When preparing to make a Chinese recipe, one of the first things you'll want to know is whether you can find all the ingredients at the local supermarket, or need to make a trip to the Chinese/Asian grocery. This handy list shows which commonly used Chinese ingredients are available at most local supermarkets.
Seasonings and Spices:
- Light Soy sauce
- Dark soy sauce
- White rice vinegar (just called rice vinegar)
- Hoisin sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Chili paste and chili sauce
- Asian sesame oil
- Five-spice powder
- White sesame seeds
Fresh Herbs and Vegetables:
- Garlic
- Ginger (gingerroot)
- Spring Onions (green onions, scallions)
- Cilantro leaves (fresh coriander leaves)
- Bok Choy
- Sui Choy (Napa Cabbage)
- Snow Peas
- Leeks
- Daikon Radish
- Longbeans (in season)
- Flowering chives (in season)
- Mung Bean Sprouts
Canned Vegetables:
- Water Chestnuts
- Bamboo Shoots
- Baby Corn
Dried Goods:
- Cornstarch
- Long grain and short grain rice
Other:
Tofu (You'll probably need to go to an Asian market for items such as fermented tofu, tofu puffs, and bean curd sheets).
Asian fruit in season: (This will vary quite a bit depending on where you live, but some possibilities are fresh mangoes, papaya, guava and kiwifruit).
