Many people ask me, “What are the best ingredients to keep in my pantry and refrigerator for Asian cooking?” I have narrowed the list down to a simple 10, but please know that there are SO many more terrific ingredients out there to utilize in your cooking! Here they are….in no particular order:

1. Fresh Ginger
2. Fresh Garlic
3. Shallot
4. Dark Soy Sauce
5. Light Soy Sauce
6. Shiao Shing Cooking wine
7. Oyster Sauce
8. Hoisin Sauce
9. Black Bean Paste
10.  Sesame Oil

Most of these can be found at your local grocery store. If you cannot find an ingredient, locate an Asian market in your area – they are sure to have it!

One of my goals is to introduce you to some ingredients  that you may not be familiar with. There are so many tasty “Asian” foods that are much more easily accessible at the local grocery store. Here is one I use frequently….the DAIKON.

Daikon, mooli, or white radish is a mild-flavored, very large, white East Asian Radish with a wide variety of culinary uses. Despite often being associated in Japan, it was originally cultivated  in continental Asia.

Uses: In Japanese cuisine, many types of pickles are made with daikon, and is also frequently used grated and mixed into ponzu, a soy sauce and citrus juice condiment. Simmered dishes are also popular such as oden. Daikon radish sprouts are used for salads or garnishing sashimi and the leaves are frequently eaten as a green vegetable. Pickling and stir frying are also common, as well as in soups and to carve elaborate garnishes.

I use this ingredient quite a bit. You will see it in many of my Youtube videos. Try it!