Your Essential Shopping List for Cooking Hawaiian Food at Home
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If you’re hoping to start cooking Hawaiian food at home, there’s a solid chance you have most of the stuff you need already on hand. Most ingredients can be found in a well-stocked grocery store, with likely just a few items requiring a trip to your nearest Asian market. You can also turn to the internet or online Hawai‘i food retailers like snackhawaii.com or onlyfromhawaii.com .
1. Hawaiian Sea Salt
Most of the “Hawaiian” brands of ‘alaea (red salt) you’ll see sold on the mainland are actually processed California sea salts colored with clay powder. Traditional ‘alaea made by native Hawaiian artisans is very expensive to produce and rarely leaves the islands. That said, there are certain brands of commercially produced ‘alaea brands that are very nostalgic for locals, like Hawaiian Pa‘akai Inc., which is sold online. Feel free to use it when making traditional dishes like poke and laulau. Otherwise, substitute kosher salt instead.
Buy: Hawaiian Sea Salt , $17
2. Soy Sauce
Hawai‘i calls soy sauce shoyu, which is the Japanese word for soy sauce. Aloha brand shoyu, which is brewed on O‘ahu, is a smooth and mild soy sauce that will work for all occasions. If you’re unable to find Aloha, I recommend using Yamasa , or if you can’t find that, Kikkoman , as they are both made in the mellower, rounder Japanese style. Some locals even mix Kikkoman with a tiny splash of sugar water to mimic the softer taste of Aloha, but I’ll leave that to your discretion. If you’re looking to make a dish gluten-free or gluten-reduced, use tamari soy sauce (which is made without wheat, just soybeans), a style of shoyu that is bolder in flavor.
Buy: Aloha Original Blend Soy Sauce , $2
3. Toasted Sesame Oil
Nutty and dark in color, a little amount of sesame oil delivers a lot of flavor. Try it in my one-pot chicken hekka .
Buy: Ottogi Premium Roasted Sesame Oil , $12
4. Mirin
Mirin is a sweet Japanese cooking wine that is a little lower in alcohol and higher in sugar than sake. It’s often used to add a particular mellow-sweet flavor to Japanese sauces, dressings, and marinades.
Buy: Eden Mirin , $19
5. Dried Shiitake Mushrooms
Not only do dried shiitakes last a long time in your pantry, but they also have a more concentrated flavor than the fresh ones. Soak them in hot water until rehydrated, then slice the caps and use as needed. And don’t dump the soaking water — it’s got good flavor that’s a great addition to sauces and stocks.
Buy: Dried Mushrooms , $20
6. Dried Cellophane or Glass Noodles
Also known as bean threads, mung bean noodles, or long rice (what they’re called in Hawai‘i), these translucent noodles are usually made from various types of starches like mung bean, tapioca, or arrowroot. They need to be soaked in warm water before using, but not for very long — just until they untangle and soften a bit.
Buy: Long Rice , $1
7. ‘Inamona
‘Inamona is roasted and crushed kukui nut (candlenut) that’s often used as a condiment, particularly in poke. A few online retailers sell it, but you can also substitute crushed macadamia nuts.
Buy: Inamona Roasted Kukui Nuts , $23
8. Ogo
Ogo is a type of limu (seaweed) known by its brownish-red color and lacy appearance. It’s most commonly added to poke or salads, but its fresh oceanic flavor and crisp texture make it great in sauces and pesto, too. Fresh or frozen ogo is rare on the mainland, so I would suggest ordering dried ogo and rehydrating it according to the package instructions. If you’re unable to find ogo of any kind, the closest substitute would be dried wakame or hijiki seaweed, soaked in water until tender.
Buy: Hawaiian Dried Ogo , $13
9. Kamaboko
Kamaboko is a style of Japanese fish cake that’s either sold in pink and white logs or all-white logs. Find them in the refrigerated section at Asian markets, or substitute other types of fish cake or imitation crab.
Buy: Okuhara Kamaboko Steamed Fish Cake , $4
10. Dashi Powder
Dashi, a deeply flavored stock made from dried fish and dried kelp, is a cornerstone of the Japanese kitchen. Think of instant dashi like a dashi bouillon powder. HonDashi is the most common brand. It’s a powerful umami bomb. Used as a seasoning, a pinch sprinkled over any dish will add a deep savoriness. I call it the flavor booster of all flavor boosters. In Hawai‘i, it has long been a pantry secret among home cooks and chefs. Many use it to season fried rice or noodles, create time-saving saimin broth, poach vegetables or seafood, or amp up sauces, dips, and dressings. A small container should last the average household for a while.
Buy: HonDashi Soup Stock , $5
11. Oyster Sauce
Thick, salty, sweet, and deeply savory, oyster sauce is one of my all-time favorite condiments. It’s made with caramelized oyster extract, which gives it a unique umami flavor that doesn’t even taste like seafood. Good oyster sauce is worth tracking down, so look for brands labeled “premium oyster sauce,” like Lee Kum Kee. Store opened bottles in the fridge.
Buy: Lee Kum Kee Premium Oyster Flavored Sauce , $9
Buy NowSheldon Simeon
Contributor
Sheldon was born in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii, and acquired his love for cooking from his family’s love of cooking and entertaining. Sheldon attended Maui Culinary Academy and worked in various restaurants on Maui before competing in seasons 10 and 14 of Bravo’s hit competition cooking show “Top Chef,” winning Fan Favorite both times. In 2016, Sheldon opened his first solo restaurant, Tin Roof, where he serves up local dishes in take-out bowls. In fall 2018, Sheldon opened Lineage, his second solo restaurant and full service concept delighting guests with traditional local Hawaii fare in Wailea, Maui. In 2019, Lineage was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for “Best New Restaurant.” In 2020, Sheldon left Lineage to focus on writing his first cookbook, Cook Real Hawai’i, which just came out in the Spring of 2021 from Clarkson Potter. Sheldon resides in Maui with his wife Janice and their four children.
Source : food
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