Chinese New Year falls on 1st February this year, so it is the perfect excuse to make February a full month of delicious Asian flavours. If you like the idea of infusing a touch of the east in your meal planning for the next month, here are the staples you need in your cupboards.
Soy Sauce
There are two different types of soy sauce – the light version is thinner and saltier than the dark and is used in smaller quantities. Really, it depends on your own taste which one you choose to go for. Just make sure to go for a Chinese Soy Sauce for an authentic flavour.
Oyster Sauce
This is a must for enhancing the flavour of many Chinese dishes.
Dried mushrooms
Not only are these cheaper and easier to find than fresh mushrooms, these are a great way to bulk out Chinese broths or to add flavour to dumplings.
Sesame Oil
This is one of the most distinctive flavours in Chinese cooking so is an absolute must. It is a versatile ingredient and can be used as a cooking oil, as part of a dressing, a dip or in stir fries to make a distinctive flavour.
Sichuan peppercorns
You can either buy these whole or powdered – and different recipes will call for either one or the other. Whole ones have a much stronger flavour, while the powdered version is more subtle.
Chinese five spice
You can find different combinations of five spice, though the most common combination is star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper and fennel. The spices provide hot, sweet, sour and savoury, giving you a whole world of flavour and works well in a variety of dishes.
White Rice Vinegar
Like soy sauce, when buying rice vinegar, make sure to pick up an authentic Chinese version – otherwise you’ll find different countries of origin provide different flavours. The Chinese version is more mild than those from Japan or Korea.
Another good option is Shaoxing rice wine which has a lovely nutty flavour.
Chilli bean sauce
This sauce is a thick paste and is good for making sauces or for adding a bit of a kick to dishes.
Other staples include rice and noodles.
You can find locally produced spices here and sauces here and a host of recipes where you can give traditional Chinese dishes a real Dorset twist here.
