. Raw shallots are usually used in making pastes while fried shallots are usually used in garnishing dishes.
A rice wine from the Shaoxing region of China used in cooking for its vinegary, spicy and caramel-like flavour. Shaoxing wine is great for stir-fry or braised meat dishes, as well as dumpling fillings and Mapo Tofu. There are brined and salt-free versions. Best to get both to cover any recipe.
Shiitake mushrooms are originated in East Asia. Their colour can range from light brown to brown. Dried shiitake mushroom has a much stronger aroma and flavour, and should be soaked in water before cooking. Just like other mushroom varieties, they are versatile and can be used in anything from soups to stir-fry.
Shimeji mushrooms are a cluster of white or light-brown mushrooms with long stems and tiny caps. They cannot be consume raw or uncooked. They can be used in hot pot, noodles, soups, stews, noodles, salads and stir-fried.
Shiro literally means, “white soy sauce” but has a little amber colour. Compared to the regular Japanese dark coloured soy sauce, Shiro is usually made from 80% wheat and 20% soybeans the higher wheat content makes it appear to a lighter colour. This type of soy sauce is best used in tamagoyaki (Japanese sweet omelette).
A member of the mint family, this herb has a bold earthy flavour. Eaten raw in a variety of soups, salads and meat dishes. Use in tea for soothing properties and in steam baths for better skin.
Rice is the staple of the Asian diet and there are many types available. Short-grain rice is especially popular in Japan, where it is cooked and used to make sushi and sake, or is simply eaten as part of a meal. Koreans also use short-grain rice for Gimbap/Kimbap. When cooked, short-grain rice tends to be chewier and stickier than longer-grain varieties.
Snow pea shoots are the young, tender upper leaves, soft stems, and curly tendrils of pea plants. They have tender and sweet taste. They are used in many Asian cuisine especially Chinese cuisine. They can be used in hot pot, soup and stir-frying dishes.
Soba in Japanese means buckwheat. Hence, soba noodles are made of buckwheat flour or a combination of buckwheat flour and wheat flour. Soba noodles can be served as both cold and hot. Cold soba noodles are served with dipping sauce while hot soba noodles are used to make noodles soup.
Somen noodles are Japanese noodles made of wheat flour. They are very thin noodles, approximately 1.2 mm in diameter. They are usually served cold with soy sauce. This type of noodle is created by being stretched into thin strands and dried.
There are different variants of soy sauce across the Asian continent, all made in different ways, with varying flavours, textures and uses. It can be used in stir-fries, as dipping sauce, or to marinate meat, season dishes, or add flavour to just about anything. Soy sauce has an almost infinite number of applications and is a staple in every Asian kitchen.
Ssamjang is a Korean sauce that is eaten with Ssam, a lettuce or peril leaf wrap filled with Korean BBQ meat, rice, vegetables and topped off with the Ssamjang. It is made from Doenjang (fermented soy bean), resulting in an umami flavour, which is complemented with sweetness and spiciness from other ingredients. While Ssamjang is easy to make at home, it can be bought premade.
Star anise has a similar intense, aromatic licorice flavour to anise seed, but with a slightly more bitter taste. It’s used extensively in Chinese cuisine to flavour meat and soup, and is one of the ingredients in five-spice powder. Star anise is a key ingredient in the recipe for Pho broth.
Sticky rice is also known as glutinous rice. It is originated in Southeast Asian region. In Northeastern Thailand and Laos, sticky rice is considered as staple food since it is consumed routinely. Sticky rice is used as ingredients in both sweet and savory dishes in Asia.
Also known as bitter bean and twisted cluster bean, the stink bean has flat edible beans with bright green seeds about the size and shape of almonds. The smell is often said to be similar to natural gas. Very popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Southern Thailand, Burma, and north-eastern India. The beans are sold in bunches, still in the pod, or the seeds are sold in plastic bags. The beans are eaten raw or added to other dishes like nasi goreng or soups and broth.
A Japanese dish that is used to serve in a Japanese hot pot style that consists of thinly sliced beef which is gradually cooked or stewed at the table together with other popular ingredients like tofu, scallion, green leafy vegetables like Chinese cabbage, shiitake or any mushroom and glass noodle. The iron pot is usually also mixed with soy sauce, sugar and mirin.
A Japanese mortar and pestle. These pair are used in Japanese cooking to crush various ingredients. The Suribachi is made of a pottery bowl with a glazed exterior and unglazed interior. The unglazed interior has a diagonal spiral ridge or a comb pattern that helps grind the seeds or nuts and also helps extract moisture. The Surikogi is made of a hardwood. Metal or stone is never used as it’ll damage the Suribachi’s ridges.
Sweet Potato Noodles, also known as “dangmyeon” in Korean, are noodles made from sweet potato starch, which are almost transparent when cooked, and are consequently referred to as Sweet Potato Noodles, Glass Noodles or Starch Noodles. Sold dried, they need to be boiled or soaked in water before being used to make dishes like Japchae or Korean dumplings. They have a chewy, elastic texture compared to other noodles and are gluten free.
It’s a specially made moulded non-stick pan that is used for cooking a ball-shaped Japanese snack or appetizer, takoyaki which is made of a wheat flour-based batter filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion. Using a moulded non-stick pan is important so it’ll be easier to turn-over to make it into that takoyaki ball-shape.
Pickled daikon radish is a popular traditional Japanese cuisine. This yellow thick strips are sweet and salty, tartish and crunchy in flavour and are often eaten as a side dish during a meal and eaten as a snack during tea time. Also served in bento or at the end of a meal as it is believed to help with digestion.
Tapioca flour is the white flour that is extracted from mature cassava roots. It is gluten-free mixture that is usually used for thickening the soup. It has similar texture as corn starch when encounters with heat.
A crunchy bits of deep-fried flour batter used in Japanese cuisine. Tenkasu is from “ten” which stands from tempura (tempura), and “kasu”, which means scraps of waste. It’s made literally from scraps you get from cooking tempura. Can be used in dishes like soba, udon, takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
A sweet leafy herb with a mild bite and notes of liquorice. Use to flavour stir-fries or eat raw as part of an Asian salad. Both the leaves and stems can be eaten. Commonly found in Thai Beef Salads and as an accompaniment to Vietnamese Pho.
Thai eggplant, or apple eggplant, has light green color and golf ball size. It can be used as ingredients in curries and can be eaten raw with chilli pastes.
Tofu, or bean curd, is available in a wide variety of forms. The two most common and accessible variants are silken, or soft, tofu and firm tofu. Due to its more solid texture, firm tofu is usually used in savoury dishes, often as fried bean curd, while silken tofu is also used in desserts. Both are a staple in vegetarian/vegan cooking.
Torch Ginger flowers are related to ginger, cardamom and turmeric, though they do not produce the same edible roots. Known as ‘bunga kantan’ in its home region of Malyasia, the bud is often sliced or shredded and is an indispensable ingredient in Malay cuisine where it is used as a spice. In Malaysia, Torch Ginger flowers are essential to dishes like assam laksa, a dish of noodles in a spicy fish broth and nasi kerabu, an herbed rice dish. Torch Ginger flowers are typically eaten raw, sliced or chopped and served as a garnish.
A Japanese chicken bones soup stock. Can be made from home yourself or bought at any Asian grocery stores. It is made with a boiled and steamed pure chicken essence (chicken with bones), water together with some ingredients like ginger, leeks, garlic, black pepper or herbs like a bay leaf to bring more flavour.
Small, black to brown earthenware vessel used for various jjigae (stew), gukbap (soup with rice), or other boiled dishes in Korean cuisine. As a ttukbaegi retains heat and does not cool off as soon as removed from the stove, stews and soups cooked and served in the ttukbaegi arrives bubbling hot on the table and stays warm longer.
Turmeric on its own has a pungent, earthy scent and a slightly bitter taste reminiscent of mustard. While this might not sound appealing, turmeric, either fresh or in its dried powder form, is an essential ingredient in spice mixes for curries throughout Southeast Asia. It also used to impart a vibrant yellow colour in dishes like Vietnamese Banh Xeo or Banh Khot.
The turmeric powder has a warm, bitter, black pepper-like flavour and earthy, mustard-like aroma and a has a golden yellow colour and is commonly used as colouring and flavouring in many Asian dishes, especially for curries. Also known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant health benefits.
It’s a common Japanese fruit called, ume. The word umeboshi in English is called, “salted Japanese plum”, Japanese plums, or “preserved plums”. Umeboshi is one of a popular kind of tsukemono (pickled thing) and it tasked extremely sour and salty and a sweet kind of umeboshi is made with honey. Usually served as a side dish or eaten on rice balls.
Usukushi is a Japanese soy sauce and has a lighter colour compared to other soy sauce but does not have a lighter taste compared to the regular soy sauce (koikuchi). Also made from soy, wheat and salt but is lightened by adding wheat gluten or fermented rice. A second most popular soy sauce in Japan usually used for marinating a dish to not change the colour of the dish.
A vegetarian substitute for oyster sauce. It has the same dark brown colour with the regular oyster sauce but it has a slightly thinner consistency. It also has the same umami-rich flavour but is made of mushrooms that have a deep and meaty flavour which is a perfect alternative to for any basic Chinese or Asian ingredients.
A member of the mint family, this variety has spearmint and lime characters. Used raw in salads and herb plates or in tea as a treatment for stomach aches, cold and flu. Commonly found in fresh rice paper/spring rolls.
Wasabi or Japanese horseradish is a plant native to the mountain river valleys of Japan. The stems are typically grated into a fine paste that is used as a condiment for sushi or other Japanese dishes. The paste itself has a characteristically strong, spicy flavor that is similar to that of mustard or horseradish.
Is a grating material also known as oroshiki. This is used in Japanese cooking especially for making wasabi. It’s made with tiny coated copper plates with many small spikes gouged out of the metal and the surface is made with a wooden board and covered with sharkskin that gives a similar feel to sandpaper.
Water chestnut grows in ponds, paddy fields and shallow lakes. It is mostly used in making desserts. It is full of nutrients with low calorie. Therefore, consuming water chestnut can help in losing weight as it keep the stomach full for a longer time.
Like black peppercorn, white peppercorn comes from the pepper fruit. However, white peppercorn comes from the ripe fruit, which is soaked, removed from its dark outer skin and dried. While black pepper is mainly used to season dishes, the spicier white pepper is actually used to flavour and add spice in Chinese cooking, and can be found in soups, marinades and stir-fries.
Although they’re mainly seen on the top of bagels or burger buns, white sesame seeds are a versatile ingredient. They’re stirred through Japanese salads, sprinkled over Chinese dishes and are used in many Vietnamese desserts. Toasting sesame seeds in a dry pan helps to draw out their nutty flavour. Sesame oil too is used throughout Asia for frying, stir frying, marinades, dressings and sauces.
Also known as the Goa bean, four-angled bean, four-cornered bean, Manila bean, and dragon bean, the winged is a tropical legume plant native to New Guinea. The bean is nutrient-rich, and all parts of the plant are edible. Leaves can be eaten like spinach, flowers can be used in salads, tubers can be eaten raw or cooked, seeds can be used in similar ways as the soybean. You’ll often see it whole cooked in stir-fries and rice dishes, or seeded and the beans are eaten raw or added to soups and broths.
It is shaped in a round-bottomed cooking pot that originated in China. It is commonly used in China and other parts in Asia but it has already been widely used in other parts of the world. It is usually made from carbon steel, cast iron, non-stick and aluminium. Can be used to almost any type of cooking techniques like stir-frying, boiling, braising, deep-frying, pan-frying, roasting, searing, smoking, steaming or stewing.
Wombok is a vegetable that is originated in China. it is also known as Chinese cabbage. It can be used in hot pot, soup, and stir-fry dishes. Wombok is low in saturated fat and cholesterol while containing large amount of fiber.
Wood ear fungus’ cap is wavy and ear-like. Its taste is mild and its texture is chewy and smooth. It can be used as food and medicine. This type of fungus is popular in making soup and is widely used in many Asian cuisine.
Yamaimo also called yamatoimo, jinenjo or Japanese mountain yam. Also a close relative to Chinese yam. It has a slimy and slippery texture and has high in fibre, vitamin B and minerals. It can be cooked but the Japanese usually eat it raw, can be finely julienned or grated and is usually added in a hot or cold miso soup or soba noodles.
A Yanagiba is a long and thin Japanese type of knife that is commonly used in the preparation of sashimi and nigiri sushi. It is designed to allow for the ease of cutting, with an emphasis on cutting through the meat in a single stroke to avoid the occurrence of zigzags forming on the surface of the meat.
Slightly larger than a mandarin orange, tastier than a lemon, more fragrant and versatile than perhaps every other citrus fruit – Yuzu has long been a key ingredient in Japanese culinary; used in soups, sushi, tea, liquors, salad dressings, desserts, pastries, and even made into marmalade. Though initially prized in Japan and Korea, Yuzu is now fast becoming a chefs’ favourite worldwide, especially in Australia.
Yuzukoshō is a fermented Japanese seasoning and condiment. Also known as a “spicy citrus paste”. Green chilli peppers are mostly used, although some use red chilli pepper for a different version. It’s a paste made from chilli peppers, yuzu peel and salt. It can be used in dishes like nabemono, miso soup, and sashimi.
-218x146.jpg "Ponzu (Citrus Sauce)")
-218x146.jpg "Shiro (White soy sauce)")
-218x146.jpg "Usukuchi (Japanese Light soy sauce)")
