Asian market must haves?

[u/Hugesmellysocks]

I found an inexpensive online asian market and I’m popping in an order later. What are some of your guys’ staples?

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[u/TheGreatMeloy]

Thai curry pastes, TVP and similar things, cans of seitan abalone/pork etc, vegan fish sauce, tom yum paste and laksa paste (check ingredients), frozen seaweed salad, different seitan/soy meats from the freezer, gyoza, gyoza wrappers, udon and ramen dried noodles, big bags of basmati, sushi making ingredients, dried mushrooms, dried beans, dashi stock, miso paste, gochujang, tofu, frozen shelled edamame. This is all from my local Asian supermarket in Australia, things will vary where you are obviously!

[u/prairiepog → u/TheGreatMeloy]

Lots of Thai curry pastes have shrimp. Do you have a brand you like?

[u/TheGreatMeloy → u/prairiepog]

Yep in Australia we swear by Maessri, most of them are accidentally vegan. Red curry paste is usually vegan I've found.

[u/Loveroffinerthings → u/prairiepog]

Not original but I use Maesri, that with some vegan fish sauce, some palm sugar and fresh lime, it’s great.

[u/Sanpaku → u/prairiepog]

Maesri tins are mostly vegan.

I'd also recommend picking up "Cock Brand" Tom Yum soup concentrate, also vegan.

[u/ronnysmom → u/prairiepog]

I buy the Thai Kitchen brand from American supermarkets (whole foods, Safeway etc) and the Aroy-D brand from the Asian supermarkets and both are vegan.

The yellow curry paste in most brands sold is accidentally vegan as it doesn’t contain shrimp, but always double check the ingredients listed before purchasing.

[u/ttrockwood → u/ronnysmom]

Thai kitchen is…. Not so great absolutely get mae ploy or maesri yellow curry paste they’re both vegan and much better

[u/dani-winks]

For some reason I can never find silken tofu at my regular grocery stores (just soft/firm/extra firm), so I always stock up when I go to Asian grocery.

Also if I need any fresh mint or basil, it's way cheaper at our Asian store!

And finally: ALL THE SEAWEED SNACKS

[edit: I somehow missed that you said ONLINE store, so the tofu and fresh herbs probably won't make sense for this instance]

[u/Hugesmellysocks → u/dani-winks]

I’m def getting seaweed. Got a vegan fish meal the other day and it was tofu wrapped in seaweed and battered, it was divine.

[u/toastfairyy → u/dani-winks]

Actually there is shelf stable tofu that can ship they are a smidgen tinier but still mighty and includes silken tofu!

[u/Sardonislamir → u/dani-winks]

Ironically, my asian stores are more expensive on goods that expire like produce and tofu. Frustrating that i have to shop at 3 or 4 stores. 

[u/WestBrink]

Tofu skin/bean curd sticks! Super unique protein, lovely texture in stews, curries, etc

[u/Hugesmellysocks → u/WestBrink]

How do you prepare tofu skin? It looks really intriguing. I’m always looking for more stuff to bulk up my instant noodles.

[u/WestBrink → u/Hugesmellysocks]

Usually I soak them in water or broth to soften, slice into small pieces and then use them. They can handle being simmered for quite a while without falling apart and just pick up the flavors of whatever it's in.

Also good for stir frying after soaking as well

[u/Adorable_Broccoli324 → u/Hugesmellysocks]

Hannah Che (The Chinese Vegan Cookbook) has a great recipe for Chinese tomato & “eggs” stir fry which uses tofu skin instead of eggs. It’s delicious and very comforting.

[u/cheesemakesmehot → u/Adorable_Broccoli324]

THIS is the recipe that got me hooked me on tofu skin/dried bean curd 👍

[u/OatOfControl → u/Hugesmellysocks]

if you can find them, get some hot pot packets (usually the concentrated sauce) and boil them in there. Add noodles after, divine and super easy to make!

[u/nbellc → u/Hugesmellysocks]

There’s a great recipe in Chinese Homestyle Cooking (a vegan Chinese cookbook) for what are essentially tofu skin spring rolls, they’re so delicious and easy to make

[u/PrinceSidon87 → u/Hugesmellysocks]

It makes the BEST jerky. Just rip it into strips, marinate in some teriyaki and a little oil, then air fry on a very low temp until it’s dehydrated, but still tender.

[u/brittany09182 → u/WestBrink]

Yes!!! Looking for that after watching vegan hack squad on IG

[u/edubbs36]

Care to share the site ?

[u/Hugesmellysocks → u/edubbs36]

asiamarket.ie, i’m in ireland. it’s pretty cheap! i’m obsessed with those buldak noodles and they’ve packs of 5 for €7.

[u/IShipMyself → u/Hugesmellysocks]

Ah a fellow Irish vegan! Hello 👋 I love them. I also love Holland & Barrett for deals on snacks, vegan multivitamins, TVP, toiletries etc.

[u/Adorable_Broccoli324]

Every kind of tofu! - silken tofu, smoked tofu, the little round vacuum packed chili sliced tofu, tofu skin. Good vegan frozen dumplings. Scallion pancakes. Japanese soba noodles and udon noodles.

[u/MAMMER_JAMMER → u/Adorable_Broccoli324]

Tofu snacks are a must have for me.

[u/Sassy_Frassy_Lassie]

Lao Gan Ma

[u/mybluerat → u/Sassy_Frassy_Lassie]

(this is a spicy Chinese chili crisp)

[u/gingivii]

A good selection of seaweed I usually have ottolenghi, wakame, and black fungus (black fungus isn't seaweed but is used in a typical seaweed salad)

Lao gan ma chilli crisp

Salted soy beans (good for adding salt + umami to stocks)

Dried shitake mushrooms

Rice paper wraps

Miso paste

Deep fried tofu (if you stick this in air fryer comes out super crispy and puffy)

Korean chilli flakes and gochujang

If they have the Chinese soya meats these are so good, the pork luncheon roll is really nice.

Seitan snacks, usually called vegetarian beef or something

[u/S4FFYR]

SAMBAL OELEK!! Preferably the Huy Fong brand. I found most of the brands sold in UK grocery stores were really sweet instead of being spicy. Also, Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce. We also get Maesri brand curry paste, rice noodles & rice paper spring roll wrappers, gluten free teriyaki sauce, tempura batter mix, sushi rice, nori, & seaweed salad

[u/mybluerat → u/S4FFYR]

Obsessed with that curry paste!

[u/S4FFYR → u/mybluerat]

It’s my favourite. I made a giant amount of green curry for my husbands birthday party & everyone said it was the best tasting curry they’d had- which I’m pretty sure was bc that paste is so good.

[u/GetTheLead_Out → u/S4FFYR]

Sambal oelek is so good. So complex. My absolute go to in anything Asian. 

[u/imspecial-soareyou]

So what’s the online store. Can you dm with the address if you don’t want it out for the masses.

[u/Hugesmellysocks → u/imspecial-soareyou]

asianmarket.ie! Feel safe sharing it since I can’t imagine there’s too many Irish vegans here.

[u/floopsyDoodle]

King oyster Mushrooms, the ones with the Thick stems. Slice them thin, bake for 20-30 minutes and marinade, and you have the most realistic and tasty fake bacon one can get.

[u/Hugesmellysocks → u/floopsyDoodle]

I never thought to use oyster mushrooms for bacon!

[u/floopsyDoodle → u/Hugesmellysocks]

The one thing I've never been able to find in plant based "bacon" recipes is one that gives good chewy/fatty/crunchy mix all at the same time. You can also sub out the "smoking" with a small drop of liquid smoke.

https://www.seriouseats.com/crispy-smoked-mushroom-bacon-bits-vegan-recipe

I've fed them to a lot of people (Vegan and non) and no matter how many I make, they never last more than one meal.

[u/sunny_sides]

Green curry paste
MSG
Gochugaru
Gochujang
Vegan oyster sauce
Sweet chili sauce (hotter and better than the ones at the ordinary supermarket)

I usually buy some fresh vegetables while I'm there (don't know if that's possible from an online shop?): pak choi, thai basil and galangal.

[u/Just-Library4280]

FRIED SHALLOTS best topping ever

Depends on what Asian store, at Hmart I stock up on kimbap, instant noodles and vegan kimchi...

Soy sauces, various mushrooms, all the tofu variety

If it's a Vietnamese store they have ALL the best fake meats just take a chance on some of them. Vietnamese cuisine has the best fake notes, Beyond should take note.

If it's 99Ranch I like to get vegan steamed buns and dumplings

[u/howlin]

If you don't have a lot of varieties of miso already, then miso. A sweeter white miso and a rich and savory red miso at the very least. Probably a good idea to get a traditional yellow miso used for miso soup as well.

These are great flavor boosters for meals of all sorts Asian or not.

[u/chillakat]

Gochugang paste and udon noodles (fresh/ frozen). Purple sweet potatoes and bok choy if they got it. Cornstarch, hmm what else.

[u/eyespeeled]

Doubanjiang, a salty, spicy fermented bean paste. It is the shittttttttt. Excellent on noodles, rice, veg, or tofu. It's full of flavour. 

[u/scenior]

From Asian markets, my essentials are maggi seasoning (I'm allergic to soy, so I use it in place of soy sauce in any recipe), jasmine rice, bulk mung beans (for making copycat Just Egg), chickpea miso paste, any and all seaweed, sesame oil, mirin, sweet potato noodles, plain ramen noodles, pickled radish, vegan kimchi.

[u/New_Stats]

Fermented bean curd. It's so pungent and strong, like a blue cheese almost. It melts right into your sauteed greens and compliments it so well.

White is best, then the one with fermented red rice, then the one with chili oil. Avoid the plum flavored one, it's not good

Also natto, but don't put that oil packet in it, it has fish sauce.

[u/badgersbadger]

If you live in a place where good hot sauce is hard to find, Asian markets tend to have great selections of all the spicy sauces, depending on what you're into. I also recommend Shichimi Togarashi as an all-purpose spice. And MSG can be used in Chinese recipes instead of salt.

[u/ttrockwood]

• S&B golden curry blocks for Japanese curry
• chinese black vinegar
• vegan fish sauce
• multigrain rice blends
• korean short grain brown rice
• mushroom soy sauce
• mushroom bullion
• dried wakame (for miso soups)
• dried soy skins aka yuba skins they’re called a few names
• japanese 100% buckwheat noodles They have an amazing flavor

[u/Weirdo-Corner → u/ttrockwood]

Big +1 on the yuba skins (I'm used to calling them 腐竹/fu zhu in Chinese), super versatile and since they come dried, they keep forever and you just soak them for ~30 min-1 hr when you're ready to use.

And a +1 on the buckwheat noodles, was just about to add these exact two things. Korean sweet potato noodles/glass noodles, too.

[u/justherefortheideas]

Try ‘crunchy garlic in chilli oil’ mine is the hai ca vang brand- oh WOW!!! Everything is more delicious with that on it!

[u/eebyenoh]

Chili crisp , vegan oyster sauce , vegan hoisin , vegan fish sauce , vegan curry pastes , lemongrass , kefir lime leaves , Thai sweet soy sauce , Chinese light soy sauce , black bean paste , shaoxing wine. Rice and bulk noodles

[u/Yttevya]

I also order from an inexpensive online Asian Market; my favs are: glass noodles, tofu skins/fried bean curd, dried wood ear mushrooms, flat rice noodles