These Flavor-Bomb Sauces Are the Definition of “Spice Up Your Life”
Beef bulgogi, a Korean dish that I’m obsessed with, requires a ton of different ingredients that I have no clue how to use in any other dishes. For that reason, I’ve never even contemplated trying to make it myself…until I discovered Omsom.
The brand’s bold, colorful sauce packets nearly jumped off the shelf and into my cart at Whole Foods a few weeks ago, and after discovering how easy it was to make my favorite dish with their Spicy Bulgogi sauce, I promptly ordered their Try ‘Em All Set online to test out all of their insanely flavorful sauces.
I’d been feeling uninspired in the kitchen, but ever since then, I’ve been feeling like an Iron Chef. If you’ve never heard of Omsom, boy have you been missing out.
Omsom: Proud, Loud Asian Flavors
The startup was founded by sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham with the goal of enabling home cooks to effortlessly create authentic Asian dishes right in their own kitchens—and they didn’t do it alone. They teamed up with six chefs from New York City and San Fransisco’s hottest restaurants to reimagine Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Filipino cuisines into ready-to-use sauces that pack a serious punch.
By selling a variety of starter packets containing all of the ingredients that the respective Asian cuisines have used for hundreds of years, Omsom is breaking down barriers and opening up a whole new world of possibilities for their customers. All that’s needed to complete each dish is a simple ingredient list on a recipe card, and 30 minutes of cooking time or less.
Or, if you’re feeling particularly bold, you can add their sauces into your favorite dishes for a freestyle fusion-twist on comfort foods like these cheesy potato balls (the Omsom Instagram account is a gold mine of recipes).
Choose Your Own Adventure
Omsom has a ton of different sauces available, and they’re all fire. My recommendation is to get one of the company’s sampler kits to try a variety. On Omsom’s website, there are two main sets broken down by region—the Southeast Asian set and the East Asian set (but they even have a vegan-friendly set). Here’s what you need to know about them:
The Southeast Asian Omsom Sampler
This set marries together the fiery, tangy, and savory flavors from Thailand, Vietnam, and the Phillipines, and includes two packets of each sauce.
This set is completely gluten-free and contains enough sauce to make 18+ delicious meals.
The East Asian Omsom Sampler
This set features three packets each of the most tantalizing, spicy dishes from three mouth-watering cuisines: Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.
This set is vegan-friendly and contains enough sauce to make 18+ delicious meals as well!
Omsom Brought the Joy Back to Cooking for Me
Besides the fact that these sauces are certifiably delicious, I love how simple they are to use. They help me get dinner on the table in 20-30 minutes, and I don’t have to stress out about buying a ton of ingredients or dirtying a bunch of measuring bowls and spoons.
However, it’s not just the ease of use that has turned me into a fanatic. Omsom’s sauce kits have provided a welcome change of pace. I’m taken out of my rut of mindless eating by the incredible flavors in each dish—spicy, smoky, umami, salty, and refreshing. I’ve been inspired to experiment in the kitchen by the small packets, and now I feel confident making meals I’ve only ever had in restaurants. Both my body and my mind are nourished by Omsom’s sauces.
In fact, I’m not the only one who loves Omsom food: they’ve been featured in Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Food & Wine, and countless other publications (in addition to being beloved by thousands of customers).
Where Can I Buy Omsom?
As I mentioned, I actually discovered Omsom at Whole Foods, but they’re also available in select stores nationwide in the US. You can check out their store locator here. But in order to get the full experience, I’d suggest ordering directly from their website.
You can buy individual four-packs of the flavors you’re most interested in, but part of the fun is discovering new flavors, so don’t limit yourself! The Best Sellers pack is a best-seller for a reason—but if you’re like me and your motto is “go big or go home,” you can’t go wrong with the Try ‘Em All Set.
Now go forth, and get ready to spice up your cooking!
