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Fresh wasabi paste
Real wasabi is starting to make its mark in Hawaii. With the availability of the fresh knobby rhizome at Asian markets such as Marukai and Daiei, appreciation for the real stuff is increasing. But for those who don't want the hassle of grating the root, fresh wasabi in a tube has arrived to supplant the cheap imitation horseradish paste that we have come to think of as wasabi.
Pure, 100 percent wasabi paste is available in a handful of stores around town from Pacific Farms in Florence, Ore., one of the largest commercial growers of wasabi outside Japan. The wasabi is grown hydroponically and harvested year-round.
The basics: Wasabi is a perennial plant native to Japan. It is very difficult to cultivate and has been successfully grown in only a few places outside Japan, such as Oregon and Vancouver, Canada.
Fresh wasabi possesses an antimicrobial agent and is known to protect against certain bacteria.
A local courier company started distributing the fresh wasabi paste on the Big Island, initially at KTA Markets, restaurants and hotels, and is now introducing the product to Oahu stores.
The paste is very different from common tube wasabi, which is essentially made up of horseradish, Chinese mustard and green food coloring. Fresh wasabi paste is a bit watery and grittier in texture and doesn't have the vibrant green color of imitation paste. The heat is also subtler, taking a bit longer to hit the back of your throat.
Storing: Real wasabi paste is perishable and needs refrigeration. Although it is recommended to use the paste immediately, it will generally keep about a month. It may also be frozen in the tube.
Use: Traditionally, wasabi is used to enhance raw seafood or soba dishes, made into a dip with soy sauce. Ideally, however, a dab of real wasabi should be placed first on sashimi or sushi and dipped slightly in soy sauce. In this manner the true flavor of wasabi is enjoyed without being drowned in soy sauce.
Fresh wasabi is now being used in many other ways -- in dressings, as a condiment to steak and even in ice cream.
Where to buy: Pacific Farms wasabi paste should be available soon at all Times, Longs and Daiei stores, but is at only some outlets now. It can also be found at Tamashiro Market and Shirokiya. Look for it in the refrigerated section where tofu and similar products are sold. The paste is expensive at $5 to $5.50 per 1.53-ounce tube. But remember, you're paying for the real thing.
Food Stuffs: Morsels
Eleanor Nakama-Mitsunaga is
a free-lance food writer. Contact her
online through features@starbulletin.com
