Demisaem Korean Gochujang Sauce
Savory, spicy gochujang meets sweet plum in Demisaem’s funky, fruity Chojang-Gochujang Sauce. Made in Korea, this red pepper and plum paste is spiked with fermented plum vinegar, Korean chili powder, traditional rice syrup, garlic, ginger and sesame seeds for an aromatic, sweet-sour balance that gives off a quick hit of heat that doesn’t linger on the tongue. The smooth, deep red paste comes packaged in an easy to squeeze bottle, pairing well with noodles, rice, grilled meats, eggs, burgers, burritos, tempura, bibimbap, grilled meats, barbecue and fish. Or use it as a marinade, mixed into sauces or stirred into dressings for a spicy, tangy kick. We especially like it in place of ketchup and sriracha.
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.
Hot Pot Queen Wild Mushroom Chunky Chili Sauce
Hot Pot Queen’s Wild Mushroom Chili Sauce is a málà powerhouse hailing from the Chinese mountains of Yunnan. Unlike your run-of-the-mill chili oil or crisp, this spicy, robust topping of thick, chewy mushroom swimming in flavorful oil stands out with its hearty texture. Crafted from a blend of shiitake and wild Boletus mushrooms, sourced from prime foraging spots in Yunnan, this sauce offers a slightly sweet undertone from fermented soybeans, earthy notes from multiple mushroom varieties and toasty hints of sesame. It's the quintessential málà “hot pot” experience without overwhelming heat, adding depth to noodles, rice, fish, roasted vegetables, dumplings and fried eggs with its umami burst. Or try it to enrich soups, stews and stir-fries. It even works mixed into a bowl of hot water to create a sensational soup base.
Chinese Laundry Kitchen Dan Dan Noodle Sauce
Bring dan dan noodles, a popular Sichuan street food, home with this ready-to-use jarred sauce from Chinese Laundry Kitchen. The layered, umami-forward sauce gets its tingly spice from roasted Sichuan peppercorns and nutty flavor from sesame, a classic dan dan sauce ingredient. With a hint of sweetness and warm aromatic spice, it makes a near-instant dinner—just boil noodles and toss with the velvety sauce. But we also like it with other ingredients, like fried tofu or in a green bean stir-fry. Made with 100 percent real ingredients and no additives by a family-owned business in California. Each jar contains 6-8 servings.
Mymouné Pomegranate Molasses
I discovered this Pomegranate Molasses from Mymouné through a Cambridge restaurant called Moona; the Lebanese company makes all of its products by hand in small batches, and their pomegranate molasses is the sharpest and brightest I have ever tasted. The bottle will last a long time, and it is so much better than the sweeter, less balanced supermarket products. It's a a powerhouse ingredient used throughout the cooking of the Middle East and the Caucasus region that I guarantee you'll love. — Christopher Kimball
Xilli Mole Negro
Rich and nearly black in color, mole negro is a centuries-old Oaxacan sauce that gets its smoky, deep flavor from toasted chilies and nuts and charred vegetables. Other pre-made mole pastes and powders we’ve tried are bland, chalky and bitter, but Xilli’s Mole Negro is the polar opposite. Prepared by hand in small batches, it’s smooth and decadent with a pleasant moderate heat. Upon first taste, you’ll notice deep earthy notes, followed by hints of bittersweet Oaxacan chocolate. The addition of ingredients like tomatillos, ginger, raisins and a variety of nuts also shine through in this mole, adding complexity and depth but not overpowering one another. Though it takes days to make, this mole is the perfect kitchen shortcut, offering decadent, long-cooked flavor in little time. And, since this mole negro is launching exclusively at Milk Street, so you won’t find it anywhere else.
Pure Indian Foods Alphonso Mango Puree
Rarely have we seen a mango puree in supermarkets and, if we do, it’s often full of sweeteners and additives. Made from Alphonso mangoes, which are renowned in India for their natural sweetness and buttery-smooth texture, this puree contains no added sugar or preservatives—it’s just pure, juicy mango. About five fresh mangos are packed into every jar of this luscious puree and its silky texture is pourable, yet decadent like yogurt, and has a rich, bright flavor that balances sweet and tart, akin to snacking on refreshing mangoes at their peak season.
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.
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.
Xilli Mole Poblano
This decadent mole takes 5 days and 30 different ingredients to make. And the effort is well worth it. Most pre-made mole pastes and powders we’ve tried in the States have been awful—at best, they are bland and at worst, they are chalky and bitter. Xilli’s Mole Poblano, prepared by hand in small batches using traditional methods, is the polar opposite: It’s smooth and decadent with a pleasant moderate heat. Once it hits the palate, it truly opens up into an extraordinary melody of tastes. The first flavor to pop out is earthy dark-sweet dried chili and chocolate. This gives way to a nuttiness that is almondy and smooth. There is a warming, woodsy spice to it, but it’s not sticking out in a prominent way—just enough to round out the cacao flavor. The sweetness is caramel-like, as though many of the ingredients were carefully roasted, but a subtle brightness keeps it from becoming cloying. Though it takes days to make, this mole is the perfect kitchen shortcut, offering decadent, long-cooked flavor in little time.
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.
El Sabor de Oaxaca Mole Rojo
Mole pastes aren’t difficult to find, but most of the ones we’ve tried are either intensely bitter (and not able to be balanced with addition of sugar) or tooth-achingly sweet (which doesn’t allow for any adjustment for personal preference). And Milk Street is the only vendor in the U.S. that carries this decadent mole crafted in Oaxaca, Mexico. Lusciously smooth, this mole is nutty and spicy-sweet. The dried chiles follow quickly after with a deep, dark fruity flavor. There’s a really strong sweetness, from plenty of fruits and nuts, but it’s also incredibly savory, so it’s not going to read as candy-like as some brands we’ve tried. It’s lovely as-is, but still room for a bit of sugar or salt to taste. The extra tomato brings a welcome umami base compared to other types of mole. Simply dilute with water or broth for a smooth sauce.
Angkor Food Tamarind Sauce
Pleasantly thick but not too syrupy, this dipping sauce expertly captures the tart, tangy taste of tamarind. It’s balanced out with umami-packed fish sauce, and flavorful bits of shallot, garlic and dried chilies are scattered throughout. It’s wonderful straight from the bottle as a dip (as it’s traditionally enjoyed in Cambodia), but it’s also a great addition to marinades or drizzled into soups and braises.
El Sabor de Oaxaca Mole Negro
Milk Street is the only vendor in the U.S. that carries this decadent mole crafted in Oaxaca, Mexico. The black paste yields a velvet-smooth sauce when diluted with water or stock that leads with aromatic sweet chili notes from four different chili varietals. The taste then transitions into layers of nutty richness from peanuts, walnuts and almonds. A touch of bitterness and moderate hit of heat rounds out the complex range of flavors. While many moles we sampled were too sugary, this one is perfectly balanced and can be sweetened to taste.
El Sabor de Oaxaca Mole Coloradito
Milk Street is the only vendor in the U.S. that carries this decadent mole crafted in Oaxaca, Mexico. Lusciously smooth with a brick red hue, this mole is thick and rich, yet bright with robust chili flavor. A pleasant hint of garlic lingers at the base, while the almond’s fruity nuttiness plays up the paste’s subtle sweetness and emphasizes the paste’s pleasant heat. While many moles we sampled were too sugary, this one is perfectly balanced and can be sweetened to taste. Simply dilute with water or broth for a smooth sauce.
Suehiro Double Brewed Soy Sauce
Since 1879, Suehiro has used the same traditional methods to make their small-batch soy sauces in Japan’s Tatsuno City, Hyogo Prefecture. We were especially wowed by their Double-Brewed Soy Sauce, or Saishikomi, which is deeply layered in comparison to any run-of-the-mill grocery version. Unlike most on the market, this soy is brewed not once but twice, first delicately with soybeans, wheat, salt, water and koji. Then, the mixture is brewed again, this time without salt or water, yielding an earthy, rich and viscous soy sauce that stands apart. It’s salty, but less so than other brands, with funky, coffee-like notes that round out into a dark, almost burnt caramelly sweetness. Use it anywhere you would soy sauce, but we love it most served simply with dishes that have few ingredients, like hand rolls and sashimi.
Ito Shoten Tamari
Tamari, the liquid byproduct that results from pressing miso, is so much more than gluten-free soy sauce (a common misconception among American cooks). The distinct tamari from Ito Shoten—based in the Aichi Prefecture, a region of Japan known for deeply rich, uncommonly dark miso—is so complex it’s no wonder it has been likened to a wine. Aged in cedar barrels that are over 100 years old, Ito Shoten’s tamari develops a dark, almost inky color, as well as a wine-like depth and body. Its heady, malty aroma promises plenty of meaty savoriness, as well as caramel notes, deep umami and a lively salinity. This tamari is one to treasure: use it raw in small quantities to finish dishes where its flavor will shine, almost like a soy extract rather than a condiment. Its complexities get lost when it’s cooked into a sauce or dish.
Maalouf Pomegranate Molasses
Pomegranate molasses, an indispensable ingredient in many cuisines from the Eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia, is the result of boiling pomegranate juice until it condenses to a concentrated sweet-tart powerhouse. Each bottle of producer Chafic Maalouf’s small-batch version, exclusively sold at Milk Street, is made from the juice of 5 kilos of Lebanese pomegranates using methods that have been practiced for generations. Unlike more common thicker versions, this molasses has a thinner viscosity that spreads rather than sticks when poured, combined with the perfect balance of sugars and acidity. It carries multiple layers of complex aromas and flavors ranging from smoke, tobacco, balsamic, citrus and berries, all engulfed in a subtle, well-rounded sweetness.