Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Asian Pantry Starter Kit (With Indonesian Essentials)
18
items The Beginner-Friendly, Heartfelt List I Wish Someone Made For Me
---
Cooking didn’t always feel natural for me.
Some days it was intimidating. Other days it felt like guessing.
But over time — especially after becoming a mom — I realized something...
Sections
3
Universal Asian Essentials
Indonesian Essentials
Comfort Staples
Universal Asian Essentials
If you’re starting from zero, begin here.
Garlic is the foundation of Asian flavor — bold, fragrant, impossible to replace.
Used in everything from stir-fry to sambal to ramen broth.
💡 Personal note:
When garlic hits hot oil and releases its smell… it feels like every stress melts.
It’s th...
Fresh Garlic Bulb
Sweeter and more delicate than onions — especially important in Indonesian cooking.
💡 Emotional truth:
A simple omelet with shallots can taste more comforting than a complicated meal.
✨ Tip: fry some and store as crispy shallot topping — it upgrad...
Fresh Whole Shallots
Salt & Sugar, They may seem basic — but balance is everything in Asian cooking.
Salt for structure. Sugar for balance. Together: harmony.
💡 Tip from Indonesian moms:
“Never taste once — taste twice. Flavors change as they rest.”
Pure Cane Sugar
Adds deep umami and complexity to noodles, soups, dim sum sauces, stir-fries — everything.
💡 Why it matters:
When food tastes flat, soy sauce fixes it — quietly, reliably.
✨ Best paired with garlic, sesame oil, and something spicy.
Soy Sauce (Kecap Asin)
Thick, caramelized, smoky sweetness. A uniquely Indonesian treasure.
💡 Sentimental note:
Every Indonesian family has this bottle.
Mine sits next to the stove — always within reach.
✨ Tips:
Use it for fried rice, satay marinade, grilled chicken, eg...
Sweet Soy Sauce
One spoon transforms vegetables, noodles, beef, chicken — everything glossy, savory, rich.
💡 Quiet confession:
Sometimes my “secret fried rice recipe” is just oyster sauce + garlic + lil bit terasi + heat.
Oyster Sauce
A meal doesn’t feel complete without a little heat — even if mild.
💡 Cultural truth:
Spicy food isn’t just flavor — it’s emotion.
✨ Tip: if you're new to spice, start small and build your tolerance gently.
Cap Ibu Sambal Cobek Terasi Mild (Traditional Condiment Sauce)
Stock Powders (Chicken, Mushroom, or Simple Broth) are perfect for quick noodles, soups, sauces, fried rice, marinades.
💡 Reality of being a busy adult:
Sometimes there’s no energy for slow broth — and that’s okay.
Stock powder is permission to coo...
Chicken Bouillon Powder
Indonesian Essentials
This is where flavor becomes familiar to me
Soft herbal aroma — the soul of many rice dishes and stews.
💛 Memory:
My mom always said: “If it smells like home, daun salam is inside.”
✨ Tip: add 1–2 leaves only — too many will make it bitter.
Bay Leaves
Bright, citrusy, floral — used in sop ayam, gulai, sate marinade, rendang, and homemade tea.
💡 Personal ritual:
Crushing lemongrass before cooking feels meditative — slow, intentional, grounding.
Fresh Lemongrass
Adds earthiness and golden warmth.
Used in soto kuning, ayam ungkep, opor.
💡 Tip:
Fresh turmeric stains everything — so wear something you don’t love too much.
Turmeric Root (fresh or powder)
Adds richness and thickness to gravies — subtle but essential.
💡 Cooking truth:
Without kemiri, sauce tastes watery.
With kemiri — luxurious.
Candlenut Kemiri
The quiet star of Indonesian marinades.
💡 Personal note:
Sometimes the most important flavors are the ones you don’t notice — but would miss deeply.
Coriander Whole Seeds
Bold, salty umami. The heart of sambal.
💡 Tip:
Toast it first — it smells strong, but transforms into deep flavor.
ABC Shrimp Paste
Comfort Staples
These aren’t spices — but they keep meals effortless.
Not just food — identity, grounding, comfort.
💡 Growing up Indonesian, there’s a joke:
“If you haven’t eaten rice, you haven’t had a meal.”
Jasmine Rice
A fast rescue meal — customizable forever.
✨ Tip: add egg, spring onion, lime, sesame oil — and suddenly it tastes intentional.
Indonesian Dry Noodles Classic Flavor
Balance matters — acidity brightens everything.
💡 Simple rule:
If food feels heavy — add something fresh.
Kong Yen Rice Vinegar
A sprinkle boosts umami — without changing flavor identity.
💡 Safe when used mindfully — and many grandmothers use it quietly.
MSG (Optional, but widely used)