What’s New In Store: ENSO — Japanese Ingredients Range

Quick Japanese home cooking, made easy

By Chef Ian — Underground Chef

Japanese home cooking is one of my favourite styles to lean on — big flavour, light on ingredients, and surprisingly quick once you’ve got the right pantry staples.

Japanese food can feel a bit “too hard” to make at home — but it doesn’t have to be.
That’s why I love the ENSO range. These simple Japanese meal kits and pantry staples take the guesswork out of prep, so you can get crispy karaage, light tempura and proper tonkatsu-style crunch happening without a long ingredient list or fancy gear.

Give it a go — you might surprise yourself just how quick these dishes are to pull together… and how much you enjoy the results.

Why ENSO earns pantry space

• Fast, reliable results (perfect for weeknights)
• Classic flavours without a long ingredient list
• Versatile staples (panko + tonkatsu sauce = more than one job)
• Great for families: everyone loves crispy, crunchy, saucy comfort food

What we stock (and how to use it)

ENSO Karaage Cooking Set — Karaage Fried Chicken Kit

Crispy Japanese fried chicken with a proper karaage-style finish.
Includes: coating mix + sauce.

How I use it:

• chicken pieces for easy “better than takeaway” dinner
• also great on tofu or cauliflower if you want a veg version
• serve with rice + shredded cabbage + a squeeze of lemon

ENSO Tempura Cooking Set

Tempura is the quintessential Japanese fried dish — light, crisp, and ridiculously addictive.

How I use it:

• prawns, fish, or vegetables (sweet potato + zucchini are unreal)
• serve with a dipping sauce and you’ve got instant “Japanese night” at home
• leftovers? tempura in a rice bowl with a drizzle of sauce = gold

ENSO Panko Breadcrumbs

Panko is the foundation of tonkatsu-style crunch — airy, crisp, and far better than regular breadcrumbs for frying and baking.

More than one job:

• coat chicken, prawns, fish before frying
• crisp topping for mac & cheese or baked pasta
• crunchy coating for croquettes or veggie patties

ENSO Tonkatsu Sauce (150ml)

That sweet-tangy, “why is this so good?” dipping sauce you know from Japanese restaurants.
Perfect partner for anything breaded and crispy.

More than one job:

• drizzle over tonkatsu, karaage, nuggets (yes, even the kids’ stuff)
• dip for tempura or crumbed prawns
• quick burger sauce: tonkatsu + mayo = instant upgrade

Final thought from Chef Ian

“Take the hard out of Japanese food at home — start with a kit, follow the steps, and have a bit of fun with it. You’ll be hooked.” — Chef Ian

Chef Ian