help me shop my asian market!

lalalazzz
lalalazzz Posts: 131 Member
edited October 1 in Recipes
I have a enourmo fabulous asian market within walking distance of my house... but all the food is so foreign to me I don't know what to get or what to do with it. Anyone have any recipes for the different noodles, kimchee (not even sure what that is) frozen stuff? I am making shiritaki noodles with bean sprouts tonight from a recipe on here for a BIG bIG BIG bowl of noodles for 169 cals.. . that's a start! The shelves are stocked with interesting foods and most is in chinese... but I want in! Seems like a lot of it is low cal.

Replies

  • RTricia
    RTricia Posts: 720
    seaweed chips. yum. lots of nutrients.
  • tacomom
    tacomom Posts: 10 Member
    Check out the Steamy Kitchen Cookbook and blog. Awesome, easy to follow, great tasting asian recipes. She also posts recipes and has more on the website.
  • photorific
    photorific Posts: 577 Member
    MMM - Kim chee! I'd recommend starting with one labeled as "fresh". Think of it as spicy sauerkraut. It's a fermented (usually cabbage) with chilis, vinegar, and other spices. Some of it includes dried fish/fish paste and is really stinky. That being said - I love it.... but it's one of those acquired taste, love/hate things.

    I also like dried squid or cuttlefish - kind of like beef jerky... And, they usually have a good selection of fresh fish.

    If they have fresh lychee, those are delicious! We usually end up getting a lot of sweets... my hubby loves the peanut butter mochi. I love the gelatin things. (It's a giant jar of what looks like pre-packaged jell-o shots.)

    I always say buy stuff that's inexpensive and strikes your fancy. You can never go too wrong. ;-)

    I was in one that carried "Magic Crackers", they were like Club crackers with green onions in them... tasty!
  • GorillaNJ
    GorillaNJ Posts: 4,024 Member
    Check out the fish market if they have one... the place by me has amazing deals on fresh fish.. including ones still swimming in the tank before the guy butchers them for you.

    it is a little strange when I walk in there since I am the only non Chinese speaking person and I feel like a giant, but 2lbs of muscles for $2. I'm there!
  • fuhrmeister
    fuhrmeister Posts: 1,796 Member
    Hoisen sauce!!!! I love this on turkey burgers or broiled pork chops (from the Biggest loser cook book)

    For teh burger hubby chops up carrots and brocolli and adds them to the meat. We server teh burger on Whole wheat buns with the hoisen. We eat stirfry veggis on the side.

    I also like rachael rays ginger chicken noodle bowl and chicken satay soup...fro teh secon you need curry paste likly found in teh asin market.

    asian pears are yummy too. and I add mung bean sprouts to salads and sandwiches.

    Good luck!
  • ilookthetype
    ilookthetype Posts: 3,021 Member
    The veggies there are usually fairly cheap. **** sauce is amazing. It's got a real name I have no idea what it is, it's a red sauce/bottle with a green tip and a a rooster on the front.

    I love Mochi, it is like, the perfect self contained desert and while it's tempting to eat the whole box, it is easy not to because it's just a little ball of goodness, I use it to satisfy my occasional sweet tooth.

    Seriously! It's c*ck sauce!

    Real name is....Sriracha
  • atomdraco
    atomdraco Posts: 1,083 Member
    Find something yummy, and search online for recipes. I usually look for freshness, there are so many vegi to pick. Try some:

    - Baby Bok Choy
    - Okra
    - Taro Root (root family, taste great, big in Hawaii, boil them) - http://www.justhungry.com/how-cook-taro-root-or-satoimo
    - Yu Choy (http://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/cb_yuchz.html)
    - Daikon Radish (http://chinesefood.about.com/od/vegetablesrecipes/ig/Chinese-Vegetables-Pictures/Chinese_Radish_Photo.htm)
    - Gai Lan or Chinese Broccoli (http://chinesefood.about.com/od/vegetablesrecipes/ig/Chinese-Vegetables-Pictures/Chinese_Broccoli_Photo.htm)
    - bamboo shoots
    - Opo squash (melon family) (http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/opo-squash.html)
    - chayote squash (http://www.all-creatures.org/recipes/i-chayote.html)
    - mushrooms (Shiitake, wood ear, oyster, enoki, etc)
    - Chinese eggplants (http://chinesefood.about.com/od/vegetablesrecipes/ig/Chinese-Vegetables-Pictures/Chinese_Eggplant_Photo.htm)
    - Chinese long beans (http://chinesefood.about.com/od/vegetablesrecipes/ig/Chinese-Vegetables-Pictures/chineselongbeans.htm)

    Fruits:
    - Star Fruits
    - guava
    - mango
    - Asian pears
    - Kumquat (http://www.plantguide.org/kumquat-pictures.html)
    - Persimmon

    Seafood department!

    The possibilities are unlimited. Enjoy
  • ResilientWoman
    ResilientWoman Posts: 440 Member
    Bring your kids/neighbors' kids, be brave, use free online resources to learn to say 'Ni Hao' (hello) & 'Shi Shi' (thank you). Your vendors will appreciate that you took the time to reach out.

    Try one new fruit and one new veggie each trip. Don't know what it is, no problem. Snap a pic, post online and ask. Before you know it you'll be part of an East meets West community of cultural explorers.

    My daughter has been raised this way as we live in Seattle and when I moved here I knew *NOTHING* about Asian markets/cultures. Now we know when the Longan is coming in (like lychee, only more delicate) and who has the most tender Gai Lan (sounds like guy and lan as in land) - Chinese broccoli, both very easy on an American palate.
  • lalalazzz
    lalalazzz Posts: 131 Member
    Wow thsnk you all! GREAT info I can't wait to start cookin!
  • lalalazzz
    lalalazzz Posts: 131 Member
    Wow thsnk you all! GREAT info I can't wait to start cookin!
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