Milk Street Sofrito
We created our sofrito to be the perfect building block to cook a wide variety of recipes in less time, based on the tradition of Italian and Spanish grandmothers who make this by the jar to simplify cooking and boost flavor. After much testing, we came up with an aromatic base of sautéed onions, carrots and celery, complemented by the bright tones of tomatoes, white wine and vinegar. For additional depth, it has earthy, umami notes from mushroom powder, aromatic notes of rosemary and thyme, and just a hint of heat from black pepper and Kashmiri chili powder. A few tablespoons of this jammy sofrito is all it takes to spread rich, concentrated power into soups, sauces, stews, braises and nearly anything else that needs a boost of big flavor.
Milk Street: Sofrito
We created our sofrito to be the perfect building block to cook a wide variety of recipes in less time, based on the tradition of Italian and Spanish grandmothers who make this by the jar to simplify cooking and boost flavor. After much testing, we came up with an aromatic base of sautéed onions, carrots and celery, complemented by the bright tones of tomatoes, white wine and vinegar. For additional depth, it has earthy, umami notes from mushroom powder, aromatic notes of rosemary and thyme, and just a hint of heat from black pepper and Kashmiri chili powder. A few tablespoons of this jammy sofrito is all it takes to spread rich, concentrated power into soups, sauces, stews, braises and nearly anything else that needs a boost of big flavor.
Just Panela Granulated Panela Sugar
Here at Milk Street we have rediscovered more flavorful pantry items including flours, vinegars, oils, and salts. At the top of our list, however, is sugar. This raw, unrefined sugar from Colombia packs a complex, earthy flavor that’s terrific in everything from tea, coffee and cocktails to oatmeal or grapefruit. The bittersweet flavor also does well in savory applications, like a pot of Mexican beans or tomato-based pasta sauces. It will become your sugar bowl standard.
Il Colle del Gusto Granellona Crunchy Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
Il Colle del Gusto's Granellona Brut crunchy hazelnut spread is a lighter, glossier and more aromatic version of Nutella. With a high hazelnut content of up to 42%, it is made using local, high-quality roasted nuts from Italy, which have a toasty, buttery flavor, light sweetness and earthy depth. The fruity notes of extra-virgin olive oil enhance the chocolate and round out the floral-scented vanilla, while the chopped hazelnut pieces add a bit of crunch to the silky spread. Add to ice cream, pancakes, pastries and more.
Yuasa Ki-ippan Kuromame Shoyu
Made from premium black soybeans and aged in cedar barrels for over two years, this Ki-ippan Kuromame Shoyu is thick and rich in flavor—full of funk, earthiness and a bit of sweetness. Crafted by fifth-generation Japanese company Yuasa Soyu Sauce Co. in Yuasa—a traditional brewing city that’s like a living soy sauce museum—it has won the Grand Gold Medal at the Monde Selection for 10 consecutive years. The deep umami and sweet notes that make this shoyu stand out come from the premium black soybeans, sourced from Tanba in Hyogo Prefecture. Known also as “Kuromame,” they have a black skin and white interior, and contain a distinctive taste. Use this anywhere you would soy sauce, from dumplings to meat to noodles, or in marinades, dipping sauces and salad dressings.
Milk Street Ginger Confit
The worst thing in any recipe is seeing, “2 tablespoons of ginger, grated.” Ginger is one of the most annoying ingredients to prep. It’s a pain to peel, grating takes forever and by the end, you’ve probably dirtied a spoon, plate and a grater—which gets packed with stringy fibers. Instead, reach for Milk Street Premium Essentials Ginger Confit, the closest thing to fresh ginger you’ll ever taste out of a jar. Supermarket ginger pastes can be stinging-sharp, packed with additives and unpleasantly fibrous, so we developed this product to solve those problems to produce a fresh, clean ginger taste. Never grate ginger again!
Vegalene Premium 3-Oil Blend Cooking Spray
The choice of restaurant chefs, Vegalene’s Premium 3-Oil Blend wins every cooking spray test in our kitchen. Made with an exclusive heat-resistant compound, Vegalene is proven to be up to 30% more effective at releasing even sticky and delicate foods from utensils, pans and baking surfaces—without any hard-to-clean residue. The aerosol’s nozzle ensures that Vegalene’s thick spray evenly coats every nook and cranny (we especially like it for getting into the corners of glass baking dishes or unusually shaped baking molds). While the spray is flavorless, it may have a slightly buttery note compared to other nonstick sprays on the market, but we find it largely imperceptible when cooking and baking. The calorie-free formula has zero trans fat, sodium or gluten and is Kosher Pareve.
This product is not available for express shipping due to shipping restrictions on aerosols and sprays. All shipments will arrive via standard or ground shipping.
Koy Pantry Tomato Paste
Koy Pantry’s Tomato Paste is well seasoned, deeply rich and comes in a wide-mouthed jar for easy measuring. Made in Hatay, Türkiye, from local tomatoes harvested at the peak of freshness, the only other ingredient in this savory paste is salt, which is used to break down the produce and turn it into a smooth, spreadable paste that doesn’t run. The resulting flavor is outstanding—slightly acidic, sweet and fruity with a punch of a umami and a hint of salt. The robust tomato flavor makes it the perfect candidate for any range of cuisines or dishes, from pastas and stews to beans and marinades. Plus, because it comes in an easy-to-scoop jar, you’ll be able to spoon out every last bit—and won’t get any of the metallic taste you may find from canned or tubed versions.
Graza Co. Squeeze "Sizzle" Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Grown and made in Jaen, Spain, the country where about half the world’s olive oil is produced, Graza uses 100% picual olives for their “Sizzle” extra virgin olive oil. It’s an EVOO that can stand up to heat, unlike other EVOOs that aren’t meant to be cooked with and only used to finish. The single origin olives in “Sizzle” are harvested by hand in December and January, when they are more mature and juicy. Once pressed, they make an olive oil that is a bit mellower and milder in flavor—though still with a grassy, peppery bite—perfect for everyday cooking. Besides being a flexible oil to use in whatever you’re cooking, we also love that “Sizzle” is packaged in a squeeze bottle, so you can emulate how chefs cook in restaurants. Use “Sizzle” to roast, sear, poach, pan fry, bake, marinate and more.
Mutti Tomato Vinegar
Similar to red wine vinegar but slightly less sharp, Mutti's Tomato Vinegar has a sweet-savory balance and smooth quality reminiscent of balsamic, with an intense sun-dried tomato aroma. It's not too acidic but rather balanced by caramelized sweetness and an earthy umami depth. This complex vinegar enhances raw tomato recipes and can be used in simple applications. We like to drizzle some on caprese salads or toss it in pasta salad, with feta or goat cheese as a creamy counterpoint.
El Sabor de Oaxaca Mole Verde
Milk Street is the only vendor in the U.S. that carries this herby green mole crafted in Oaxaca, Mexico. Bright, nutty and herbaceous, this mole verde packs a pale green hue and a wallop of vegetal flavor. While its starting texture is drier and crumblier than some of the other moles from El Sabor de Oaxaca, the mole cooks up velvety smooth and thick. The flavor is deeply complex (it would take hours to achieve if making it from scratch at home). And while many moles we sampled were too sugary, this one is perfectly balanced and can be sweetened to taste. Our favorite way to use is for braising; thin the mole with stock or water then braise chicken legs, pork shoulder or other protein (and reduce any remaining braising liquid into a thicker finishing sauce). Or, simply dilute with water or broth for a quick sauce for enchiladas or drizzling on nachos with some crema, cotija and crunchy sliced radish. A little goes a long way—the jar contains several servings.
Namikura Red Miso
Red Miso is stronger, saltier and more assertively flavored than yellow or white miso due to its six-month aging process and has a higher proportion of soybeans for a richer taste. This particularly interesting version has sweet flavors reminiscent of sherry and milk chocolate that are perfect for pairing with red meat and other robust dishes.
MegaChef Kecap Manis
After years of searching for the right one, we finally found a version of this Indonesian staple condiment we are proud to sell. Kecap manis, or “sweet dark soy sauce,” is an Indonesian secret for depth, umami and complexity. Megachef’s version—the best one we’ve tried—is virtually impossible to find in the United States. Of the handful of brands sold here, most are packed with thickeners, additives and flavorings; apart from a nominal amount of starch for consistency, Megachef adds no preservatives, artificial coloring or MSG, and its flavor is significantly bolder and richer than the other versions we’ve tried. Soy sauce from non-GMO soybeans and high-quality palm sugar are simmered until the sauce becomes thick and glossy, with a deep dark color and consistency similar to hoisin. The resulting sauce isn’t as salty as soy or as sweet as hoisin, the two most comparable condiments—but it has a funky malty, umami soy flavor, almost akin to molasses. Use it for Indonesian or Asian cooking or anywhere you might like a funky, barbecue sauce-like glaze.
MegaChef Smooth Sweet Chili Sauce
Made from chilies handpicked in Thailand—and incredibly hard to find in the U.S.—Megachef’s Smooth Sweet Chili Sauce achieves the perfect balance of sweet, savory and spicy. Unlike other chili sauces loaded with stabilizers that make them sticky, Megachef’s version is blended smooth with an ideal viscosity for multiple cooking applications. It easily blends into marinades, sauces for noodles, stir-fries, and dipping sauces. We were wowed by the unique flavor—sweet on the front followed by a light tang, hit of garlic and decent heat that doesn’t linger too long. And this sauce is made with no preservatives, colors or artificial sweeteners, so you can feel good about using it at just about every meal.
Cortez Milling Co. Blue Bird Flour 5#
This ultra-finely ground, high protein flour from Cortez Milling Co. in Southwest Colorado is perfect for making soft, tender, chewy tortillas and flat bread. They use red winter wheat purchased from local dryland farmers, whose higher gluten content makes dough that is pliable and resists tearing. This softer, more finely ground flour is neutral in flavor, a touch sweet with no bitterness. We also love that Blue Bird flour is bagged in 5-pound muslin cotton bags with the iconic blue bird print on the front, which can be repurposed in a number of fun ways.
Milk Street: Garlic Confit
The worst recipe ingredient is, “4 cloves garlic, minced.” You know that it is going to be hard to do, it will make a mess, and you will end up with garlic all over your cutting board and knife. Jarred supermarket garlics are, well, awful! They often taste bitter and harsh or lack flavor altogether. Our solution to this problem is to create a garlic confit—mellow but full-flavored and enhanced with a few nice touches, including bay leaves, Aleppo pepper, ghee, olive oil and a hint of lemon. You will never have to mince garlic again!
Milk Street Garlic Confit
The worst recipe ingredient is, “4 cloves garlic, minced.” You know that it is going to be hard to do, it will make a mess, and you will end up with garlic all over your cutting board and knife. Jarred supermarket garlics are, well, awful! They often taste bitter and harsh or lack flavor altogether. Our solution to this problem is to create a garlic confit—mellow but full-flavored and enhanced with a few nice touches, including bay leaves, Aleppo pepper, ghee, olive oil and a hint of lemon. You will never have to mince garlic again with Milk Street Premium Essentials Garlic Confit!
Soom Premium Tahini
Many supermarket tahinis are over-roasted, which gives them an unpleasant, bitter flavor. They are also too thick and hard to stir into a creamy blend. Soom's tahini has a full, nutty flavor as well as a pourable and well-balanced texture, made from roasted and pressed premium white sesame seeds that have an ideal oil-to-protein ratio.