So guess what? I’ve made it to the fourth and final round of the Marx Foods Ridiculously Delicious Challenge! Whee! As part of the final round, a super secret mystery ingredient was overnighted to me. If you follow my Tweets, you’ll have read my guesses on what it could be. Well, guess no longer – the secret ingredient is WASABI!
Wait a minute – isn’t it supposed to look like green paste, accompanied by some DayGlo ginger? Well surprise, surprise – the wasabi that accompanies your California roll oftentimes is not actually wasabi…
That’s right, kiddos – wasabi as an ingredient is usually quite expensive, so you are often dipping your sushi into a mix of horseradish, mustard and food coloring instead of actual wasabi (just check out the ingredients on your typical wasabi tube).
But I’m not working with horseradish here – Marx Foods sent over three rhizomes of green daruma wasabi. Nuanced, delicate and slightly sweet, daruma wasabi is heads and shoulders above the horseradish mix. I’ve only had authentic wasabi two times in my life – and it was life-changing! If you ever have the chance, you’ve GOT to try it.
Wasabi is not the easiest ingredient to use or store – right now, the three rhizomes are resting in damp towels in the fridge, and I need to check on them periodically. But I am so excited to create a recipe using this hard-to-find ingredient – I already have a few ideas in mind! So stay tuned; I’ll be going wasabi-crazy in the next week or so!
Are you a wasabi fan?
22 Comments
Cathleya
March 18, 2011 at 5:44 amMmm! HUGE FAN! I was a waitress at a Japanese restaurant in college and they used to fresh grind the wasabi every day…the guy that did it wore a mask and gloves…I hope you have some sort of equally awesome face/hand protection? OOOOOOOwie! I can't wait to see what you come up with with one of my fave ingredients!
Jessica
March 18, 2011 at 12:50 pmAh! I can't wait to see how you use them.
Kim
March 18, 2011 at 12:54 pmYay! I can't wait to see what you decide to make. I know you've already made spicy chocolate, but Vosges makes an amazing wasabi chocolate bar – it's so yummy!
Peggy
March 18, 2011 at 1:51 pmI'm totally a wasabi fan! And this amazes me at how crazy actual wasabi looks! Never would have guessed it! Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Alice
March 18, 2011 at 2:24 pmMy mouth literally gaped open when I read the about the horseradish mix pawned off as wasabi I was eating at sushi restaurants – no. way! I will never look at it the same way…
Congrats on getting to round 4 and can't wait to see what your next concoction is!
BigAppleNosh
March 18, 2011 at 2:59 pmGranted, not all sushi restaurants serve the horseradish mix (case in point the place Cathleya used to work at), but I've had many a dyed-green paste next to my Sushi Combo A!
Geek in Heels
March 18, 2011 at 3:03 pmI know I don't comment often but it's because I'm not a very good cook (aside from a few Korean dishes) and frankly, I get a bit intimidated by all the great recipes and restaurant reviews you post here. (Not a BAD intimidated, but more like, WOW I COULD NEVER DO THAT intimidated)
That being said, I am a HUGE fan on wasabi and I can't wait to see what you come up with! Best of luck!
BigAppleNosh
March 18, 2011 at 3:10 pmGeek in Heels – thanks for your super-sweet comment! To be honest, I'm learning as I go when it comes to cooking (I'm more of a baker) so please don't be intimidated! I don't know what I'm doing, ha! I'd LOVE to try some Korean recipes though – thus far, I'm more of a consumer of Korean food than making it.
lavenderpug
March 18, 2011 at 3:22 pmso exciting! congrats on getting to the next round, and i'm positive that you're going to come up with something awesome for the wasabi.
San Jose Love
March 18, 2011 at 3:30 pmwow that looks like a huge challenge. Thanks for informing us that wasabi from the tube is not real wasabi. I'm glad I know.
Jade
March 18, 2011 at 6:07 pmI can't wait to see what you do with the wasabi! To be honest, I don't know if I have ever tried the real deal. My assumption is that most restaurants around here just use the powder stuff.
kelsey@mintedlife
March 18, 2011 at 8:43 pmSo exciting!! I've never had the real thing, but I would love to try it!! I can't wait to see what you do with it.
labonnebouche
March 18, 2011 at 9:09 pmCan't wait to see your recipe. I am a wasabi addict, but unfortunatelly I never tried the real deal.
Tiffany
March 19, 2011 at 1:03 amWow! I had NO IDEA that that's what real wasabi looks like!!!
lobster
March 19, 2011 at 3:24 pmCool! I can't wait to see what you come up with. I've never had real wasabi before!
honey my heart
March 20, 2011 at 4:23 amvery excited to see what you do with wasabi! i use it very little when eating sushi, but am very interested in seeing it in other dishes.
Ghenet
March 21, 2011 at 12:03 amSo cool! I had no idea that most wasabi in sushi restaurant was fake. Crazy! I'm excited to see what you come up with.
Anni
March 21, 2011 at 5:16 pmI am such a wimp when it comes to wasabi! It's really cool to see its true form though. What a neat challenge!
THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE
March 22, 2011 at 1:40 amHell to the yeah! Love wasabi!!! Or at least I think I do. Who knows what I've been eating 🙂
charms
March 22, 2011 at 2:04 pmOhh I love Wasabi – can't wait to see what recipes you come up with!
Big Apple Nosh: NYC Food Blog | New York | Food | Restaurants | Recipes | Reviews | NoshGirl Chef: WASABI!
July 10, 2011 at 10:18 am[…] so excited that the secret ingredient is fresh wasabi (I wrote about its unique properties here) and had such a tough time narrowing down my options to just one […]
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