description

Young fresh ginger has thin, almost transparent skin with a gentle taste. It does not need to be peeled before using in gin thote. Older ginger tend to be fibrous and need to be shredded finely before adding to curries or stir-fries. It is commonly used to help deodorise the strong smell of fish or meat.

Look for firm, smooth skin without discolouration when buying ginger. It can be stored wrapped in kitchen towel or in a plastic bag and kept in the fridge for a few weeks.

substitutes

None

availability

Supermarkets, Asian stores

related recipes

Ginger salad, Sticky rice with chicken, Slow-cooked pork belly, Festive duck noodle soup

description

Gourds are fruits produced by a vigorous climbing vine. There are many varieties producing fruits of different shapes and sizes. Bottle gourd is known as budhi in Burma, a light green coloured fruit, its texture firmer than a marrow. It is made into crispy fritters and eaten with Mohingar or made into budhi hincho, a clear soup served with meals.

substitutes

Marrow or courgette/zucchini

availability

Asian stores

related recipes

Chicken with gourd, Clear gourd soup, Crispy fritter batter, Pork ribs & gourd

description

Also known as chana flour, it is made from ground chana dal. It is pale yellow with an earthy flavour used to make Shan tofu.

substitutes

Chickpea flour

availability

Asian stores

related recipes

Shan tofu salad

description

Jack fruits are large oval-shaped fruits with a spiny skin. The flesh of the jack fruit is ripe when the numerous bulbs turn golden yellow. They have a lovely honey sweet flavour. Unripe jack fruits are added to curries or pickled.

substitutes

Canned jackfruit

availability

Asian stores

description

It gives a refreshing flavour to dishes without overpowering them. Peel off one or two layers of the woody exterior and start chopping from the bulb end. When you see the colour change in the middle that is a good sign to stop. The stalk end can be rather tough but can be used to infuse stock or soup.

substitutes

None

availability

Supermarkets, Asian stores

related recipes

Chicken with gourd, Marinated pork skewers, Tamarind duck, Traditional fish noodles soup, Orange & lemon grass pudding

description

Red lentils have a mild, earthy flavour that work well with strong spices. Unlike dried beans or peas, they do not require pre-soaking and cooks quickly. Remember to add salt only once it is cooked otherwise the lentils tend to soften more slowly.

substitutes

Yellow or green lentils

availability

Supermarkets, Asian stores

related recipes

Red lentil soup

description

Also known as golden needles, these dried unopened daylily buds are pale yellow in colour and have a delicate flavour. They require soaking in warm water before use. The buds are tied in knots which gives them a good chewy texture.

substitutes

None

availability

Asian stores

related recipes

Cellophane noodle soup

description

This is the root of a water lily. When the skin is peeled, the flesh is creamy white with a crisp texture and a slightly sweet taste. If it is not available fresh, you may find canned version.

substitutes

Water chestnut

availability

Asian stores

related recipes

Lotus root & pork rib soup

description

Baskets full of lotus pods are sold on the streets of Rangoon. A popular snack, the seeds are removed from the pod, then peeled and eaten fresh. If you have never eaten lotus seeds, it is quite similar to eating fresh boiled soy beans.

substitutes

Soy beans

availability

Asian stores