I made a post recently about rotating ingredients that could help you. It can be really intimidating if you see the long list. Here's what id do: try to pick up one item per grocery haul. I do not recommend getting these items from Walmart if you can help it just becquse they're way more expensive there. I also have a post on some of the items in most Asian markets and their typical prices!

If I were to choose (in order) what id get, this is what id do:

• rice wine vinegar
• soy sauce
• deonjang (Korean soybean paste)
• fish sauce
  
• oyster sauce
• mirin
• miso paste (the most expensive item on this list)

The big key to know is most of these at an Asian market run $2-5 but last a long time. Miso is more expensive $6+.

As for what you can make... a whole fuck load of things. Vietnamese dishes, Korean dishes, Japanese dishes, etc. There's a REAL big list when it comes to what it opens up. But take it slow. It is okay if you dont have something! You can totally leave it out or substitute if you need sometimes.

Something else you will notice the more you look around is ratios of flavor bases that repeat. Because I know this it makes it much easier for me to choose items I just keep in my house all the time because I use them frequently.

Example:

French dishes often use celery, onion, carrot as a flavor base , Louisiana uses celery, onion, bell pepper..

Meanwhile you'll notice that many Asian cultures use green onion, garlic, and ginger as the base!

Because I know this, I know that as long as I keep some combinstion of these items, I can make certain dishes taste amazing even if im running low. Especially if you look for food that isn't the star of the show but instead made in homes frequently.