What do you usually buy from international grocery stores?

Drem

I recently found out there is an international grocer 5 minutes from my house. It seems to carry mostly east Asian products, as the languages I caught on products seemed like they were from China, Japan, Korea and Thailand. I feel it would be a waste not to make use of such a resource, but I don't really know a whole lot Asian food, let alone cooking food in the first place.

Does anyone have any suggestions on some dishes that could benefit from products I'd only find in international grocers? I'll probably get sick of buying those chocolate-filled panda snacks really fast.

Improvolone

Cardamon is a really neat spice, but I think its Indian not East Asian.

virgilsamms

Tom Yum soup - http://thaifood.about.com/od/oodlesofnoodles/r/tyumnoodles.htm

Stuff you need that I could only find in asian stores: lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, non traditional mushrooms, fish sauce. You can usually get really good chilis from those stores too.

Improvolone

Chili sauce with the rooster on it

Angel_of_Bacon

Dried jackfruit is pretty good.

Nataneko

Improvolone wrote: »

Chili sauce with the rooster on it

I think its something like Sri Racha. My mom puts it on/in EVERYTHING.

Herkimer

oh man where to start

sriracha
sambal oelek
Sichuan peppercorns
fivespice
nam pla/nuoc mam
sesame oil
chile oil (can make your own, so not as important)
hoisin sauce
oyster sauce
whatever fruit and veg you fancy
Korean chile paste (I think the one I use often is called go chu jang, not 100% certain)
fermented black beans
all sorts of noodles
dried shrip
bean paste
bonito
konbu
miso

I'll look around my pantry and see if I have anything else to add

and as far as dishes to make, that would take a whole forum, but lemme think of a few easy ones after I eat my own dinner

Page-

Improvolone wrote: »

Chili sauce with the rooster on it

Sriracha, which is a so good.

I usually get kimchi and soy sauce as well.

I also find that they have much better prices on most spices, and peppercorns in particular, and vegetables. At least when compared to the local grocery store. The place I go to nearby sells mushrooms much cheaper. And I love mushrooms, so I always stock up.

Blake T

By a region themed cookbook and then shop for the ingredients.

In terms of snacks I prefer dried haw berry (yes it does sound kinda close to whore) or semi dried, my girlfriend likes dried fish strips.

Really though just grab something that looks interesting and take it home, the majority of that shit is cheap. (as a helper though, dried, candied olives are the tastiest)

Alternatively, be slightly racist and ask an Asian friend of yours to come along. As opposed to being super racist and just saying, you are asian help me make dumplings. Try asking them if they often cook foods from their culture and could you get some help trying that stuff out.

dispatch.o

Buy a cheap coffee grinder and buy your spices there unground.

Yakisoba sauce is good on almost anything.

bsjezz

this stuff is apparently called seasoning soy sauce, and it's magnificent. it's like a sweet, smokey soy and it gets a lot of its flavour from dried bonito. if you've ever had dried bonito, you'll know that's a good thing

it makes a brilliant termpura dipping sauce, converts your stir fries into winners instantly, and if you ever find a reason to mix it with japanese mayo you will die content

DodgeBlan

NONG SHIM INSTANT NOODLES

the cadillac of instant noodles

shadydentist

Do they have premarinated Galbi or Bulgolgi

buy some of that

Bartholamue

Oh man if they stock Pocari Sweat or apple flavored iced tea do not hesitate to grab some of that. It's the best thing I had out of Japan.

ihmmy

fresh lotus root is cool stuff and very versatile to cook with (takes on the flavours of stuff around it and is hard to make truly mushy)

I thought dragon fruit was cool, but mostly because it was hot pink and tasted like kiwi. mmmm, kiwi.

republic of me

i dont know anything about east asian shops but in eastern european shops there are sandwitch spreads based on either meat and lard or fried onions and lard, either way they are disgustitng as sandwitch spreads but great for doing baked or fryed potatoes in and where i live we eat ox tongue heavily salted but i baught one in an African shop because most regular butchers dont carry ox tongue any more and i thaught it was salted as usual and put it into the pot as usual with my vegtables and it was disgusting. They had some kind of spices on it.

I have a friend who is friends with some africans (i have only spoken to an african a few times in my life there are none where i live we didnt have a slave trade in my country) And they eat this spicy meat dish that involves cows stomachs and it is supposed to be lovely, i never had it though

UncleChet

Well, I've been shopping at Asian groceries for several years and here are my suggestions.

Pre-marinated Korean bbq if you can find it fresh, failing that, bulgogi marinade (for beef or pork. Pork is spicy).
Fresh or jarred kimchi (spicy pickled cabbage dish from Korea).

Asian pears (if you like crunchy)

Dried shitake mushrooms. I get a 1lb bag for about 4 bucks. The make great snacks, stock and stir fry.

Nong Shim noodles. If you like ramen at all, these are as good as it gets. Also Mama brand from Thailand are also good.

Fresh vietnamese noodles, such as rice vermicelli for making Pho' or other tasty noodle soup.

Frozen dumplings and shumai (sooo good). Also steam buns.

interesting rice. You can get a 5lb bag of good quality sushi rice for next to nothing. Also try furikake rice seasoning from japan. I'm a huge fan of the shiso furikake. Turns your rice purple and has a tart bitter taste that works well with white rice.

paki, panda and other snack cookies. These are a geek staple and you can make fun of other anime nerds while eating them because you paid 10% of what they did.

Dishes:

Check out maangchi.com SHe's a korean lady living in NY who does cooking videos of Korean dishes. Very well done, instructional videos. You'll be making amazing food in no time.

Tofystedeth

My wife and I get our rice in bulk from an asian store. We also buy lots of sauces and spices and stuff. Like Black Bean garlic sauce (yum!), chili garlic sauce (yum!), shrimp paste (blech! she likes it though, and it's used in some recipes I like) big things of kikkoman soy sauce. If you're feeling frisky, you can get some Tamari soy sauce which is especially good.

Also Udon, gummy noodles, and rice vermicelli. Both instant and regular.

Drem

Good stuff, guys. Thanks a lot. I'm copying everything down and will research and/or buy stuff soon.

Six

there's a great Chinese grocery store in Bay Ridge that sells live turtles.

shadydentist

Oh I almost forgot,

Sacha sauce if you like that kind of thing.

Deathwing

Pre-marinated Korean bbq if you can find it fresh, failing that, bulgogi marinade (for beef or pork. Pork is spicy).

This stuff is amazingly tasty stir-fried and served with rice, my wife and I get it from the nearby H-Mart all the time.

Pretty much everything else that's been mentioned already....there should be a huge variety of sauces in particular, Sriacha is good on damn near everything.

Niceguy Myeye

Japanese Pickles: They are different than the normal sweet or Dill pickles you can get. It's all about the seasoning.

Dashi Broth: It's a good base stock and with it you can experience the 5th taste sensation.

Korean Seasoned Laver (Seaweed): Again, It's all about the seasoning.

Red bean buns: They are tasty doughy dessert treats.



These things are more common that you may be able to get elsewhere depending on your area:
Nong Shim Noodles.
Sriracha sauce. The Best hotsauce ever.
Black Bean Sauce. Can be used on everything.
Miso Paste. Great in soups and with Eggplant

UncleChet

Deathwing wrote: »

Pre-marinated Korean bbq if you can find it fresh, failing that, bulgogi marinade (for beef or pork. Pork is spicy).

This stuff is amazingly tasty stir-fried and served with rice, my wife and I get it from the nearby H-Mart all the time.

Pretty much everything else that's been mentioned already....there should be a huge variety of sauces in particular, Sriacha is good on damn near everything.

I'm so jealous! you're probably near that super H mart that has an in store resteraunt and hand packs kimchee while you watch /seethe

Gihgehls

Calbee shrimp chips are awesome.

Pooshlmer

Pork belly. Most bacon you find in stores is salted in some form.

Noquar

Fried chicken skins - loaded with delicious MSG!

Usagi

lychee and yuzu fruit
miso in all colors (white is milder, the redder the stronger tasting and omg so good)
real soba/udon noodles
dried mushrooms out the wazoo
bonito flakes
instant dashi
pickled everything but cucumber (ume, daikon, ginger, etc.)

ok, now I'm hungry

Deathwing

I'm so jealous! you're probably near that super H mart that has an in store resteraunt and hand packs kimchee while you watch /seethe

Yeah, that's it Always smells great over there, although I can't say i'm a big fan of kimchee

Herkimer

Deathwing wrote: »

although I can't say i'm a big fan of kimchee

oh man, your loss

edit: also, there are many kinds of kimchi other than the kind with cabbage. There's radish, and burdock root, and, and, and. Even if you don't like the cabbage-based one, you might like one of the others.

Page-

It's kind of an acquired taste anyway. And I know Koreans who don't like it, so it won't be for everyone. But if you do get to like it, it's supposed to be one of the healthiest things you can eat.

Peas

Curry. I like curry, you like curry, everyone loves curry

Akilae729

I like buying those heat and eat indian food packets.

Mix with rice and wrap in a tortilla and you have an awesome indian food burrito