The Korean Pantry

You may not be as familar with Korean ingredients as Chinese or Thai. But all of these items, called for in the recipes, can be easily found at any Korean grocery store.

* Chile powder Korean dried peppers make a spicier powder than Chinese peppers.

* Sesame oil. A stronger, fuller sesame oil with more flavor (it looks darker in the bottle, too). Regular sesame oil can be used as well.

* Malt syrup. Called mool yut, it’s very thick and sticky. Although it adds to the sweetness of a dish, it also makes the food more appealing by adding a gloss.

* Chile paste. Called kochujang, it is usually made with red chile powder, sweet rice, red pepper powder, soy beans and salt. Although people from other Asian countries cook with with chile sauces, this kind is unique to Korean cooking. It also adds to the visual appeal of a dish by giving it a bright red color.