I've never been grocery shopping with my grandmother, though I imagine such an experience would provide innumerable perks.
Aside from helping me pick out the best green papayas for her atchara recipe, or perhaps telling me straighaway which Filipino vinegar is best for any particular dish, my grandmother would be indispensible in proving my ethnicity to doubtful fishmongers at the Asian market.
Alas, my grandmother lives 4 hours away from me, so my excursions to the market (like most everyone I'm sure) are always grandma-less.
But thanks to Asian Ingredients 101, an iPhone app created by cookbook author, Pat Tanumihardja, you can now have a robot Asian grandma in your pocket!
Asian Ingredients 101 is a comprehensive guide to East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian ingredients at your fingertips. Whether you are shopping at an Asian market or traveling in Asia, this app will help you to identify close to 100 ingredients ranging from spices to herbs to sauces using color photographs as well as their common names in different languages. It also tells you where to find the ingredients at the market (i.e. frozen or dried goods section) and offers little tidbits on selection and preparation.
Oh, that's what oyster sauce is for! Thanks Robot Grandma!
Pat's an old friend of mine, and is the author of The Asian Grandmother's Cookbook, so I can vouch for how cool this app is. And luckily for you, dear readers, Pat has provided me with three (3) promo codes that will enable three of my lucky readers to download her app for free.
For a chance to win a free download of Asian Ingredients 101, just leave a comment telling me what your favorite Asian ingredient is. I'll then randomly choose three winners who will each recieve a free download.
All comments for this post will be accepted as entry for the giveaway and this contest will end on Sunday January 16, 2011 at 11:59 PM Pacific time. I'll randomly select three winners and announce the winner later that week.
I think my favorite asian ingredient is Calamansi. The Filipino citrus. There is no clear substitute, "kinda tastes like. . ." doesn't cut it for me. I am not sure if any other Asian country uses it, now that I think about it. I can't imagine that it's too well known. Nothing like it!
Posted by: Linda M | January 10, 2011 at 04:59 PM
I love all sorts of Asian ingredients from fish sauce to natto, but more than that I love learning about what I haven't tried yet.
Posted by: Hannah | January 10, 2011 at 05:05 PM
Cool idea for an app - coconut (more specifically coconut milk) is my jam, since it can go both savory (laing, adobo) or sweet (every pinoy dessert, basically).
In other news, glad to see you still posting! Hope the Machine's going well-
Posted by: Chris C | January 10, 2011 at 05:06 PM
Mine has to be ube.
Posted by: Chris L | January 10, 2011 at 05:08 PM
I ♥ coconut milk! mmmmmmm (drool)
Posted by: Chelsie H | January 10, 2011 at 05:11 PM
Wonderful giveaway. My favorite would be wasabi.
Posted by: Nisrine | Dinners & Dreams | January 10, 2011 at 05:21 PM
It's so hard to choose just one! I've been all about fresh coconut lately but if I had to get down to the most basic, then I have to give it to RICE. Yes, many will argue that it's not solely Asian but after moving back to Manila, my rice experience has greatly expanded as I learn more about how this marvelous foodstuff is used for everything from condiment (buro) to main (paella valenciana) to dessert (biko!) and so much more in between. Then there are all the varieties...Is there an app for that?
Posted by: Tangled Noodle | January 10, 2011 at 05:28 PM
Just one favourite? Hmm... macapuno is usually at the top of my list, but so is patis :)
Posted by: Rochelle | January 10, 2011 at 05:34 PM
my favorite asian ingredient is ginger!
Posted by: Carmel | January 10, 2011 at 05:37 PM
make mine fish sauce.
Posted by: Mark Argent | January 10, 2011 at 05:40 PM
Mine would have to be lemongrass - so very useful and aromatic.
Posted by: Ed | January 10, 2011 at 05:55 PM
The one ingredient, I think, that identifies Asian cooking and is pretty much a staple ingredient in almost all Asian recipes is soy sauce!!!
Posted by: Harvey Bringas | January 10, 2011 at 06:14 PM
Bagoong alamang (rocks in kare-kare).
Posted by: Row | January 10, 2011 at 06:15 PM
Since someone else has already nominated rice, then I would have nominate soy sauce! Kikkoman original soy sauce and kecap manis are my most used soy sauces, though I also have tamari and dark soy sauce when I need an extra flavour boost.
Posted by: Sefie | January 10, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Fish Sauce. I love it in everything from hamburgers to pasta sauce.
Posted by: ladywild | January 10, 2011 at 06:24 PM
jasmine rice. or spam :)
Posted by: kimberly | January 10, 2011 at 06:34 PM
ok, this is admitting the deep dark truth. . .I love MSG! (haven't had it in the spice shelf since I was a kid), wouldn't dream of buying it as an adult, but I loved that junk more than salt. otherwise, Bagoong baby!
Posted by: Ning Ning | January 10, 2011 at 06:42 PM
Maggi seasoning is a favorite for me.
Posted by: Mysticcher | January 10, 2011 at 06:58 PM
Have to go with Rice. You can have it at any meal; it can be savory or sweet; it kicks butt when partnered with everything from kare-kare to ice cream! Rice is the ultimate asian ingredient!
Posted by: Jessica | January 10, 2011 at 07:22 PM
Fish sauce! I'm a Fil-Am married to a Viet guy so you know we've always got a bottle in the house. Since I tend to make more Vietnamese than Filipino food these days, the beloved Rufina patis of my childhood has been replaced by Viet Huong nuoc mam.
Posted by: Michelle | January 10, 2011 at 07:47 PM
current fave would have to be sriracha! even adds a nice kick to adobo (sacrilege I know...)
Posted by: Marie | January 10, 2011 at 08:06 PM
GINGER!
I love it in stir fry's, fried rice, arroz caldo and just about on anything. It adds such a mild kick like no other!
Posted by: Claudia MM | January 10, 2011 at 09:13 PM
Garlic- although it's an international ingredient. Can't think of my favorite food without it-chicken adobo, fried rice, pancit canton! Buko and juicy, sweet mangos are my favs on sweet dishes !
Posted by: Christie | January 11, 2011 at 02:19 AM
Free?!? Fuck that! I'm buying it right now! Awesome apps and awesome app authors deserve to be awarded.
I agree with Linda that calamansi is awesome. I just came across it for the first time (just as juice) and it blew my mind. But garlic is my staple cooking pretty much any cuisine, east or west.
P.S. I can't wait to hunt down your truck next time I'm in SoCal.
Posted by: Ryan | January 11, 2011 at 02:33 AM
Sinamak (spiced coconut vinegar) local to the province of Iloilo in the Philippines
Posted by: macky | January 11, 2011 at 06:43 AM
Since I'm a condiment queen, it would probably come down to simple ol' soy sauce. My husband makes some mean Chinese food while I use it for everything Filipino. And, I'll admit, white rice isn't the same without it!
Posted by: Lorena | January 11, 2011 at 08:39 AM
Fish Sauce. UMAMI in a bottle!!
Posted by: deevee | January 11, 2011 at 12:09 PM
Soy sauce! Soy sauce enhances the flavor on almost anything.
Posted by: jae_em | January 11, 2011 at 03:28 PM
Eggplant!
Posted by: zeeamie | January 11, 2011 at 10:54 PM
oo tough choice. there's so many. i'll say fish sauce!
Posted by: Cindy Waffles | January 12, 2011 at 05:34 AM
Calamansi, definitely. But around here, you have to grow your own if you want fresh calamansi! My potted tree, Chloe, is hanging in there. How is Kal? ; )
Posted by: manju | January 12, 2011 at 06:27 AM
asian ingredient? of course it would be soy sauce :D
Posted by: Marj | January 12, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Garlic and patis
Posted by: Jess @ B-more Balanced | January 12, 2011 at 12:43 PM
That is so cool. My favorite has to be patis. I use it in almost everything.
Posted by: Joy | January 13, 2011 at 07:34 AM
It's gotta be Patis! Fish Sauce adds to dishes like no other ingredient!
Posted by: Alan T | January 13, 2011 at 12:45 PM
It's taba ng talangka!
Posted by: Kaffirgirl | January 13, 2011 at 11:32 PM
I just came across your blog after visiting the Philippines! I am so excited to follow your food truck and try your food!
Ginger happens to be my favorite ingredient; the sweet, bitter distinct taste adds real excitement to a dish! Fresh is the only way to go when a recipe calls for ginger :)
Posted by: Ashley-FunAsWeGo | January 13, 2011 at 11:46 PM
Saging na Saba (Philippine Plantains) would have to be mine...
Posted by: The Beancounter | January 14, 2011 at 05:07 AM
patis!! lends everything that filipino je ne sais quoi...
Posted by: jo | January 14, 2011 at 01:09 PM
Low-sodium soy sauce for me!
Posted by: Dee | January 14, 2011 at 06:45 PM
Wow! Watched you on a TV program here in the Philippines. They featured your blog. :)
Posted by: eight | January 15, 2011 at 05:52 AM
Adobo! :)
Posted by: eight | January 15, 2011 at 07:06 AM
patis! :) heeheehee.
Posted by: eight | January 15, 2011 at 07:08 AM
Favorite asian ingredient: soy sauce
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 15, 2011 at 09:05 AM
Fish Sauce makes everything better, but I have to say my FAVE, the one I grab whenever I can find it, is Galangal. MMMMM
Posted by: Jerry Shaheen | January 15, 2011 at 10:19 AM
lime leaves! I just wish they were easier to find!
Posted by: Veronica V-V | January 15, 2011 at 12:28 PM
My favorite is the little dried shrimp. I love to eat them as is, as well as in my mom's yummy papaya salad! YUMMY!
Posted by: Joan | January 15, 2011 at 01:00 PM
This app looks like a fantastic idea as I get really confused when shopping for Asian ingredients. I have lots and lots of favourites. My latest is a Phillipino coconut wine vinegar. It is very tasty and super hot. The lady in the shop recommended it to me and explained how it is collected and prepared.
Posted by: Trix | January 15, 2011 at 05:21 PM
One of my favorite Asian ingredients is Maggi sauce! As a kid, I loved using it as a dip for fried chicken and pork chops and because of that, it holds a special place in my heart.
Posted by: Sheila | January 15, 2011 at 11:29 PM
gosh....i can't decide between coconut vinegar which is a favorite dipping sauce since childhood and lemongrass with its "clean" and refreshing flavor that always elevate my mood whenever i have it. whether its in my soup, marinade or as a refreshment...
Posted by: lynette | January 16, 2011 at 01:03 AM
mine is fish sauce
Posted by: Roga | January 16, 2011 at 04:54 AM
Every family should have at least one Asian robot grandma.
Posted by: Little Spoon | January 16, 2011 at 09:43 AM