Pantry Foundations

You will master the basic building blocks of Sichuan heat and fragrance without cluttering your cupboards. Learn how to select the right chili crisp, fermented bean paste, and peppercorns for balanced mapo dishes.

You will understand how fermentation duration and grain ratios dictate the savory profile of Japanese miso pastes. Match sweet light pastes and robust dark pastes to appropriate dressings, marinades, and soups.