If there is any awe-inspiring cuisine on the planet, the Asian delicacy must be the most experimental and adventurous with excellent results. And that is simply because Asians are not afraid of trying new things and create magic. The Asians eat these tasty and tantalising cuisines, and you can also emulate the same in your household. Ever heard of the Fugu, or as many like to call it, the pufferfish? Well, the Asians meticulously cook and devour this fish, despite being one of the most poisonous fish on the planet. And that is just the bare minimum of what they can make.
To make a meal, you need ingredients, right? Well, here are some of the must-haves in your pantry to make the best Asian delicacies. Read on to find out what spots like Lee Kum Kee Australia and many more Asian sites have in their collections.
Soy sauce
Soy sauce is a staple in almost all Asian meals, and so you will be doing yourself a disservice if you do not include it in your Asian ingredients. Soy sauce adds an extra umami that no other spice can achieve. And they can be found in different strengths, including the light and the heavy ones, and it depends on the sauce’s source. For the rich flavors, ensure you get one that is naturally brewed and not artificially made.
These soy sauce can be used to uplift the flavours to all kinds of stews, including meats like beef, poultry, stir fry noodles, and pork. Some people also use it as a marinade to tenderize meat.
Sesame oil
Sesame oil is the second most relished Asian ingredient that appears like a golden brownish oil. The aroma is vibrant, which adds an aromatic feature to any dish you use. The best kinds are toasted, which are amber color, but if you find light yellow or clear, it was not made by roasting; hence, it won’t have the rich fragrance or the roasted taste.
Sesame oil is used as a frying agent for vegetable stir-fry meals, but it must be used in moderate quantities; otherwise, you will overpower the dish’s taste with the sesame taste. When used in the right amounts, it can make your words unforgettable.
Oyster sauce
Oyster sauce adds some umami flavor to the dish, which elevates all your taste buds. Oyster sauce makes any bland dish better and it is the secrete ingredients of delicious Chinese cooking. Cantonese mainly uses it, but also the Chinese love using it. Oyster sauce is quite high end product, but if you want the real deal, you will invest in getting the quality worth every penny.
It is used to thicken the sauce on chicken stews and can also be included to make spaghetti bolognese recipes.
Garlic
Taking a turn to the fresh unmanufactured ingredients, we have garlic which give food its distinctive aromatic fragrance and taste to an Asian meal. Garlic has to be cut into small pieces and crushed before it is fried, and as you fry it, be careful not to overdo it as you will kill the fresh taste. Burnt garlic will ruin your dish in an instant. A stir fry noodle dish would taste divine with garlic.
Ginger
Another fresh ingredient for Asian cooking is ginger. It has a slightly peppery and sweet, with a pungent and spicy aroma. You can always see ginger root is featured in many meat, seafood, and vegetable dishes in different format, like fresh, grounded, dried. Ginger is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can even add to drinks such as teas, sodas, and cocktails.
Cornstarch
If you like having thick soups with your dishes, then you will enjoy some cornstarch. Corn starch is bought in powder form and mixed with water as thickener, it is very adhesive. Once you add it to the hot food, you must keep stirring to avoid the formation of clumps. When using cornstarch in dry powder format, it can be the anti-sticking agent, isn’t it amazing?
It is also used in making meat tender and juicier by marination. And it is even used on frying beef, chicken, and pork dishes.
Final thoughts
The ingredients mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg and so if you want to get more, consider adding scallions and ginger, among many more. Go forth and make unique Asian cuisines with the above.