The Spice Shop

Black Sesame Seeds, 100g Sesame is one of the earliest recorded plants grown for its seeds. Sesame is still widley used in the Middle East and Asia today. Unit price: £2.50 (approx. €2.80)

Furikake Seasoning, 75g This seaweed, sesame and sancho seasoning comes in a bottle and is used for sushi, soba and udon dishes. Unit price: £3.99 (approx. €4.47)

Genmai Miso, 345g This is a brown rice miso, used for soups, stock and sauces. Unit price: £4.55 (approx. €5.10)

Goma-shio Japanese Sesame Salt, 100g The finest Japanese Rock Salt mixed with black sesame then milled fine to blend the flavours together. Great for sushi, udon noodles, fish, meat, seaweed and vegetables. Unit price: £3.55 (approx. €3.98)

Hatcho Miso, 345g A soya bean miso - use sparingly as it can be quite salty. Unit price: £4.55 (approx. €5.10)

Miso Soup, 6x8g These instant miso soup sachets come with added seaweed and are easy to use: just add boiling water. Unit price: £3.99 (approx. €4.47)

Mugi Miso, 345g Barley Miso, keep refrigerated after opening. Unit price: £4.55 (approx. €5.10)

Nori sheets, 10x25g These are the seaweed sheets needed for making sushi. Unit price: £2.99 (approx. €3.35)

Pickled Ginger Sushi, 90g Pink thin-sliced ginger in brine to serve with sushi. Unit price: £3.99 (approx. €4.47)

Shichimi Togarashi Japanese mix, 50g A traditional Japanese spice mix with Sansho pepper, nori flakes, chilli and a few more. Use it for spicing up udon noodles, soups, nabemono and yakitori. Unit price: £3.95 (approx. €4.42)

Soba Noodles, 250g 100% buckwheat noodles made the traditional way. Unit price: £4.99 (approx. €5.59)

Toasted Sesame Oil, 150ml A great tasting sesame oil - use it in any dish to add some nutty flavour. Unit price: £3.75 (approx. €4.20)

Wasabi Paste, 43g This Japanese Horseradish is nothing like the horseradish we know in Europe. A tear jerker, but so good with sushi. Unit price: £3.99 (approx. €4.47)

Wasabi Paste, 63g This ready made paste is as easy to use as tomato puree in a tube...just add and feel the heat. Unit price: £5.99 (approx. €6.71)

Wasabi Powder, 50g Needs to be kept air-tight in the dark to keep its potency. Unit price: £3.99 (approx. €4.47)

Chilli con Carne mix

Brown onions and minced beef in oil, add water, soaked beans, and spice (1 teaspoon per person - make sure some bay leaves make it into the pot), chopped tomatoes, and cook until done. Make a huge pot to last you a week, as it gets better with time. I normally add some chillies as well.

Mexican Quesadilla seasoning

Season your meat or re-fried beans with this spice mix. Pile on to tortilla breads, add grated cheese, top with a second bread and fry in oil. Delicious!!

Ajowan - Carom - Kings Cumin

East African chicken soup is awesome with ajowan! Brown some onions and crushed peanuts or cashews in oil, add chopped up chicken leg - skin bones and all, they add to the flavor - brown on all sides, cover with water and cook with cumin and ajowan seeds until done; finish by stirring in a can of coconut milk. The ajowan balances out the sweetness of nuts and milk; really good quick soup.

Green Peppercorns

For a steak sauce: after frying your steak, add a good lump of butter to the pan. When melted, add a couple of teaspoons of green peppercorns and a chopped clove of garlic. Fry gently, then add 1 tbsp of good brandy, 2 tsp wholegrain mustard and 100 ml single cream. Let the sauce bubble up, then pour it over the steak.