Fresh ginger is a basic ingredient in Vietnamese cooking, beloved for its intense, sweet-and-sharp seasoning powers. It’s often cooked with chicken and fish. Fresh ginger can be found in most supermarkets as well as in Asian markets. To chop it, cut off a good chunk, set it, cut side down, on the cutting board, and shave off the peeling. Then cut it crosswise into coins. Stack these up, cut across the stack, making thin strips, and you’ve got shred.