Sauces and condiments

fish sauce

What is fish sauce?

Thai fish sauce is one of the basic ingredients not only of Thai cuisine, but also of much Asian cuisine. It has a rich translucent reddish-brown color and is added generously to almost all Thai dishes. It is often used as a marinade for fish and meat, as well as […]

fish sauce

Doenjang: What Is It?

What Is Doenjang? Doenjang (pronounced “den-jang”) is a magical little paste, a staple of Korean cuisine that adds great depth to dishes. A sturdier cousin of miso, it’s a thick brown paste made from fermented soybeans and salt. Its aroma can be quite pungent, but, like a good blue cheese, […]

pot de ssamjang

Ssamjang (Korean BBQ Dipping Sauce) 쌈장

What is ssamjang?  Ssamjang is a condiment in Korean cuisine, a dark-red, slightly thick paste. Deeply flavorful, it’s a blend of doenjang, gochujang, sesame oil, sesame seeds, garlic, and usually a touch of sweetener. The result is boldly savory and spicy. How to use ssamjang?  Ssamjang is used more as […]

fish sauce

What is katsuobushi?

What is katsuobushi? Katsuobushi is a staple of Japanese cuisine. It consists of dried bonito flakes, a variety of tuna. It’s very often used in broths like the famous dashi. Visually, it looks a bit like wood shavings, but don’t be fooled, it’s actually tuna floating in your soup! What […]

Nouilles soba sur un panier en osier

Soba noodles: What they are and how to use them

What are soba noodles?  Soba are noodles used in Japanese cuisine. They’re fairly thin and a dusky brown, thanks to their main ingredient: buckwheat flour. Most versions also include a little wheat flour and water, while more elaborate ones can feature more specific ingredients such as matcha powder or seaweed. […]

fish sauce

What is sake?

What is sake? Sake is the national drink of Japan. It is an alcohol made from fermented rice, which would be called “rice wine” in French. It is therefore a true classic of Japanese cuisine. To make it, Japanese breweries mix highly polished rice, water, a mold that is also […]

fish sauce

Dashi (だし) – Japanese Soup Stock from Scratch

What is dashi? Dashi is a simple Japanese soup stock. It is popular in Japanese cuisine because, unlike other broths that are more complicated and time consuming, it uses very few ingredients and takes only about twenty minutes to prepare. And it is absolutely delicious. The method is straightforward: soak […]

sauce teriykai

Teriyaki Sauce

What is teriyaki sauce? Teriyaki sauce is a thick, sweet and savory sauce used in Japanese cooking. The name comes from “teriyaki,” a word that refers to cooking meat or vegetables in this sauce. It gives food a tangy flavor, which is actually a synonym for the literal translation of […]

fish sauce

Mirin: What Is It? How to Use It or Replace It?

What Is Mirin? Mirin (pronounced “mirinne”, not “mirain” as in my cold soba video) is a type of Asian wine used as a condiment, which comes from Japanese cuisine. It’s quite similar to sake, but less alcoholic and sweeter. To make mirin, cooked glutinous rice and cultured rice are fermented […]

fish sauce

What is Black rice vinegar ?

What is black rice vinegar? Black rice vinegar is a condiment widely used in Asian cuisine, but especially in Chinese cuisine. Along with red rice vinegar and white rice vinegar, it’s one of the three varieties of rice vinegar. Completely black in color, black rice vinegar has a complex taste, […]