Anonymous wrote:Curry leaves are hard to find and a good cooks’ gift

I made the mistake of not buying a live curry plant many years ago at HMart. I have not seen any since and regret it all the time!

Saffron threads.

From the Indian store. Follow directions to marinate any meat and then cook however you want to cook.

Pure silver leaf for decorating food. Make sure that you get the genuine stuff.

I was coming here to suggest chili crisp also. Calabrian chile paste is another nice condiment.
Fly by Jing has kits you can buy too.

Cilantro

Give him a small Curry leaf (Kadipatta) plant. It does well indoors. Read up on how to care for it.

Anonymous wrote:Saffron comes to mind but I don't think that's an asian food ingredient.

It is an Indian subcontinent spice. Called Kesar in Hindi and Zafran in Urdu.

Vanilla beans? I've seen them sold tied in little bundles that might make a good stocking stuffer.
Spice grinder with a spice blend
Bag of dried shitake mushrooms
Nori wrappers/leaves

I would tend to avoid anything liquid or in glass bottles for a stocking stuffer. If you're getting anything like that, I would have it boxed and wrapped under the tree. My kids are a little more excited and physical with the stockings and I could see an unfortunate accident happening, so I'd try to avoid that.

Oyster sauce
XO sauce
Maggi

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:zataar

He’s pretty familiar with that and we have it.

Wow OP!

Your child sounds like he has some serious cooking skills. I'm impressed.
I think he's earned that saffron.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ume plum paste or a mini ume vinegar? Look at the eden foods site for ideas

Gomasio is more of a condiment than an ingredient but is yummy.

Curry leaves are hard to find and a good cooks’ gift

I love All things Ume!

Along the lines of the curry leaves, I once put together a Tom Yum soup kid for my kid who likes to cook, with kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass stalks, chiles, galangal, and shrimp paste. This year, his stocking will include this amazing (though very expensive) fish sauce: https://toirokitchen.com/products/ayu-fish-sauce-by-hara-jirozaemon It’s milder, sweeter, and less salty than the regular, which we also love.

We love Tom Yum but he already knows how to make it. Something like that, a kit to make something new would be perfect.

I will have to try the fish sauce!

— OP

Saffron was my first thought. You can order kaffir lime leaves and curry leaves on Amazon. It might also be fun to give him some money and the promise of a trip to the Asian grocery store!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ume plum paste or a mini ume vinegar? Look at the eden foods site for ideas

Gomasio is more of a condiment than an ingredient but is yummy.

Curry leaves are hard to find and a good cooks’ gift

I love All things Ume!

Along the lines of the curry leaves, I once put together a Tom Yum soup kid for my kid who likes to cook, with kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass stalks, chiles, galangal, and shrimp paste. This year, his stocking will include this amazing (though very expensive) fish sauce: https://toirokitchen.com/products/ayu-fish-sauce-by-hara-jirozaemon It’s milder, sweeter, and less salty than the regular, which we also love.

I am not a kid, but am inspired! Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Ume plum paste or a mini ume vinegar? Look at the eden foods site for ideas

Gomasio is more of a condiment than an ingredient but is yummy.

Curry leaves are hard to find and a good cooks’ gift

I love All things Ume!

Along the lines of the curry leaves, I once put together a Tom Yum soup kid for my kid who likes to cook, with kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass stalks, chiles, galangal, and shrimp paste. This year, his stocking will include this amazing (though very expensive) fish sauce: https://toirokitchen.com/products/ayu-fish-sauce-by-hara-jirozaemon It’s milder, sweeter, and less salty than the regular, which we also love.