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10 Asian Staples for Your Pantry

Whether it’s to prepare a Lunar New Year feast or to simply cook Asian-inspired dishes with authentic flavour, it’s essential to use the right ingredients. Here’s a list of essentials to always have on hand; you can find them in Asian grocery stores or in the Asian food aisle at the supermarket.

1. Rice

Rice is a staple food in China, as well as many other countries across Asia. It’s consumed daily and there exist hundreds of varieties. Jasmine rice is the perfect choice for accompanying a Lunar New Year menu.

2. Shaoxing rice wine

This fermented rice wine, with about 4% alcohol by volume, can be used to enhance dishes. It adds a bit of acidity, but is not as intense as vinegar. Use it in our Cantonese-style steamed fish recipe.

3. Black vinegar

This variety of rice vinegar is completely black, and its taste is complex, slightly acidic and mildly sweet. Use it to garnish a plate of longevity noodles.

4. Oyster sauce

Its taste is both sweet and salty, and it has a thick, syrupy texture. Ideal for marinades, stir-fries and noodle dishes.

5. Sesame oil

This amber-coloured oil has a bold sesame fragrance. It’s used as a finishing oil to enhance many Asian dishes; just a few drops will do.

6. Adzuki beans

These small red beans are commonly used in Chinese pastries. Sugar is added to the beans, which are then turned into a paste, like in these sesame balls.

7. Shiitake mushrooms

China is the largest producer of shiitake mushrooms. They have a spongy texture and a pronounced flavour. Find them fresh, dried or canned at the grocery store.

8. Dark soy sauce

It’s thicker and more dense than regular soy sauce. It’s also saltier and boasts a slight molasses flavour. Montreal’s Satay Brothers restaurant uses it in their marinade for their pork belly served on steamed buns.

9. Soy sauce

This is one of the most basic ingredients in Asian dishes. Its umami taste – a complex and deep flavour known as the fifth taste – can enhance sauces, marinades (like in these eggs!) and stir-fries, and it is also used as a condiment.

10. Glutinous rice flour

This differs from regular rice flour because it provides a stretchy and chewy texture. It’s mainly used in pastries, such as in sesame balls or mochi dough.