spice paste

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Asian Home Gourmet Spice Pastes

These seasoning packets (plus meat or pasta) let you cook Vietnamese lemongrass chicken and Singaporean curry noodles without buying a basketful of obscure ingredients.

$2 each; Asian markets and gourmet stores
jar of ginger

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The Ginger People Organic Ginger

Add a spoonful of jarred, ready-to-use minced or grated ginger (it's like prechopped garlic) to stir-fries, coleslaw, and marinades for a zingy flavor boost.

$3; Whole Foods
seaweed snacks

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Annie Chun's Seaweed Snacks

Crispy, roasted seaweed strips are a healthy alternative to potato chips—plus they're high in omega-3s and contain only about 60 calories per package.

$2 each; supermarkets
miso broth

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Marukome Miso & Easy

A squirt of this concentrated broth transforms hot water into Japanese miso soup (add vegetables or tofu for a heartier version). Or use it straight up as a marinade for roasted chicken or grilled streak.

$5; Asian markets
noodle bowl

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Simply Asia Noodle Bowls

Think of these hearty meals-in-a-bowl as an updated take on instant ramen. Just add water and pop in the microwave for hot noodles in a spicy Mongolian sauce or sesame teriyaki glaze.

$4; supermarkets
spicy peanut bake

Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D

A Taste of Thai Spicy Peanut Bake

Roll chicken in this crunchy coating for a Thai version of chicken tenders, or toss the mix with broccoli to create an unexpected side dish.

$4; supermarkets

7 Asian-inspired twists on your favorite recipes