What do I need from the oriental supermarket?

[sunsetsand]

Hi,

I've got reason to visit the oriental supermarket tomorrow and for some reason I've never been! I'm doing a Korean cooking class in a few days so need some quite specific ingredients.

Love all foods and flavours so help me out and tell me what else I need to try whilst I'm there! Thanks

Panko
Golden Curry sauce cubes
(both for Katsu curry)
Lee Kum Kee sauces (esp the garlic chilli one)
Jasmine tea

My (Chinese) family avoid MSG. It’s pretty noticeable if restaurants overuse it or when you’re buying frozen dim sum and it’s in every mouthful on the plate.

@tofuschnitzel

Why do you need to avoid msg? There is nothing wrong with it as a flavour enhancer, and the Western hysteria surrounding its use in Asian food is mostly thinly veiled racism.

Of course it isn't racism Does disliking spicy food make someone racist? Why on earth would you think that? I don't have a problem with it, but it makes one of my friends very unwell.

journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/curj/article/download/4115/1855

It is racist to avoid MSG. It is a flavour enhancer that has been scientifically proven to not cause any ill effects (unless people consume kilos of the stuff).

It’s just glutamate, which is found in tomatoes, Parmesan, seafood, juices, mushrooms, peas etc. If you can eat all those with no reaction then you can happily consume MSG in every meal if you wanted.

There is no such thing as Chinese restaurant syndrome.

Oh, this thread is making me happy!

I load up on sauces and condiments, many already mentioned. Top of my list are:

Ponzu (I use it in salad dressing, not just in Asian dishes).
Laoganma crispy chilli in oil in all its variations.
Mae Ploy Tom Yum paste.

Then I hit the fresh veggies aisle and see what looks good. I usually get a daikon and a bunch of yummy greens (loads more variety usually). Bonus if they have morning glory which I will happily eat every day for a week sautéed with garlic and chili.

Btw, I’ve found Ketjap Manis at M&S before and it tastes ok to me, but I’m not as familiar (fussy) with that as I am with Chinese and Thai ingredients.

I can buy a decent brand of mirin in my local Morrisons.

Can also get reasonable tofu in many places nowadays, but I’m still seeking the holy grail of the soft Japanese tofu that you eat by the block with a drizzle of sweet soy and a sprinkling of dried fish maw. If anyone knows where I can get that, I’d be willing to travel. Post pandemic obvs

I’m making Dan dan noodles tomorrow! 😋😋

Wanting to avoid a certain additive is racist?
That’s absolutely ridiculous

@Hoppinggreen

Wanting to avoid a certain additive is racist? That’s absolutely ridiculous

It's ludicrous. Am I racist for hating parsnips?

I prefer to avoid E102
It’s because I hate oompaloompas

@Hoppinggreen

Wanting to avoid a certain additive is racist? That’s absolutely ridiculous

Why do you avoid it though?

Uncle Roger (influencer) swears by MSG!

I'd get seaweed squares, sushi rice and rolling mat to make sushi! Don't forget the pickled ginger and wasabi!!

Also love Japanese rice crackers!

I personally don’t avoid it.

In fact it’s racist to say avoiding MSG is racist because it implies all Chinese food contains MSG

Sometimes these shops have an excellent selection of frozen fish....

@fretnot

Definitely worth getting a steamer - v cheap and easy! It needs to sit inside your pan: either a big deep saucepan with a lid (in which case also get a little metal tripod for it to sit on above the water), or put it in a shallow pan with sloping sides so that it’s easy to get a seal over the water, if that makes sense.

I’ve yet to find gochujang without MSG but I haven’t made it a mission to look. It’ll be listed on the English label sticker Flavour enhancer, E623 or similar numbers IIRC

Would the dishwasher work in the absence of a steamer?

Korean barbeque sauce - a delicious dip for chips

@Hoppinggreen

I personally don’t avoid it.

In fact it’s racist to say avoiding MSG is racist because it implies all Chinese food contains MSG

That’s like saying you’re not racist because you have a black friend.

Do some research.

I will not stand for anyone being racist, even if it’s because they’re ignorant. Enough.

Make your own dumplings!! Pick up a dumpling press which crimps the edges together, and a few packs of the ‘special’ pastry!

Ostryga
Keep challenging racism but stop looking for it where it doesn’t exist.
I never said I avoided MSG, I Personally don’t care whether food contains it or not but to equate someone avoiding an additive with racism is absolutely crazy.
I’m not sure what research I need to do to agree that not eating MSG is racist. What other foodstuffs should I embrace to avoid your accusations of racism?
Racists do eat MSG, curry, jerk chicken,samosas and Pad Thai you know.

@Hoppinggreen

Ostryga Keep challenging racism but stop looking for it where it doesn’t exist. I never said I avoided MSG, I Personally don’t care whether food contains it or not but to equate someone avoiding an additive with racism is absolutely crazy. I’m not sure what research I need to do to agree that not eating MSG is racist. What other foodstuffs should I embrace to avoid your accusations of racism? Racists do eat MSG, curry, jerk chicken,samosas and Pad Thai you know.

But why do people avoid MSG? That’s my question.

But why do people avoid MSG? That’s my question.

Because it makes some people feel unwell if they eat it.

@RampantIvy

But why do people avoid MSG? That’s my question.

Because it makes some people feel unwell if they eat it.

No it doesn’t.

Show me a single Asian person that experiences reaction from MSG.

Wow, talk about a derail. I'm not racist, so you can go and accuse someone else.

I was told to avoid it after a reaction to something in my food that saw me in A&E. I have many auto immune conditions and something twice made me react.

The consultant said his best guess was an additive and after describing what I'd eaten he said it would be best to avoid. I've had the same food from the same place since but asked them not to add MSG and I had no reaction.

He might be wrong, but I'm more comfortable avoiding that particular additive since.

Is that ok with you?

I also avoid cottage cheese because it makes me gip. Hopefully that's not offending anyone.

Thank you to everyone who contributed. I came away £50 lighter but I have lots of lovely things to eat now!

Love people taking the piss out of Asian hate to make themselves feel better for being called out.

It’s ok to say you are upset for being called out and also accepting that you have a lot to learn.

Growth is so important.