Going to an Asian market can be really intimidating. There are so many things you’ve never seen before and most things have labels you can’t even understand. There are also so many different Asian countries, cultures and cuisines. The bf is half-Korean and has helped me navigate the Korean markets in Richmond. His mom has also taken us to some meccas in Nova. I usually go nuts over the candies. Here are some of my favorite things.
- Mango jelly cups! You know how we have pre-made Jell-O cups? Well, at most Asian markets, you can find jelly cups. They come in much smaller portions, like Jell-O shooters, in plastic bags or giant tubs. We hit up a big international market in Nova this past weekend and I grabbed a tub of mango jellies. They’re vegan. The gelatinous quality comes from seaweed extract and little chunks of nata de coco (a process of fermenting coconut water) and they’re delicious! If you happen to hit up an Asian market, try to find the more opaque mango ones. Also, if you are vegan, double check the ingredients. Some that say “pudding” may have milk powder in them.
- Hoddeok – Korean stuffed sweet pancakes. They’re a common street food and super easy to make. They’re like smooshed fried doughnuts filled with brown sugar and crushed peanuts. You can find the packages at most Korean markets. You can also make them from scratch.
- Spicy Korean ramen – If you love spicy food, this ramen is where it’s at. My dad is insane for hot food and cooks with just the seasoning pack in these things now. I have to keep him stocked up. Ridiculous.
- Gochujang - this hot pepper paste is a staple in Korean cooking. It’s used in marinating Korean BBQ and as a condiment. It comes in different levels of heat.
- Candies and Milkita – I love the random flavors of Asian hard candies and gummies. Plum is my favorite. Milkita candies have a cute little cow and a creamy flavor.
- Large pearl tapioco or boba. Bubble tea is a Taiwanese flavored drink with gigantic black tapioca at the bottom. You drink it with a huge straw. You can find the tapioca and flavored mixes to make your own, or cook (boil until soft) and add the large pearls to regular tapioca pudding for fun. They also come in pastel colors.
- Noodles! Oh my god there are so many types of noodles! Rice noodles, buckwheat, egg… you name it.
- Oyster sauce and other staples- use oyster sauce in Asian recipes instead of super strong fish sauce. It’s much milder and less salty. Great with sautéed bok choy, garlic and soy sauce as a side. Also invest in some good soy sauce and sesame oil. La Choy is Americanized garbage.
- Bacchus energy drinks- If you like Red Bull, these tiny bottles of Korean energy drinks will knock your socks off!
- Nylon washcloths
- These things are awesome! I’ve mentioned them before for exfoliation. They’re coarse and scrub the heck out of your skin. They’re also long so you can get your back, develop a great lather, and they dry quickly. They’re about $3 and last forever.
- Mochi – These are Japanese and are soft sweet rice powder cakes with a fruit filling! You can also find the ice cream versions in the frozen section.
- While you’re in the freezer section, look for boxes of melon bars. They taste like the most perfectly ripe cantaloupe you’ve ever had.
- Produce! Try out all the different fruits and vegetables for the heck of it! There are enough resources online to figure out how to cook with new things. Lychee fruit, musk melons, daikon radish, various mushrooms (bags of dried ones are great to keep on hand and reconstitute beautifully).
- Frozen dumplings – These are hit and miss. I really don’t like the kimchi dumplings and some of the vegetable ones have been a mushy disappointment. It seems that you get what you pay for in most cases. There are so many different kinds. Just grab a bag and give ‘em a shot!
Well, that’s all for now! Go out and be adventurous!
{ 10 comments }
<!--