The plan for Saturday morning was clear – replenishing Asian groceries at Tamda Foods, the largest supermarket in the Sapa Praha area. This time I was buying groceries that I have been using for years and are among my favorites. From the list, I especially recommend trying the Tilda brand basmati rice and if you want to cook red curry at home for the first time, also try the non-spicy curry paste (and don’t be afraid of the label “spicy”).
My favorite foods from Sapa (2)
Fish sauce. This sauce is a basic and indispensable element of Southeast Asian and especially Thai cuisine. The taste and aroma of Squid fish sauce are strong enough to liven up any dish, but not so strong as to overwhelm other flavors. I have been buying this sauce for many years and I am very satisfied with it. One 300 ml package cost approximately 27 CZK (approx. 1.1 EUR).
Vermicelli rice noodles. Thin noodles, in Sapa you can taste them in Bún chả or Bún bò Nam Bộ. Egg-free, naturally gluten-free. Made in Thailand. One 200 g package cost approximately 32 CZK (approx. 1.4 EUR).
Another type of rice noodles, this time in a more practical package. The noodles inside are ready to be served in smaller portions, so they do not need to be “broken” before cooking. One 300 g package cost 37.90 CZK (approx. 1.6 EUR).
Tilda brand Basmati rice. The Tilda brand is highly valued for its quality. Basmati rice is a variety of long-grain rice that originates from the Himalayas. It is known for its light, subtly nutty flavor. When cooked, the grains enlarge to twice their original size. Tilda Basmati rice is also a staple in my kitchen. One kilogram cost 135 CZK (approx. 5.7 EUR).
Sticky rice. It is a type of short-grain or medium-grain rice, which has a higher starch content than regular rice varieties and thus “sticks” when cooked. Sticky rice is one of the basic ingredients in many Asian cuisines. It is often used in desserts, but also works well as a side dish to savory meals. One kilogram cost 79.90 CZK (approx. 3.4 EUR).
Red curry paste. It is made from red chilli peppers, lemongrass, shallots, garlic, coriander, and other Thai herbs, spices, and ingredients. Although marked by the manufacturer as spicy, don’t be afraid to taste. There are much spicier pastes available and this is one of those that are less spicy (to me practically not at all). One package cost 16.90 CZK (approx. 0.7 EUR).
Sweet mochi dumplings. Mochi is a traditional Japanese dish made from ground sticky rice, known as “mochigome”. Mochi has a springy and sticky texture, it can be used in a range of sweet and savory dishes. One of the most popular types of mochi is “daifuku” (literally “great luck”), which are small dumplings filled with various sweet pastes (in this case made from red beans, sesame, and peanuts). There are many types of fillings. This 450 g package cost 89 CZK (approx. 3.8 EUR).
If you have space for a larger purchase, also check out the first part of the series “What to buy in Sapa? Asian groceries!“. What do you buy in Sapa?
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