With Wasabi, or Witihout?

Wasabi - Wasabi paste, adds adventure to the sushi experience

@syfarisk (378)

Malaysia

October 28, 2008 10:49pm CST

Wasabi is a Japanese horseradish. It is in the form of green paste. The Japanese love to have sushi or sashimi with wasabi. Wasabi has a very strong hot flavour. It is not like the heat that you feel when you eat chilli or black pepper, it's different and I am not quite sure how to explain it. But the magical thing is after you eat it, the taste dissipates and it doesn't leave that burning aftertaste in your mouth. Your eyes will gets watery and you will feel a little sensation at the back of your head. I am not sure if everyone agrees with me or not as I am not sure how to explain it, but that is how I feel when I eat it. Maybe you can leave a comment. The Japanese definitely love wasabi with sushi. However, sushi lovers in Europe and US, and also in Malaysia, not all, but quite a lot of them do not actually like wasabi. They prefer to just eat it with soy sauce. I think you should try it as it is a great experience. It is also proven to release stress, and it really does, I have experienced it. What do you think, do you prefer to eat sushi with wasabi?

3 people like this

17 responses

@TheCatLady (4691)

• Israel

2 Nov 08

I love wasabi. I use it in a lot of my cooking. Unfortunatly most if the wasabi outside of Japan is mixed with mustard and regular horseradish.

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@TheCatLady (4691)

• Israel

6 Dec 08

I love real wasabi. It's very good. I have to read the ingredients very carefully to make sure it's pure. The real pure wasabi costs more, but it's worth it. I would love to grow some in my yard.

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

7 Dec 08

Yes, you should. In fact I have read somewhere that having your own wasabi farm is very profitable. You can grow them and supply them to others, and make lots of money.

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

Mustard? You're referring to the wasabi in sauce form is it? I heard that in Europe and America wasabi is in the form a sauce. It's supposed to be not so strong because it's mixed with other things that reduces its wasabi concentration. Here in Malaysia wasabi is in the form of a green paste. I think it's naturally horseradish, crushed and mixed with water. It is very strong in flavour.

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@jamesgrub (673)

• United States

29 Oct 08

oh my gosh that stuff is so strong i have never eaten it but i smell it every time i get sushi and just the smell about knocks me out. my dad eats it sometimes on his sushi when we get it and he eats that pink stuff i forget what its called. i really like to eat sushi its one of my favorites but i do not think i would like wasabi its just way to strong.

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

29 Oct 08

The pink stuff, I think it's japanese ginger, or something like that. Correct me if I'm wrong. You smelt it, but you've never eaten it right? You should, maybe once, hehe. You never know, you might like it! Have a nice day!

1 person likes this

@mssnow (9484)

• United States

29 Oct 08

Ginger is ok but still I dont care for it enough to eat it with my sushi

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

I see. There are some sushi that I prefer to eat without wasabi or the ginger. For example, like unagi, or the eel, that one I'm sure most people will like to eat it on its own, so that you can appreciate the taste of the unagi. Adding wasabi or ginger to it kind of spoil that special unagi taste.

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@cripfemme (7698)

• United States

5 Dec 08

without. I ate wasabi once in my life thought I was going to die and never did it again.

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

Hehe. You thought you were going to die is it? That's quite funny. Yes, the experience is quite weird. Difficult to describe. Especially for those who do like it. It's difficult to explain why we like it.

@gsmile88 (151)

• Canada

30 Oct 08

Without. Definitely without. Wasabi, chili, curry, any hot or spicy sauce, spice, or dipping, I can do without. That stuff is so strong! I got some on my sushi by accident last time, and I just stuffed it in my mouth. Wow it burned my throat. I think I started crying. So I can do without. :)

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

Yes I started crying also, the first time I tried it. But somehow I was tempted to have it the second time, because I purposely wanted to feel the sensation once again. Since that, wasabi is a must in sushi for me.

@Beruang (1309)

• Malaysia

30 Oct 08

I love wasabi! My sushi would not be complete if served without wasabo. Sometimes, I would mix the wasabi and the soy sauce together and that would give another great taste to my sushi! The first time I ate wasabi, I was not prepared for the "sting" and I had tears in my eyes right after I put the wasabi spread sushi in my mouth.

from that moment onwards, having sushi without wasabi is like eating steak without the A1 steak sauce or eating popcorns without any butter. The sushi would still taste good but the wasabi makes it a lot better. I am not sure whether it would release stress but if not having wasabi on your sushi is stressful, then wasabi would definitely release that stress...

Cheers!

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

Yes, wasabi can do that. It can release the stresses that we experience at the time. You can feel that the internal components of your face being cleaned and all the stresses are released after you eat wasabi.

@alleroid16 (943)

• Philippines

30 Oct 08

waaa. i don't like wasabi.

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

Have you tried it?

@urbandekay (18278)

•

29 Oct 08

I have eaten Wasabi with Sashimi and Sushi in Japan and like it. Here in UK with horseradish sauces a hot one and a mild one. The hot one is, perhaps a little hotter than Wasabi and the mild one is much milder. I think you might like to try making cheese-on-toast (Welsh rarebit) with horse radish sauce, it really brings out the flavour of the cheese. I also add it when making mashed potatoes all the best urban

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

Oh I see. It's in the form of a sauce, is it? Well, that's a bit different to the one we have here, I think. Here it's in the form of a powdery paste, it's not really a sauce.

@krebstar5 (1266)

• United States

29 Oct 08

I'm a huge fan of spicy things, so I prefer my sushi with just a little bit of wasabi rubbed in between the rice and the fish. I will still eat it if I don't have any wasabi, but thankfully sushi were I am pretty much always comes with a little bit of wasabi on the side so that you can use as much or as little as you like.

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

Yes, I think sushi lovers from Asia will like it with wasabi more than those from the West because of the fact that we are used to eating spicy food.

@mssnow (9484)

• United States

29 Oct 08

well I love sushi but only the california roles. Not into raw fish. I would not eat sushimi. As far as wasabi. Not for me. I have tried it and dont like the taste. But never did like horeradish. So Ill take my sushi cooked fish and all and just eat it plain lol

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

Oh really? One of the things that attracted me to sushi when I first tried it is the raw fish. Usually fish is eaten cooked, so to have raw fish, sometimes smoked, is very tempting at the time, and that's why I tried sushi for the first time, and continue to love it since. The salmon is definitely one of the most popular sushi among sushi lovers here in Malaysia.

@moneyandgc (3428)

• United States

29 Oct 08

My husband and I take a small amount of the wasabi and mix it into the dish of soy sauce. Then we dip the sushi into it before eating. I love to eat sushi that way. I don't eat the ginger though.

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

That's a popular practice among sushi lovers here in Malaysia also. I personally don't do that. But I understand why some people do. You can distribute the wasabi into the sushi better when it's mixed with the soy sauce. However, mixing it with soy sauce does reduce it's strength. But from what I know, it's not the right way to do it, this I'm referring to the Japanese practice.

@SomeCowgirl (32191)

• United States

30 Oct 08

I have not gotten sushi since before I moved but when I did get sushi I never liked to eat th wasabi as I just felt that it was too strong of a taste for me to actually enjoy it's flavor. I am also not one for eating spicy foods so the bit of spice that is tasted is just too much for me. I am very much americanized in the way I eat now, and enjoy things with some spice but not too much as too much just isn't very tasty to me at all.

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

Yes, I think the European and American sushi lovers will tend to not like wasabi. But I personally don't see wasabi as a spice. The ingredient is horseradish, it's not a spice, it's a vegetable, one that has a strong flavour. When you eat Indian food, you eat it spicy and that leaves that full stomach feeling after you eat. That's due to the spices. That's how I think spice is defined. But wasabi is not really a spice, because it doesn't leave a hot aftertaste in the mouth like chilli, and it doesn't make you feel full in your stomach. The sensation is mainly due to some gas that is released and dissipates in your nose, head, mouth and throat. After a while, the whole sensation will disappear, and not leave an aftertaste.

@shelly0427 (19)

• United States

29 Oct 08

Definitely WITH wasabi and extra at that. I (and I've heard this is the wrong way to do it)love to put the wasabi in the soy sauce. You can then get the full flavor covering the sushi instead of a little wasabi on it.

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

But I think the concentration of the wasabi flavour will not be as strong when you mix it with soy sauce. The distribution will be better though because it's in liquid form. But you can always put more wasabi in the soy sauce if you wish to experience a stronger wasabi flavour. Here in Malaysia a lot of people do that also. But yes, I think it's the wrong way to do it. Hehe.

@Shellyann36 (11385)

• United States

29 Oct 08

I love wasabi sauce! I do eat it with my sushi. I also love to dip my pickled ginger in it! It is so good. Great for head colds as well. I want to learn how to create it! Does anyone know?

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

I don't know. But logically, I think they just take Japanese horseradish, and crush them and mix it with a bit of water. I'm not sure but I think there's another ingredient added to it.

@Grace030174 (741)

• Qatar

29 Oct 08

hi syfarisk I like wasabi in sushi.....california Maki it has an aftertaste effect but i like it. The more you eat the more you love hahhaha Happy mylotting

aftertaste effect

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

The first time I ate wasabi, honestly I didn't like it. But somehow I felt like wanting to try it the second time, because I wanted to experience it. Since that second time trying, I changed from not liking it, to loving it. Wasabi is a must with sushi for me.

@ladysurvivor (4746)

• Malaysia

29 Oct 08

I have not known that eating Wasabi will give you a great sensation feeling at the back of your head. I like it if its like that. I think I would try to eat sushi with wasabi to taste the real feeling of heat. And is it true there will be no residue of burning immediately after we swallow the food? I have to taste it since I have never eaten a wasabi before. Thanks for sharing!

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

30 Oct 08

Oh yea, and not to forget the nose. You'll feel the wasabi effect there also. For some people, your eyes will become watery as well. Hehe.

@momforwork (161)

• Philippines

29 Oct 08

Hi syfarisk... Japanese food leaves me a less bloated feeling even if I've taken more than my usual moderation in quantity. Wasabi is a must for me when I take sushi, sashimi, maki & temaki. Combined in some shoyu or ponzu, it makes for an enjoyable meal. There are a number of health benefits that are attributed to Japanese cuisine. Wasabi for one is said to be a powerful antioxidant and it helps stimulate digestion and detoxifies the liver. It is said to also help fight cancer of the prostate. Wasabi is a plant and it is rare and expensive. Real wasabi comes powdered in a can and is mixed with water. Since it deceptively comes in a jar or tube that says Wasabi, you need to read the actual ingredients to know for sure. Happy mylotting...

@syfarisk (378)

• Malaysia

6 Dec 08

I'm not sure if it is true or not, but some people told me that the wasabi is eaten with sushi because it is needed to kill the bacteria that's contained in the raw food in sushi.

@katrhina23 (1282)

• United States

7 Dec 08

i really cant stand the smell of wasabi. what more its taste. i just dont enjoy japanese food. :(