What’s in Your Pantry

No Chinese kitchen is complete without an array of mysterious jars full of funky sauces and bright red pastes, or bottles of dark liquids that all look like soy sauce at first glance. Though this collection might seem extravagant, each of these condiments adds an extra dash of flavor to our dishes, creating a base layer of umami or a top note of acid to finish off a bite. Here’s what you’ll need to get your Xi’an pantry started.