Korean Pantry
Your complete guide to essential Korean ingredients. Learn what to stock in your pantry and discover delicious Korean dishes to make at home.
Korean Cooking Tips
Master these fundamentals to elevate your Korean cooking.
Rice is Foundation
Korean meals center around rice. Invest in a good rice cooker and use short-grain rice for authentic texture.
Mise en Place
Korean cooking often involves quick stir-frying. Have all ingredients prepped and within reach before you start.
Balance Flavors
Korean cuisine balances five flavors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. Taste and adjust as you cook.
Fermentation is Key
Many Korean flavors come from fermented ingredients. Don't skip the gochujang, doenjang, or aged kimchi.
Essential Korean Ingredients
Stock these pantry staples to cook authentic Korean dishes at home. Search by name, Korean name, or browse by category. Click "Buy on Amazon" for easy purchasing.
Pastes
Fermented pastes - the heart of Korean flavor
O'Food Mild Gochujang
고추장
Korean red pepper paste, the heart of many Korean dishes
Sempio Doenjang
된장
Korean fermented soybean paste for stews and dipping sauces
CJ Ssamjang
쌈장
Korean dipping sauce paste for wraps and grilled meats
Sauces
Essential liquid seasonings for Korean cooking
Sempio Soy Sauce
간장
Premium Korean soy sauce, essential for marinades, soups, and banchan
Kikkoman Aji Mirin
미림
Sweet rice wine for adding depth and sweetness to dishes
Ottogi Fish Sauce
액젓
Korean fish sauce for adding umami depth to kimchi and stews
Ottogi Rice Syrup
물엿
Korean rice syrup (mulyeot) for glazing and sweetening
CJ Plum Extract
매실청
Korean green plum syrup for natural sweetness and tenderizing meat
Spices
Dried spices and chili products
Taekyung Korean Chili Flakes
고춧가루
Korean red pepper flakes essential for kimchi and many dishes
Black Pepper
후추
Freshly ground black pepper for seasoning
Oils
Cooking and finishing oils
Kadoya Sesame Oil
참기름
Pure roasted sesame oil for authentic Korean flavor
Ottogi Perilla Oil
들기름
Nutty Korean perilla seed oil for dressings and finishing
Seasonings
Seeds, powders, and flavor enhancers
Shirakiku Roasted Sesame Seeds
깨
Pre-roasted white sesame seeds for garnishing and seasoning
CJ Beef Dashida
다시다
Korean beef soup stock powder for rich, savory broths
CJ Chicken Dashida
치킨 다시다
Korean chicken soup stock powder for lighter broths
Vinegars
Acidic ingredients for balance and pickling
Marukan Rice Vinegar
식초
Mild rice vinegar for dressings, pickles, and sushi rice
Grains & Noodles
Rice, noodles, and starches
Kokuho Rose Short Grain Rice
쌀
Premium short grain rice for perfect Korean rice
Koda Farms Sweet Rice
찹쌀
Glutinous rice for rice cakes and desserts
Ottogi Glass Noodles
당면
Korean sweet potato starch noodles for japchae
Other Essentials
Dried goods and specialty items
Ottogi Dried Kelp
다시마
Dried kelp (dashima) for making Korean soup stock
Wang Dried Anchovies
멸치
Dried anchovies for making anchovy stock
Korean Radish
무
Korean radish (mu) for kimchi, soups, and banchan
Kirkland Toasted Seaweed
김
Roasted seaweed sheets for gimbap and snacking
Explore All 57 Korean Recipes
From classic comfort foods to modern Korean-inspired dishes, find your next favorite recipe.
Browse All Korean Recipes