Nuoc cham, also known as nem sauce, is a flavorful and versatile Vietnamese condiment. When you think of many Vietnamese dishes, it is hard to imagine enjoying them without a little nuoc cham on the side! Yes, even though in France nước chấm is often associated with a single version, […]
Making sweet red bean paste (Anko) from scratch is easier than you think. You only need azuki beans, sugar, water, and salt ! In this article, I’ll walk you through the two main varieties: Tsubuan (chunky) and Koshian (smooth). Once you’ve mastered this simple Anko recipe, you’ll be able to whip […]
This Chinese dressing, ready in 5 minutes, is simple, tangy, and so delicious! Made with sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, and soy sauce, it’s excellent on any kind of salad and will remind you of your favorite Chinese restaurant. A good dressing is really what brings a salad to life. […]
Use this simple, four-ingredient Thai dressing to make your favorite authentic Thai salads. Adjust the ratios to taste—add more sweet, sour, salty, or spicy notes. Thai salads are different from Western-style salads. Even though we call them “salads,” they’re not often made with lettuce or other greens, and they usually […]
Made from ground black sesame seeds and sesame oil or honey, black sesame paste (Kuro Neri Goma) is used as a flavoring in Japanese cuisine and other Asian cooking. Learn how to make it at home today! In Japan and across East and Southeast Asia, black sesame seeds are widely […]
Do chua is essentially pickled carrots and daikon. It is a staple of Vietnamese cuisine and can be used in countless ways. But this sweet-and-sour vegetable condiment is most often tucked into the iconic Vietnamese sandwich, the banh mi. The vegetables are sliced, brined, and ready to eat almost right […]
What are glass noodles? It’s a curious sight to see those long, transparent strands on a plate. Glass noodles—also called “cellophane noodles”—are true to their name: once cooked, they become as clear as glass. That said, most types of glass noodles aren’t transparent in their dried form. They look like […]
There’s a good reason why Kecap Manis is Indonesia’s most popular condiment: not only is it delicious, it’s so incredibly versatile you’ll want to add it to almost everything! No meal in Indonesia is complete without ketjap manis, the country’s most popular condiment! It’s not just the most popular condiment, […]
Galangal, also called galanga, is the citrusy cousin of ginger. This aromatic rhizome is widely used in Asian, South Asian and Indian cooking and is especially popular in Indonesian cuisine and Thai cuisine. It is peppery and spicy, with a hint of pine. Although harder to find than ginger, galangal […]
What is sambal oelek? It’s a pretty unusual name, isn’t it? It’s true that this isn’t a common ingredient in Europe. Sambal oelek is a raw chili pepper sauce that’s hugely popular in Indonesian cuisine and Malaysian cooking. In the traditional recipe, the chilies are ground and mashed into a […]
