Yesterday I looked at the basic spices needed for general cooking, but if you're like me you like to cook something different occasionally. One of my favorite styles of international cooking is Chinese. If you want to get that Chinese flavor there are certain spices and condiments you need to keep at all times.
One condiment that is almost mandatory is soy sauce. Granted there is a great deal of oriental cooking that doesn't require it, but it is essential for a well-rounded pantry. Another necessity is sesame oil. This might sound odd but true. Sesame adds a subtle oriental twist to any oriental dish that is obvious if missing.
There are other items that I keep on hand.
1. Ginger - There is nothing that compares to the taste of fresh ginger. The spicy and aromatic pungency of that root enhances any oriental dish from savories to sweets. Crystallized ginger candy makes a great breath freshener and helps with a sore throat. Ginger that is crushed and boiled works wonders when served with honey.
2. Garlic - When mixed with minced ginger, garlic serves as the beginning of many stir-fries and other dishes.
3. Dry mustard - Mixed with a small amount of water and sesame oil, dry mustard makes a great condiment.
4. Star Anise - Oriental licorice - This is added to soups and broths to give a subtle hint that pleasant lifts the heaviest sauces to a new level.
5. White pepper - This is a little spicier than it's black cousin, and is vital for some hot and sour recipes.
6. Chinese Five-Spice - A blend of black pepper, fennel, cinnamon, cloves and star anise.
7. Fish sauce - Fish sauce is a straw colored liquid that is a fermentation of fish in sea salt. It is often used as a substitute for salt.
Although this is not an exhaustive list, many Oriental dishes can be added to your repertoire of dishes.
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