We’re no experts in Asian-influenced cooking…but we are experts in flavor AND making great, affordable food from just a few ingredients. And we’re about to tell you how.

It’s a secret, so lean in close….shhhh….Ready?

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR PANTRY!!

If you have the right sauces, spices, and oils handily at hand, you can make masterpieces out of truly simple fare, night after night. From chicken, salmon, and seafood to tofu and veggies to glorious noodles and rice, the ingredients on the list below can take your at-home menu to all-new regions of deliciousness.

So, peruse the list below, then get to shoppin’! And while you can nab most of the stuff on the list below at your usual grocery store, don’t stop there. It’s likely that where you live, you have some fabulous specialty markets to explore, offering a literal continent’s worth of ingredients.

Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, and Korean markets are just the beginning. Make a day or a date of it, and you’ll wonder at the fabulous and often unfamiliar foodstuffs on the shelves. Plus, many markets also feature gifts and more to explore.

Ready to take a trip?

Stuff Your Pantry Shelf

Despite the Aardvark’s generally symbiotic and non-boastful nature, we’ve gotta start with a little brag: a quick plug for our very own out-of-this-world Asian-style sauces.

Our Red Fiery Scorpion Hot Sauce is one of the tastiest sriracha-style sauces you’ll find—not to mention one of the hottest—due to a mix of roasted tomatoes and carrots alongside tangy fermented scorpion peppers. And our Drunken Garlic Black Bean Sauce marinade is laced with a nip of whiskey that ties together savory garlic with a classic staple, the fermented black bean.

Okay, now on with the show. Don’t walk — run — to add these flavorful essentials to your culinary arsenal.

  • Soy Sauce – Simply a must-have always. ‘nuff said.
  • Fish Sauce – Can you say “umami”? Fish sauce ties all the flavors in your dish together.
  • Oyster Sauce – Sweet and savory, great for stir-fries. Try it, you’ll like it.
  • Sesame Oil – We could drink this stuff. It’s nutty, savory, and ridiculously delish!
  • Rice Vinegar – For balancing flavors in salads, sushi, and dressings.
  • Hoisin Sauce – A thick, sweet sauce used in marinades, dips, and stir-fries.
  • Dashi Powder – A Japanese stock made from bonito and kelp. A little fishy, a lot of flavor.
  • Miso Paste – It’s not just for miso soup. Add it to other types of soups (ramen!!), sauces, and marinades.

Bonus Round: Fresh Ingredients

  • Ginger – Fresh ginger is used for its fragrant spice.
  • Garlic – You can’t go wrong here. Garlic amps up the flavor in absolutely every dish.
  • Cilantro – Used in Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian dishes.
  • Thai Basil – Adds a distinct flavor to Thai curries and stir-fries.
  • Scallions – A key garnish or aromatic in many recipes.
  • Lemongrass – Common in Southeast Asian soups and curries.
  • Kaffir Lime Leaves – Adds a citrusy aroma to Thai and Southeast Asian dishes.

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