Shopping Cart: Stocking an Asian Pantry
When I first moved to Rome, one of the first things I did was Google “Asian grocery store”.
Italians are famous for being strongly preferential to their own cuisine - and who can blame them? Italian food is diverse, delicious and ingredients are usually very fresh. There are usually small sections in the supermarkets for “ethnic items” which usually consists of random Tex-mex, Caesar salad dressing, overpriced ramen and soy sauce. So to Italy’s credit, there is a section! Just don’t expect to find it all at Conad/Carrefour/Co-op.
I don’t make Asian food every day, its about 50/50 in my kitchen. At first, I was worried I wouldn’t find ingredients, but with a large Chinese and Bangladeshi diaspora, it was surprisingly easy to find stores and markets for what I call my Asian Survival Pantry. I like to keep a variety of base ingredients things that allow me to mix and match. For me its not about buying ingredients for only one dish, but a plethora of different things from different cuisines. This is “my essential list” below.
Black Bean Garlic Sauce: a little goes a long way! At the end of a stir fry this sauce is a full punch of joy
Chili Paste: this is a great ingredient for soups, sauces, or just as a dip for dumplings
Curry Paste: I usually stick to the red and green paste. These usually come in plastic tubs from Thailand or in packets. I don’t make my own for the simple fact that I don’t have fresh lemongrass or a mortar and pestle handy. Semi-homemade is fine folks!
Coconut Milk: this goes well in curry, but is also a dream to use in steamed rice. I like Aroy-D brand as it is available in smaller portions.
Dark Soy Sauce: this ingredient is the “umami” flavor in many a dish - it already has a bit of molasses and salt and is great in sauces and marinades
Fresh Garlic and Ginger
Mirin: this is a rice based seasoning used in Japanese cooking. I use it in sauces and marinades.
Miso Paste: can be used for soup, but also a great add in for the “umami” flavor in sauces
Noodles: I keep different varieties of Ramen, egg noodles and rice vermicelli
Oyster sauce: this is a salty and slightly sweet, thicker sauce that goes well in stir-fry dishes and on grilled seafood. Its not as sweet or as thick as Hoisin sauce.
Sesame Seeds: just put them on everything and life substantially improves
Sesame Oil: this fragrant oil can really elevate a dish. I like to use Kadoya.
Rice Wine Vinegar: this is used in sushi rice and added to different sauces
Rice: I like to use Jasmine Rice, and this tends to be much cheaper in Chinatown vs. the grocery store
Turmeric/Curcuma: useful for different curries and for chicken satay(yum!)
Vegetables: not shelf-stable, but I do like to use Japanese eggplant, bean sprouts, bok choi and snow peas when available
And where to buy all this fun stuff? These are my favorite spots:
Castroni: This Roman gourmet grocery chain has food from around the world. The quality of the ingredients they stock is top-notch. It is not the cheapest option but it is a one stop shop. The largest selection of Asian grocery is found at the historic Cola di Rienzo location. They have everything from Thai, Japanese, Malaysian and Chinese products (they also have an extensive collection of cute Japanese plates and bowls from which I have to restrain myself each time I go. Tea cups with cats?!?! Focus…)
Asia Supermarket: Located on Via Ricasoli, 20 this shop has a bit of everything from the list above and then some. Lots of Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Thai and some Indian products.
Pacific Trading: Located on Via Principe Eugenio, 17/19, this shop has a very good selection of Korean, Chinese and Japanese food. The freezer section here is very well stocked with seafood, dumplings and even whole ducks. There is a selection of inexpensive kitchen tools and occasion, live seafood(!)
Korean Market: Located on Via Cavour 84. If you have a hankering for gochujang, bulgogi marinade or kimchee, this is your place.
Nuovo Mercato Esquilino: Located at Via Filippo Turati, 160 and just around the bend from Asia Supermarket and Pacific Trading. This is a big active market! Loads of stalls selling fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, nuts, and spices. Largely cash based - but prices are very low here for fruit and vegetables. It can get quite congested, so go early if you want to avoid the masses. The neighborhood can feel a bit dodgy. I’ve never had any issues in the area, but just be aware of your surroundings.