7 things you need to do when you come visit Japan
If you are considering or already decided upon visiting Japan, here is a list of what you should not miss out on when you come and visit.
Wasabi (わさび）
Wasabi is Japanese horseradish which is grated and eaten with Sushi, Sashimi, Zaru Soba and many other dishes. As real Wasabi is highly expensive due to the difficulty in growing the Wasabi, much of the Wasabi on the market (and the ones that come in tubes) are fake which is made to resemble its real taste. Needless to say, the real Wasabi does taste better in dishes, even the ones that come in tubes or paste has a very unique flavor and makes a very big difference in terms of cooking authentic Japanese dishes.
Table of Contents
What is Wasabi?
Wasabi, which was initially consumed for anti-bacterial purposes, is often used to eat Sushi and Sashimi, Wasabi is a paste made our of grated Japanese horseradish. As outlined earlier, growing these horseradish is very difficult as they need to be grown in a specific environment (need to be submerged in clean water and etc.). Most people use Wasabi in tubes that are actually normal horseradish that is made to look and taste similar to Wasabi. As real Wasabi is very expensive, you would only find them at high end sushi restaurants. Of course, real Wasabi and Wasabi in tubes or paste does taste similar, the kick and the spiciness is much more subtle and quick in the case of real Wasabi. Fake Wasabi, on the other hand, has much more of a kick as well as the spiciness lingering on your tastebud for much longer.
Nonetheless, Wasabi is an integral part of Japanese cuisine and even the fake ones do in fact do the job. Because of the unique kick it gives to the dishes, Wasabi goes also really well with very fatty meat as the Wasabi will neutralize the oily taste. (Highly recommend eating Wagyu with Wasabi and Salt/Soy Sauce.)
Below are some of the more famous Japanese dishes that requires Mirin in the preparation of the dish.
・ Sushi (寿司)
・ Sashimi (刺身)
・ Zaru Soba (ざるそば)
・ Steak
Where can I find Wasabi?
High chances are that you will find Wasabi in your nearest Asian supermarket. However, you do not have one close by, you can also purchase them online. Amazon, Weee!, Yamibuy will have them so make sure to check those online retailers out. S&B is one of the leading manufacturer of such condiments and as Wasabi is one of their specialty, so you will not go wrong with purchasing their product.
Our Recipes using Wasabi
We have compiled some a list of dishes that you might also like for your next cooking session below.
Zaru Soba (ざるそば)
Zaru Soba (ざるそば) differs from conventional Soba as the Soba noodles are served chilled on a tray, which will also come with a dipping soup called ‘Tsuyu’.
Oyakodon (親子丼)
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Oyakodon (親子丼)
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