Basic Japanese Food Ingredients


Canned & Dry Vegetables

konnyaku (devil's-tongue cake, from Taro family)
shirataki (devil's-tongue threads)
takenoko [canned] (bamboo shoot)
renkon (lotus root)
tsukemono (pickles)
    umeboshi (salted sour plum)
    takuan [package] (daikon radish colored yellow with turmeric)
    gari [jars] (ginger)
dried shiitake mushroom
nameko mushroom [cans] [packages]
ginnan (ginkgo nut)
takano tjume or togarashi (small red peppers)

Grains & Noodles

kome [packages] (Japanese Rrce)
udon [package] (thick noodles)
hiyamugi [package] (thin noodles)
somen [package] (thin wheat noodles)
harusame [package] (cellophane noodles)
fu (wheat gluten products)

Sea Flora & Fauna

kombu (dried kelp)
katsuobushi (dried bonito)
nori [package] (dried laver or algae)
aonori (powdered nori)
wakame [package] (dried seaweed)
uni (sea urchin roe)

Liquids

goma-abura (sesame seed oil)
sake (rice wine)
mirin (sweet rice wine)
su (rice vinegar)
sushi su (seasoned rice vinegar)
shoyu [bottles] (all-purpose soy sauce)

Seasonings

cornstarch
aji-no-moto [bottle] (MSG)
sugar
karashi (mustard powder)
kona sansho (Japanese pepper)
shichimi togarashi [bottle] (seven-pepper spice)
nanami togarashi (assorted chili pepper)

Perishables

goma (Sesame seeds)
aka miso [package] (red bean paste)
shiro miso [jar] (white bean paste)
shoga (ginger root)
tofu [package] (soybean curd)
daikon (white radish)
ninjin (carrot)
kyuuri (Japanese cucumber)
gobo (burdock root)
matsutake mushroom
enokitake mushroom
sansho (Japanese pepper leaf)
kuri (chestnut)
hakusai (Chinese cabbage)
negi (scallion)
kabu (turnip)
nasu (eggplant)
ingen-mame (string beans)
horenso (spinach)
kabocha (pumpkin)
serori (celery)

Cooking Tools

miso strainer
suribachi (serrated mortar & pestle)
sushi sudare (bambo sushi mat)