What to Buy in Sapa? Groceries! (2)
Saturday morning came with a simple plan: restock on Asian groceries at Tamda Foods, the largest supermarket in the grounds of Prague's Sapa market. This time I was buying the staples I have been using for years, the ones my home Asian cooking rests on. From the list I'd especially recommend the Tilda basmati rice, and if you want to cook a red curry at home for the first time, pick up the mild curry paste as well - and don't let the word "spicy" on the label put you off.
Squid Brand Fish Sauce
Fish sauce is a basic and indispensable part of Southeast Asian and especially Thai cooking - it gives dishes a saltiness and depth that salt alone can't match. It's made by fermenting fish in salt, which sounds off-putting, but not a trace of fishiness survives in the finished dish. The flavor and aroma of Squid are pronounced enough to lift any dish, yet not so strong that they drown out the other flavors. I have been buying it for many years and I'm very happy with it.
Price for the Squid fish sauce (300 ml): 27 CZK (1.10 EUR)
Vermicelli Rice Noodles
Thin vermicelli rice noodles are the side dish you'll run into almost everywhere in Sapa - you can taste them in bún chả or bún bò Nam Bộ, for instance. They're egg-free, naturally gluten-free, and these particular ones are made in Thailand. At home a quick blanch is all they need and the side dish is ready in a couple of minutes.
I bought the second type of rice noodles because of the more practical packaging. Inside, the noodles are coiled into smaller portions, so you don't have to "break" them before cooking and you take out exactly as much as you need.
Price for the vermicelli rice noodles (200 g): 32 CZK (1.40 EUR)
Price for the vermicelli rice noodles in portioned packaging (300 g): 37.90 CZK (1.60 EUR)
Tilda Brand Basmati Rice
Basmati is a long-grain rice variety from the foothills of the Himalayas, known for its light, subtly nutty flavor and aroma. Once cooked, the grains swell to twice their original size and stay nicely separate - which is why basmati suits curries so well and doubles as an all-purpose side dish. Tilda is highly regarded for its quality and it's a fixture in my kitchen; I buy it again and again.
Price for the Tilda basmati rice (1 kg): 135 CZK (5.70 EUR)
Q Rice Brand Sticky Rice
Sticky rice has a higher starch content than ordinary varieties, so it holds together once cooked and you can even eat it with your hands. In many Asian cuisines it's a staple: in Thailand it's served with grilled meat, and it's a favorite in desserts too - with sweet coconut milk and mango, say. It works just as well as a plain side to savory dishes, and its texture quickly grows on you.
Price for the Q Rice sticky rice (1 kg): 79.90 CZK (3.40 EUR)
Thai Pride Brand Red Curry Seasoning Paste
Even though the manufacturer labels it spicy, don't be afraid of it - to me it's hardly hot at all. The paste is made from red chili peppers, lemongrass, shallots, garlic, coriander and other Thai herbs and spices. There are far hotter blends out there and this one is among the mildest - ideal for a first curry at home. Just add browned meat and coconut milk, and serve it with rice.
Price for the Thai Pride red curry seasoning paste: 16.90 CZK (0.70 EUR)
Sweet Mochi Dumplings
Mochi is a traditional Japanese food made from ground sticky rice known as "mochigome", with its trademark springy, chewy texture. It goes into a whole range of sweet and savory dishes, but the best-loved version is "daifuku" - literally "great fortune" - little dumplings filled with sweet pastes. This pack had red bean, sesame and peanut fillings, though there are plenty more kinds. With coffee or tea they make a quick dessert after an Asian dinner.
Price for the pack of sweet mochi dumplings (450 g): 89 CZK (3.80 EUR)
If you're up for a bigger shop, take a look at the first part of the series "What to Buy in Sapa? Groceries!" and at its third installment.
What do you buy in Sapa?
SAPA Praha
