Best Gifts for Asian Cooking Enthusiasts (under $15)

Check out these stocking stuffers for that Asian cook who has everything or wants to have everything. At these prices, you can keep on giving these gifts year after year.

These items are inexpensive, but they work. Plus if they break, they are cheap enough to replace.

However, don’t be fooled into thinking they are poor quality. These work for their intended purpose just as well as any other product.

#1 Easy Vegetable Grater ($6)

Kiwi Pro Slice Peeler

If you buy anything on this list, make it this one.

Shred carrots, green papaya, green mangos, and any hard vegetable you’d like to cut. Squash or pumpkin perhaps?

When I took cooking classes in Cambodia and Thailand, we used this grater all the time for prepping vegetables.

It is 1000 times easier than trying to julienne carrots with a knife.

#2 Scallion Shredder ($7)

Green Onion Negi Cutter

You could practice your knife skills to finely shred scallions, but why would you when you have this tool?

You can make the prettiest garnish of green onions for your steamed fish, cold noodles, or ramen bowls.

#3 Mandoline Slicer ($13)

Progressive Adjust-a-Slice Mandoline

A high end mandoline can run upwards of $100. That is fine, if you actually plan to use it, but then you will also need to make sure you sharpen the blade too just like a knife.

This low end mandoline is great for the some time cook who wants to thin slice ginger, zucchini, or potatoes.

#4 Spider ($9)

Stainless steel spider set

You need a spider for fishing egg rolls out of hot oil or green vegetables out of boiling water.

Works especially well for fishing out pasta and dumplings instead of carrying the whole pot of boiling water to the sink and dumping it out with the ensuing hot steam bath hitting your face.

#5 Chinese Soup Spoons ($11)

Commercial grade Chinese soup spoons

No matter what you eat out of these spoons, it just feels more Asian when you do.

In addition, they can double as serving vessels for small bites of appetizers such as hamachi crudo.

Notch and Hook Style Soup Spoons

For $13, you can upgrade and get the notched style spoons that will hang onto the rim, so it doesn’t completely fall into the bowl.

#6 Matcha Tea Set ($13)

Bamboo Japanese Tea Set

Whether you drink matcha tea or cook with it, this is the “authentic” set to have to scoop it and most importantly whisk it into hot water for tea.

Since matcha tea comes in powder form, it must be whisked thoroughly to fully dissolve into liquid.

This little bamboo whisk greatly helps with that task and also makes it feel more like a true tea ceremony.

#7 Dumpling Press ($5)

Helen’s Asian Kitchen Dumpling Press

Well, this may cause some controversy.

But it’s $4.99, so that may alleviate any horrific thoughts of inauthenticity.

Truth be told, making potstickers from scratch is tragically time consuming. This dumpling press makes it a wee bit easier, so you don’t have to painstakingly make your own pleats.