What to buy at the Asian market! Here is a simple PRINTABLE list, to help you build your Asian pantry, organized by sections! Simple and easy- just print the list out and take it with you!
Food is the ingredient that binds us together. – Unknown
So many of you have asked for this and I’m sorry it has been so long in coming, but here it is, finally! A list of my favorite “go-to” ingredients to buy at an Asian market. I always take this list with me when I go – that way I don’t forget because it’s very easy to get distracted there!
Why shop at an Asian market?
- Asian markets offer up specialty ingredients not usually found in mainstream grocery stores.
- It’s often less expensive than a regular grocery store!
- Exposure to different produce, herbs, spices and ingredients inspires creativity in the kitchen!
- It’s so much fun!
- It’s community building.
- It’s mind-opening.
What to buy at an Asian Market:
- Peeled Garlic
- Shallots
- kafir limes
- Ginger Root
- Galangal Root
- Fresh Turmeric Root
- Fresh mushrooms- try a different kind!
- Fresh herbs- Thai basil, cilantro, chives, and mint!
- Seasonal and unusual vegetables, fruit, fresh chilies and sprouts (daikon or bean)
- Fresh rice noodles or ramen noodles in the refrigerated section
- Wonton wrappers
- Fresh Tofu ( or spicy fried)
- Pickled Things – Korean “pickles”
- Seaweed Noodles ( like Sea Tangle)
- Seaweed Salad
- Miso paste – try white miso!
- Quail Eggs
- Frozen chopped lemongrass- so handy!
- Frozen Kefir Lime leaves (or sub fresh, and freeze the extras)
- Frozen galanga root- again, so handy!!!
- Dumplings and Wontons
- Frozen whole fish
- Coconut milk
- Toasted Sesame oil
- Soy sauce
- Extra dark soy sauce
- Thai Curry Paste ( red, green, yellow)
- Korean Chili paste ( or flakes)
- Sambal Olek or Garlic Chili Paste
- Sriracha Sauce
- Mirin wine
- Chinese Cooking wine
- Fish Sauce
- Tamarind paste or concentrate
- Shrimp paste, or dried shrimp
- Fermented Black beans
- Black bean or brown bean Sauce
- Peanut Oil (or wok oil)
- Chili Oil
SPICES, CHILIES, SEEDS:
- Black sesame seeds
- Toasted Sesame seeds
- Whole or ground spices
- Dried Chile Threads
- Dried Whole red Chilies for wok stir fry
- Fried shallots or fried garlic
- Hondashi (for miso soup)
- Togarashi Spice Blend
MISC STAPLES:
- Rice (sushi, jasmine, basmati, forbidden black)
- Dried Seaweed- kombu, wakame, hijiki, kelp
- Nori Sheets
- Dry Beans- mung, black, chick peas, etc.
- Spring roll wrappers
- Dry Noodles
- Japanese Green tea ( try it with brown rice -Genmaicha)
- Rice (sushi, jasmine, basmati, forbidden black)
- Dried Seaweed- kombu, wakame, hijiki, kelp
- Nori Sheets
- Dry Beans- mung, black, chickpeas, etc.
- Spring roll wrappers
- Dry Noodles
- Japanese Green tea ( try it with brown rice -Genmaicha)
What to buy at an Asian Market!
What to buy at an Asian Market! A simple list to help you build your Asian pantry. PRINT and Take this list with you when you go!
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Category: Asian market
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
- Peeled Garlic
- Shallots
- kafir limes
- Ginger Root
- Galangal Root
- Fresh Turmeric Root
- Fresh mushrooms- try a different kind!
- Fresh herbs- Thai basil, cilantro, chives, and mint!
- Seasonal and unusual vegetables, fruit, fresh chilies and sprouts (daikon or bean)
- Fresh rice noodles or ramen noodles in the refrigerated section
- Wonton wrappers
- Fresh Tofu ( or spicy fried)
- Pickled Things – Korean “pickles”
- Seaweed Noodles ( like Sea Tangle)
- Seaweed Salad
- Miso paste – try white miso!
- Quail Eggs
- Frozen chopped lemongrass- so handy!
- Frozen Kefir Lime leaves (or sub fresh, and freeze extras)
- Frozen galanga root
- Dumplings and Wontons
- Frozen whole fish
- Coconut milk
- Toasted Sesame oil
- Soy sauce
- Extra dark soy sauce
- Thai Curry Paste ( red, green, yellow)
- Korean Chili paste ( or flakes)
- Sambal Olek or Garlic Chili Paste
- Sriracha Sauce
- Mirin wine
- Chinese Cooking wine
- Fish Sauce
- Tamarind paste or concentrate
- Shrimp paste, or dried shrimp
- Fermented Black beans
- Black bean or brown bean Sauce
- Peanut Oil (or wok oil)
- Chili Oil
SPICES, CHILIES, SEEDS:
- Black sesame seeds
- Toasted Sesame seeds
- Whole or ground spices
- Dried Chile Threads
- Dried Whole red Chilies for wok stir fry
- Fried shallots or fried garlic
- Hondashi (for miso soup)
- Togarashi Spice Blend
MISC STAPLES:
- Rice (sushi, jasmine, basmati, forbidden black)
- Dried Seaweed- kombu, wakame, hijiki, kelp
- Nori Sheets
- Dry Beans- mung, black, chick peas, etc.
- Spring roll wrappers
- Dry Noodles
- Japanese Green tea ( try it with brown rice -Genmaicha)
- Rice (sushi, jasmine, basmati, forbidden black)
- Dried Seaweed- kombu, wakame, hijiki, kelp
- Nori Sheets
- Dry Beans- mung, black, chickpeas, etc.
- Spring roll wrappers
- Dry Noodles
- Japanese Green tea ( try it with brown rice -Genmaicha)
Instructions
Print the list and take it with you! Highlight any favorites for next time!
****Please mention in the comments below if I’ve forgotten anything and I will update. Thanks!!!!
Keywords: what to buy at an asian market, asian market ingredients, favorite farmers market ingredients
Chinese rose wine, Sichuan peppercorns sliced Korean rice cake, frozen raw duck & fish cake, abalone/abalone sauce bottled or canned and Laoganma’s Spicy Chili Crisp! So good!!!
Love this list- thanks! I like to buy peanuts there too!
★★★★★
Freezer section- pork dumplings. Makes for great quick dinner, pan steam-fried and served with sauce made of soy, sesame oil, rice vinegar, cilantro and garlic chili oil. My teenaged boys ask for this often.
Brown bean garlic sauce & peanuts
★★★★
Love this list- one thing I always am looking for that you might add is the brand names you choose for your sauces- ie fish sauce, oyster sauce etc. I look for these and never know which one to choose-
Thanks!
That is a great idea- I will start doing that…