5 minutes before preparing. Canned bamboo shoots are available at most grocery stores, however, Chinese grocery stores often carry the fresh shoots packed in plastic pouches.
Crab sticks are long, narrow cylinders of compressed seafood that are intended as an inexpensive substitute to king crab legs. Sold in larger supermarkets and Japanese fish stores.
Daikon is a large white radish often eaten raw—sliced or grated—with sashimi and tempura. It is also pickled and sold in jars. Daikon is readily available in most supermarkets.
Dashi stock is the basic Japanese fish broth made from water, konbu (dried kelp) and dried bonito flakes; it is also available in an instant version in packets. This is very useful when a small amount of stock is required for sauces and as a seasoning.
Dried bonito flakes (katsuo bushi) are sold in plastic packs in Asian food stores; larger flakes are used to make Basic Dashi Soup Stock (page 12) whereas the finer ones are used as a garnish.
Fish sauce is a fermented fish product made by layering fish and salt in large jars and then siphoning off the liquid. It is sold bottled and is a common seasoning in Thai and Vietnamese food.
Furikake is a topping for rice dishes; it comprises toasted seaweed, sesame seeds, ground dried fish and salt.
Ginger is widely used in Japanese recipes. Fresh ginger is always used instead of ground ginger, which has a very different taste. Young ginger is preferred as it is more tender and juicy. Pickled Ginger (page 46) is a popular accompaniment to sushi and sashimi.
Glutinous rice is a variety of rice that becomes very sticky when cooked. Mainly used in snacks, sweets and desserts. This rice must be washed thoroughly and soaked overnight before steaming. Also available as finely milled glutinous rice flour.
Green tea powder (matcha) is readily available from Asian food stores. It is great for making Quick Green Tea Ice Cream (page 94).
Japanese cucumbers are small and do not have the coarse seeds or high water content of Western cucumbers. Substitute baby cucumbers or pickling gherkins.
Kanpyo are long, thin, dried gourd strips used in sushi and slow-cooked dishes; also for tying food together.
Konbu is a dried kelp in the form of flat black sheets with white powder on the surface, used to flavor Sushi Rice (page 44) and Basic Dashi Soup Stock (page 12). The kelp’s flavor infuses quickly in water, so do not wash it before cooking—just wipe to remove any dust or powder. Konbu is often removed before a dish is served.
Lotus roots are the thick tubers of the aquatic lotus plant. It has a crunchy, powdery taste in its raw form. It is sold either covered in mud in the vegetable section, or cleaned and wrapped in plastic packets in the refrigerator section of the supermarket. A good substitute is jicama or cauliflower.
Mirin is a sweet cooking wine made by mixing steamed glutinous rice with distilled spirits and sugar. The resulting liquid contains 12% to 14% alcohol. Avoid products labeled “aji-mirin” as they are a MSG-flavored version.
Miso is an important seasoning in Japan—a fermented paste made from soybeans and rice, wheat or barley. It is available in various colors and flavors, but the most common are red and white misos, which are used in miso soups. Readily available in Asian food stores.
Nori refers to the dried leaves of a seaweed called laver, and is generally sold in 8 x 7-in (20 x 17 cm) sheets and used for wrapping sushi or cut into strips as a garnish. Nori is best toasted to make it crisp and fragrant (see instructions on page 66). Also sold pretoasted and packed flat in bags.
Palm sugar varies in color from gold to dark brown and is made from the sap of the coconut or aren palm. It has a rich flavor similar to dark brown sugar, molasses or maple syrup, all of which make good substitutes. Available in Asian food stores in plastic containers or packets.
Ponzu is a dressing made from citrus juice (lemon, lime or orange) mixed with soy, sugar and vinegar. Available bottled but you can also make your own using the recipe on page 11.
Prepared Japanese mustard is similar to English mustard, but hotter—it is a blend of ground mustard seeds without flour. It can be purchased in powdered form in small cans or as a ready-to-use paste in tubes.
Red beans (azuki) are small, red and oval in shape with a light, nutty flavor and a fairly thin skin. They are used to make red rice for auspicious occasions, or boiled and sweetened to make a sweet bean paste, which is the base for many Japanese desserts. Sold dried or as a sweetened paste in cans.
Rice vinegar is a light, mildly tangy vinegar brewed from rice. Its color varies from almost white to pale gold.
Saké is a brewed Japanese rice wine. Chinese rice wine or dry sherry may be substituted.
Sansho pepper is made from the ground seeds of the Japanese prickly ash plant. Available in small glass bottles in Asian food stores, it gives a hot flavor to fatty foods such as eel. Substitute dried Sichuan pepper or ground red cayenne pepper.
Sesame oil should be used sparingly as a seasoning and not for frying. It has a rich nutty flavor and fragrance. Available in most grocery stores. Japanese sesame oil is milder than Chinese, so when using the latter, you may want to dilute it with a bit of vegetable oil.
Sesame paste is made from toasted sesame seeds that are ground up like peanut butter, but unsweetened. Commonly available in Asian food stores. Substitute tahini or make your own by pan-roasting and then grinding the seeds in a food processor.
Sesame salt (goma shio) is a mixture of toasted black sesame seeds (either whole or ground) and salt, and is a popular Japanese condiment.
Sesame seeds are available either white or black and are often pan-roasted (page 33) and sprinkled over cooked foods for added flavor.
Seven-spice chili mix is a potent blend of ground chili with other seasonings such as mustard, sansho pepper, black sesame and poppy seeds. It is often sprinkled on noodles, grilled items and one-pot dishes.
Shiitake mushrooms, also known as Chinese black mushrooms, are sold fresh or dried. They have a dark brown outer skin, a beige inner flesh, and a slightly woody flavor. Dried shiitakes can be substituted for fresh ones; soak for 10 to 15 minutes in hot water until tender, then drain. Discard the stems.
Shirataki noodles are thin strings of konnyaku, a glutinous paste obtained from the starchy elephant foot plant. They are eaten in sukiyaki and other
