Need help compiling a grocery list for Japanese/Vietnamese/Thai cuisine?

Question

I would love to start making some of the delicious dishes i eat at my local restaurants such as sushi, spring rolls, fresh rolls. noodle bowls, soups, and various other dishes. Only problem is i have to idea where to start when shopping. If someone could help me out with a general grocery list to get me started that would be much appreciated!! i am not vegetarian or anything so there are no limitations to my diet. Thanks.

Answer 1

you'll want to start off getting the right tools. example:  to make sushi rolls at home, you'll need a bamboo mat, for starters. as far as food is concerned, though, you'll definitely want to get the following items:

japanese:

kikkoman soya sauce (don't go cheap and get another brand, it just won't compare)

nori (dried seaweed sheets) - you can find these at some supermarkets, and at most asian food stores

miso paste (white, red, etc... your choice. white is milder, red is saltier and more umami).

fresh fish, from a quality source, if you're making raw sushi/sashimi at home

some japanese specialty stores carry a tempura batter mix. i find this very convenient. if you can grab one, have at it.

ricewine vinegar

sushi rice (short grain)

tofu (for miso soup)

edamame (fresh soybeans) for salads

thai:

coriander/cilantro (tons and tons of this)

lemongrass

thai red curry paste (this often comes premixed, even people in thailand buy it premixed - it's just too hard to make from scratch)

coconut milk, and LOTS of it

fish sauce (easily found at most supermarkets in ethnic foods section)

rice noodles (vermicelli)

chili oil

mangoes (can be used in salads and some main dishes, and desserts... yum!)

the most important thing in thai food is balance: balance your sweet, salty, sour, and spicy flavors. as long as you do this, you're golden!

good luck :)

Answer 2

You already have some ideas for Thai and Japanese lists. Here's someVietnamese stuff you might want to add ( some of the stuff is the same as theThai ingredients ) -

Long grain rice

Sticky ( short grain ) rice

Rice papaers ( banh trang ) for summer rolls

Rice vinegar

Rice noodles ( banh pho ) for Pho

Rice vermicelli ( for summer rolls )

Dried mushrooms ( shitake and woodear )

Coconut milk

Tofu

Fish sauce ( nuoc mam )

Shrimp paste ( mam tom )

Chillies

Ginger and galangal

Garlic

Turmeric

Lemongrass

Tamarind

Palm sugar

Soy sauce

Peanuts

Limes

Cinnamon

Star anise

5 spice

Herbs - cilantro, basil and mint

Fresh veg are really up to you but if you can get stuff like snake beans, water spinach, pea aubergines, beansprouts, luffa, kabocha, jicama etc then you'll have a good selection of what Vietnamese people eat.

Answer 3

for japanese food

http://www.kikkoman.com/index.shtml

http://www.amazon.com/Ajinomoto-Dashi-So...

http://www.asianfoodgrocer.com/index.asp...

you need this 3 to cook japanese food

good luck :)