Daikon

A signature food of Yunnan (each town has its own version, available at every restaurant and street stall), bean jelly has the consistency of very firm Jell-O. The vinegar and chile in this dish reflect the proximity of Sichuan province. For sources for the mung-bean starch, Chinese black vinegar, and daikon.

Once a favorite breakfast of the Chinese, this dish might more accurately be called a daikon scramble. But the Chinese words for carrot and daikon are almost the same, and "cake" refers to the way the rice flour binds the ingredients.

Start preparing this one day before serving — it needs to chill overnight.

This sauce adds a nice kick to Shabu-Shabu. Use it as you would wasabi in sushi restaurants.

Called banh mi in Vietnam, these delicious sandwiches are ubiquitous throughout the country and are usually eaten for breakfast. This version uses chicken instead of the traditional pork and pâté.

The chicken and pickled vegetables are meant to be wrapped up in lettuce leaves and eaten with your hands.

This recipe sponsored by Black Swan Vineyards

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

The term tataki refers to beef or fish that is seared, then chilled, marinated and thinly sliced. This ginger beef version is served with traditional tataki accompaniments—grated daikon (white radish) and ginger, chopped green onions, and a great dipping sauce.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This is a coleslaw-style salad — its sweet, spicy, and crunchy elements make it a terrific accompaniment to anything fried. Sichuan peppercorns, sometimes called fagara, can be found at many Asian markets (though they're technically banned from import because they come from a plant that is susceptible to citrus canker, a disease that devastates citrus orchards). There's no substitute for their flavor, but if you can't find them, the recipe works perfectly well without them.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Miso-Marinated Salmon with Cucumber-Daikon Relish.

Can be prepared for 45 minutes or less.

Serve the salmon with steamed rice tossed with shelled edamame (fresh green soybeans). Market tip: Choose wild Alaskan salmon, which is abundant and well regulated. Farmed salmon is controversial; salmon farms pollute wild salmon habitats and spread disease to wild salmon stocks.