While fresh ingredients are integral in Asian cooking, do not despair if they are not easily available at the local grocery store. Many fresh herbs and spices have dried counterparts or other substitutions to help prepare authentic Asian recipes.
When looking for ingredients to have on hand for recipes from regions like Vietnam, consider these popular items:
Fresh Lemongrass
Lemongrass is seen in many Asian recipes from Vietnam, Thailand, and even some Chinese recipes. It imparts a tangy flavor and slight lemon fragrance in dishes such as curries, soups, and marinades.
The leaves of lemon grass are fibrous and often used to flavor soups or curries when cooking, but not eaten. When used in marinades and sauces, the yellow and more bulbous part is bruised, minced, or grated.
If fresh lemon grass is not available in the vegetable and herb section of the grocery store, consider checking the ethnic foods aisle for a dried version. Although not as fragrant as fresh lemongrass, it is an acceptable substitute rather than doing without.
Bird's Eye Chili Peppers
Used often in Vietnamese recipes, bird's eye chili peppers definitely crank up the heat on any dish. Be warned though, the small white specks are the seeds and each one packs some serious heat. The Scoville Scale puts these little red peppers between 100,000 - 225,000 heat units (right in the range of a Habanero), whereas a Serrano pepper only ranks 6,000 - 23,000.
If bird's eye chili peppers are unavailable or too hot for some palates, consider substituting another small red pepper, like the Thai chili. If that is still too hot, consider the mild Serrano or Jalapeno pepper.
Round Rice Papers
These are one of the most important staples in Vietnamese cooking. Round rice papers are found in the ethnic foods aisle and are basically hard white discs in plastic packages. When immersed in water, rice papers become soft and pliable; however, they still require a delicate touch when wrapping as the texture is rather sticky, much like plastic wrap.
Round rice papers are used in various spring roll recipes and work well for deep frying as well. These should be easy to find in most grocery stores; but consider using spring roll paper if the round rice papers are unavailable.
Vietnamese Fish Sauce
Although similar to Thai fish sauce, the Vietnamese version has a different and more distinct taste. Typical Thai fish sauce is more salty, while the Vietnamese one is more tangy. Thai fish sauce is typically easier to find in western grocery stores and can be a viable substitute if necessary.
Either version of fish sauce is going to have a strong odor and should be added to any dish in small amounts, adjusting to taste. For those concerned about a strong flavor, fish sauce can be tempered with ingredients like lime juice, sugar, and even a little vinegar.
Rice Noodles and Vermicelli
Noodles are a traditional staple in almost every type of Asian cuisine, and Vietnamese dishes are no exception. Items like rice vermicelli and thin flat rice noodles are good items to keep on hand.
Both of these are typically available in fresh and dried versions, with the dried versions being easier to use. Fresh Asian noodles tend to take some familiar skill when cooking, otherwise they can easily disintegrate if overcooked.
Obviously there are many more staple ingredients utilized in Vietnamese cuisine, but having these on hand can ease the shopping process when searching for a weeknight Asian dinner recipe.
Erin De Santiago - Erin is a freelance travel, food/wine, & Disney writer in Taipei, Taiwan, who has traveled within 40+ different countries to date.
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