Master the Flavor Base
A versatile, aromatic base featuring onion, garlic, and ginger, enhanced with tomato paste and savory Asian seasonings, perfect for building diverse dishes.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 inch ginger grated
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 medium carrots finely diced
- 1 tsp seasoning (e.g.
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or wok over medium heat.
- Add chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger. Sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute until it darkens slightly, developing a richer flavor.
- Stir in the finely diced carrots, your chosen seasoning, fish sauce, soy sauce, and sugar.
- Continue to stir and cook for 3-5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the carrots to slightly soften. The base is now ready to be used as the foundation for your favorite stir-fries, stews, or curries.
Notes
This base can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month. It's excellent as a starter for stir-fries, noodle dishes, stews, curries, or even as a flavorful sauce for roasted vegetables. Feel free to adjust the 'seasoning' to match your cuisine, e.g., five-spice powder for Chinese, white pepper for Vietnamese, or a touch of turmeric for Indian-inspired dishes.