Steamer basket

This may seem like an odd one to include on a list of kitchen essentials. But as this is a cookbook for Asian cooking, a steamer basket is pretty much one of the most important kitchen tools. In Asia, so many things are steamed, from plain vegetables to lovely stuffed buns and dumplings. I use a bamboo steamer that’s the same diameter as my saucepan, and line it with baking paper. You can also get a metal steamer insert, which folds up and so is a lot more compact to store.