I am not an expert in Japanese or Asian culinary traditions or recipes. However, there are a few pantry staples and utensils that will make preparing and shopping for a special Asian dish easier. Here are a few things you may already have or want to add to your pantry. Some things can be found at your local Asian market or grocery store. However, some things you may only be able to buy online.
Product Shopping List
- Sake
- Tofu
- Awase Miso Paste
- Soy Sauce
- Curry Powder
- Mirin
- Furikake Rice Seasoning
- Nori
- Hot Chili Oil
- Ginger Powder
- Fueru Wakame
- Japanese Sticky Rice
- Rice Vinegar
- Panko Bread Crumbs
In addition to sauces, I use sake to make miso salmon marinade. Tofu is used in miso soup and can be fried or grilled served with rice or noodles. I use awase miso paste for miso soup, marinades, and as a topping for onigiri (rice balls). You can also coat your onigiri with miso paste and fry in a pan. Furikake rice seasoning is a great topping for rice but also mixed into rice to make onigiri. Making homemade sushi? You have to have rice vinegar and nori. I topped my ramen with hot chili oil for a bit of spice.
Check out these recipes using the ingredients listed above or search for Japanese Cookbooks
Utensils
Use these pretty Japanese bowls
Tools
You have seen all of these items before. You may have thought you could just make due with the tools you already have, which is true, but these tools listed below really do make things easier.
I bought a wok from World Market for $10 and it has been a great addition to my cookware collection.
It really is easier to eat ramen and miso soup with a traditional Asian soup spoon
A rice cooker
Monarch Way 