CocktailsWasabi Bloody MaryHorseradish is a popular ingredient in Bloody Marys. Wasabi “kicks it up a notch.” You can add a seasoning salt to the glass rim to make it even more festive—and of course, a celery stalk for “fiber.”
Directions
Yield: 1 serving Wasabi MartiniAdding wasabi to vodka creates a foamy green cocktail. In contrast to most drinks which get more watery over time, here the initial taste is mild, but after several minutes the heat and flavor intensify. Some wasabi powder will settle out into the bottom of the glass: it can be stirred back into the liquid with the stem of the leaf (or a swizzle stick), or eaten. Ingredients
Directions
Yield: 1 serving Note: We have seen a sweet versions called “Wasabi Martini” at bars and restaurants. Examples include Stoli vanilla, sake, and wasabi; and vodka, fresh lime juice, simple syrup and wasabi. These recipes use wasabi for a kick—and there’s nothing wrong with that—but true wasabi lovers will appreciate the simple pairing of wasabi and vodka, above.
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| Avocado: Plain, drizzled with vinaigrette, or sliced with greens. Photo by Ralph Dupoux. |
Wasabi vinaigrette is delicious on a green salad. Photo by Paul Preacher. |
Wasabi Ceviche
Not only a great dish anytime, but a great diet dish. Serve it in martini glasses like they do at the top restaurants, and this simple fish preparation becomes a luxury experience. You can also serve it with cocktails in shot glasses, with small seafood forks. The citrus juice (citric acid) cures the fish: you will see it change from translucent, raw fish cubes to white, “cooked” fish. Here, wasabi paste substitutes for the traditional serrano chile. You can serve this dish as a first course with a few gourmet tortilla chips (try blue corn) or thin slices of garlic bread.
Ingredients
- 1 pound* deboned firm white fish, such as snapper or cod, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1/2 pound shrimp
- 1/2 pound scallops
- 1/2 cup of fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1/2 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 Bermuda onion, finely diced
- 1 cup of fresh peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon wasabi paste
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- Dash of hot sauce, e.g. Tabasco®
- Chopped cilantro
- Avocado for garnish (optional)
*Classic ceviche is all white fish, but we enjoy the variety of shrimp and scallops.
Directions
- Combine the fish, onion, tomatoes, wasabi paste, salt, and hot sauce in a glass or ceramic dish (don’t use metal). Cover with lime and lemon juice, coating fish thoroughly.
- Leave covered in the refrigerator for an hour, then stir again to ensure thorough coating of fish with the citrus juice.
- Let the mixture sit for at least 6 hours, giving time for the flavors to blend.
- Garnish with an avocado slice and chopped cilantro.
Yield: 4 servings
Vegetables
Wasabi Mashed Potatoes
One of our favorite comfort foods, updated. We love it with steak, chicken, fish (especially grilled salmon and tuna), or just about anything (including Asian food). If you’re a vegetarian—or having guests who are—it can be the highlight of a meal. The wasabi gives the potatoes a slight green color, so consider it along with those green bagels for St. Patrick’s Day. Ingredients
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 Wasabi mashed potatoes with grilled ahi tuna. Photo copyright Sergey Kashkin. |
- 1-1/4 cups half and half or light cream (use whole milk for less richness)
- 1 teaspoon freshly-ground white pepper (you can use black pepper, but it leaves flecks in the white potatoes)
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Directions
- Bring the potatoes to boil in a large covered pot of cold salted water. Lower the heat and boil until tender when pierced with a fork (about 12 minutes—23 minutes overall).
- While the potatoes are cooking, mix the wasabi powder with 1/4 cup of hot water until smooth. Cover the bowl and let it stand for 5 minutes.
- While the wasabi is standing, in a small saucepan, melt the butter in the milk (use moderately low heat). After the wasabi paste has stood for 5 minutes, stir it into the butter and milk mixture.
- Once the potatoes are cooked, drain them in a colander. Return them immediately to the hot pot and shake them over high heat for about 30 seconds to dry them out.
- Peel and mash the potatoes (a ricer is the most efficient way, or use an electric mixer taking care not to over-blend) and stir in the wasabi cream, salt and pepper. NOTE: You can leave the peel on for a rustic presentation.
* Russets are the potato of choice here. Yukon Golds have a lovely, thick and creamy texture and can certainly be used, but they have a less strong potato flavor and a more buttery flavor—beautiful, but gets lost under the wasabi. All-purpose Round White potatoes generally don’t have the depth of potato flavor to hold up to the wasabi. Round Red (Red Bliss) will are too dense, without enough base flavor.
This serves 6 as a side dish—in theory. But it is so good, everyone will want more; and in fact, we find that it often becomes the focus of the meal.
Sauce
Wasabi Sauce For Fish, Beef, Sandwiches, Vegetables
Here’s a versatile and tasty sauce. If you want the “diet” version, use nonfat yogurt instead of whipped cream.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons of freshly grated wasabi or wasabi paste
- 2 tablespoons of lime juice
- 1/8 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley (optional)
Directions
- Whip the cream, mix in the wasabi.
- Add the lime juice and salt.
- Add the parsley just before serving.
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