Thinking of building a Chinese pantry? See slideshow below to know what to shop for.
Photography by David Hanson | Food Preparation by Katherine Jao | Props from The Landmark
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January 8, 2010
Chives or kuchay leaves are often used in stir-fry dishes or in making dumplings with shrimp and pork. They add aroma and flavor to the dish. Click here for list of recipes with chives.
Bok choy or Chinese white cabbage is a common ingredient in Asian cooking. This short vegetable with green leaves and crunchy white stalks is often used with soups and stir-fried dishes. See list of bok choy recipes here.
Chinese dried mushrooms are reconstituted or steeped in hot water before cooking ; the water is then added to the dish as substitute for water or broth. Know more about mushrooms, here: Meet the Mushrooms.
Chinese sausage is a popular dried, smoky-sweet hard sausage often tossed into fried rice and stir-fried dishes. Click here to find recipes with Chinese sausage.
Oyster sauce is a thick concentrated sauce made with oysters and soy sauce, widely used in Asian dishes. It is used a lot in stir-fries or as a dipping sauce. Click here for recipes with oyster sauce.
Leeks can be cooked as is, as a vegetable dish, or as an ingredient in various stir-fried Chinese dishes. A bouquet garni or a bundle adds a depth of flavor to stocks and sauces, plus it's a pretty garnish too. See our list of recipes with leeks here.
Cilantro, coriander, or wansoy all refer to the same ingredient. It has a very strong aroma and works great in seafood dishes. Some people call the leaves of the plant cilantro and the white to the root section as coriander. Click here to see list of cilantro recipes.
Shao xing wine is a type of Chinese rice wine or cooking wine that has a very strong aroma and flavor because of its long aging process. Click here to see list of recipes with Shao Xing wine.
Wonder powder is a form of starch used as binder for dumplings or as a thickener to sauces and soups. It is also called potato starch. Recipes with wonder powder: Prawn and Pork Wonton Triangles, Fried Chicken Cutlets with Lemon Sauce, Steamed Chicken in Shaoxing Wine, Cilantro Pork and Shrimp Dumpling Soup.
O.K. sauce is sweet, sour, and salty. It's an all-in-one sauce that's a combination of different sauces. Recipes with O.K. sauce: Mandarin Spareribs, Crispy Pork Spareribs with Kung Pao O.K. Sauce, Kung Pao Chicken.
Spring onions or scallions are usually chopped, and used in salads, soups, and as a topping or garnish to most dishes. Click to see our recipes with spring onions.
Black fungus or wood ear mushrooms look like brown-black potato chips and are great with stir-fried dishes or hotpots. They are usually soaked in hot water before cooking. They're tasteless but yield a soft, slightly crunchy texture. RELATED: Click here to find mushroom recipes, Meet the Mushrooms: Kinds of Common Mushrooms.
Chili garlic sauce is used as an ingredient, dip, or topping in Asian cuisine. It adds heat and flavor when added to a dish. Use it on any of these Chinese food recipes.
Sesame oil is a dark-colored oil used widely in Asian dishes for their deep aroma and flavor. It can be simply drizzled on top before serving or used in dressings. Click to see recipes with sesame seeds.
Cantonese preserved salted duck adds a smoky flavor to dishes. Add them to stir-fry and braised dishes to heighten flavor and aroma. Use it in a dish like Braised Chicken with Shao Xing Wine and Bok Choy in Hot Pot.
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COMMENTS
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angelo Jan 09 2010 @ 11:25am Report AbuseHi Jon. Some of these items are found in Metro Gaisano Supermarket. You can also try looking for them in Ongpin.
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Hi....where can we purchase these items(especially kuchay)?? some of them are not common in most groceries...please help...thanks!
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