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, […]
What Is Lotus Root? Lotus root is an ingredient widely used in Chinese cuisine, typically categorized as a vegetable. In fact, it’s the stem that connects the lotus flower on the surface to the bottom of ponds and rivers. The root is very thick and composed of segments. Visually, it […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
A water chestnut is the tuber – the root of the plant, like a potato – of an aquatic plant that grows in marshes. So it is not a nut, even though we call it a “chestnut,” simply because it looks like one: it has brown skin that covers white […]
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, […]
Sesame oil is a cooking oil made from sesame seeds that is highly appreciated in Asian cuisine. There are several varieties made from either pressed seeds or roasted seeds, and they are used in different ways in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and even Middle Eastern cuisine. Light sesame oil is generally […]
Shaoxing wine is perhaps the most mentioned ingredient on my site that you’ve never heard of (and you let me know in the comments!). If you’ve ever wondered why your homemade Chinese food doesn’t taste like what you’d get in a restaurant, Shaoxing wine is probably the key element you’ve […]
Oyster sauce is a rich, syrupy sauce used in Chinese cuisine. It’s made from oyster extract, but despite its name, doesn’t taste at all like seafood. Instead, oyster sauce has an earthy, slightly sweet and salty taste. It’s a mixture of boiled oyster juice (which has caramelized), salt and sugar, […]
