Asian Cooking Made Simple

Asian Cooking Made Simple

Asian food has fast become one of the buzziest cuisines in the world. Despite this, many people still struggle to master the basics of Asian cooking, which has resulted in many only getting to enjoy the continent’s yummy delicacies is in the form of take-outs or expensive restaurant meals. To remedy this, we’ve compiled a list of must-have tools of the trade for those looking to master the basics of Asian cooking. Read on for more.

Tools Of The Trade

So you’ve committed to mastering Asian cooking at home? Great! Now it’s time to invest in all the equipment needed to get cooking! Here’s our list of basic tools and ingredients you’ll need to start building your Asian cooking arsenal.

A good quality cast iron wok

The cast iron wok is considered the go-to cooking vessel in Asia. Peek into the kitchen of any Asian restaurant and you’re guaranteed to find at least one such wok. Cast iron woks are designed to retain high temperatures, which is essential when cooking dishes such as stir-fries, that require fierce heat. Look out for a good wok and the utensils below at your local Asian supermarket.

A bamboo steamer

Bamboo Steamers have long been used in Asian cooking to steam a variety of different foods, including dumplings, buns, fish, pancakes, meat and vegetables. The bamboo steamer is a multi-layer container that allows you to cook different types of foods at the same time.

A cleaver

The ultimate multi-purpose knife for slicing, dicing, chopping, scraping and scooping. A cleaver is heavy enough to cut through meat, bones and tough vegetables and also great for deboning a whole chicken or crushing garlic.

A wire strainer

A strainer is an ideal tool for removing deep-fried foods from hot oil or noodles from boiling water. Using a wire strainer allows fried foods to dry quickly while remaining crispy and flavourful.

Dark soy sauce

As with regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce is used to add deep, complex flavour to dishes. Dark soy sauce’s sweetness also makes it seem less salty than regular soy sauce. It’s also great for marinating ingredients, using as a base for sauces, dips and dressings.

Rice vinegar and rice wine

White rice vinegar is one of the main types of vinegars used in Chinese and Japanese cooking. It’s great for adding acidity to sauces and stir-fries and can also add a pleasant sharpness to salad dressings and dipping sauces.

TRY ASIAN-INSPIRED RECIPES

Now that you’ve invested in the basics, it’s time to try out some recipes. Here’s a list of delicious, fuss-free dishes to start you on your Asian cooking journey.

Asian-Style Duck Pancakes with Crunchy Coleslaw Recipe
Asian-Style Lamb Shanks with Garlic Herb Mash Recipe
Asian Chicken and Ginger Stir Fry Recipe
Tofu Stir Fry Recipe
Chinese Cabbage with Sprouts, Chillies and Red Lentils Recipe
Chicken Chow Mein Recipe​