Asian Cooking Guide - How to get Started

To get started with Asian cooking, you'll need a few basic items for your pantry.Many of these items can now be found in the International Foods Section of your grocery store.

• Light Soy Sauce - Not to be confused with low-sodium soy sauce. This is usually what you find in the grocery store labeled as "Soy Sauce". 
• Dark Soy Sauce - Thicker and heavier than light soy, almost like a thin molasses. You only use a small amount of this at a time so a bottle will last a long time.
• Sesame Oil - a flavorful oil, often used in marinades and sauces
• Chili Paste/Sriracha- These are similar in flavor, but Sriracha is more of a hot sauce, while chili paste has a thicker consistency. You could probably get away with buying one of these and using them interchangeably.
• Cooking wine/Sake - I prefer to buy Sake, which in NY will require a trip to the liquor store. The quality is better than cooking wine and it will keep for months in the refrigerator.
• Rice Vinegar  - Used in sauces/dips. Lighter and less acidic than standard vinegar.

The above list will get you started with a number of basic dishes. As you experiment further, you may need:

• Mirin - A sweet rice wine, often used in Japanese dishes.
• Curry Paste - Standard varieties are Red or Green, but there are many others. You'll need this to cook Thai or Chinese curry dishes.
• Oyster Sauce - Used in Chinese stir fries or as a marinade.
• Fish Sauce - Used in Vietnamese dishes, like Pho.
• Hoisin Sauce - Sort of a Chinese BBQ sauce. It's salty, sweet, and slightly spicy.

Getting to know your local Asian Grocery store

If you don't have a grocery store with a good International foods section, you may have to visit an Asian grocery store to find some of these ingredients. Try not to be intimidated! Yes, you may be the only westerner in the store, and finding the ingredients may initially be difficult. But over time you'll learn your way around. And most store owners will be glad to help you if you ask. You are, after all, a customer.

Helpful hint: use the links above to view the products at Amazon. Knowing what the bottle looks like can help you find it in the store.

Will I need a wok?

A wok is fun to work with, and particularly handy for cooking large amounts of food. But in truth, all you need is a large saute pan.