Wasabi Dip Recipe | Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer! | Moms Need To Know ™ (2024)

by Mindi Cherry

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Wasabi Dip Recipe | Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer! | Moms Need To Know ™ (1)

Ok - you really are going to need to trust me on this one, because I know that it is going to look and sound strange, but believe me when I say that this recipe just WORKS and is absolutely fabulous! If you make it, please come back and let me know what you think - because I absolutely ADORE this recipe!

My mom started making this wasabi dip recipe a few years ago and now it is a "must-serve" any time my family gets together (she is also my source for my recipe as well as my Szechuan Chicken Noodles!).. The woman can COOK!)

My mom calls it her "vegetarian sushi dip", but I think it is more like a wasabi dip. It does contain all the flavor of a California Roll (without the crab). We did talk about the next time we make it, chopping up some crab and adding that...I will let you know if we do!

If you are unfamiliar with wasbai, it is basically "Japanese horseradish" and it carries quite a kick! Luckily, with the cream cheese, it cuts down on some of the "horseradishey-ness" (it's a word!). If you are new to wasabi all I can tell you is "take it slow". I can eat it by the teaspoon-full, but many people can't handle more than the size of a pea! Either way - if you have any kind of a cold, I can almost guarantee you that it will clear out your sinuses!

You should be able to find all of the ingredients in the Asian section of your grocery stores (my stores carry both regular AND organic wasabi - made by Eden). If your store doesn't carry the wasabi powder, but they make sushi on site, see if you can buy the wasabi from the guy making the sushi (I know that Wegmans just sells containers of it right next to the sushi).

Wasabi Dip Recipe | Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer! | Moms Need To Know ™ (2)

I do want to say one thing about the crackers. The Ka-Me Wasabi Rice Crackers are just the only ones that we will use ever since we found them in the store one time. Before that, we were using "regular" rice crackers and they were fine, but the wasabi crackers just make this wasabi dipperfect! We usually have no problem finding them in the grocery store (although if you shop at Walmart or Target Super Centers, they may not carry it...but as long as you have a grocery store with a decent "international selection", you should be fine).

If you are using wasabi powder (and have used it before), you know that you just mix it up with water to your desired consistency. You want it "spreadable", so really the consistency of peanut butter. If you end up buying pre-made wasabi, you may want to dilute with a little water to make it more spreadable (sushi bar wasabi tends to be really thick)

If you can't find black sesame seeds - don't worry about it. The main reason that I use a combination of black & white on top of the cream cheese is that itjust gives the wasabi dipsome more color. Otherwise, you have cream cheese that is slightly colored by soy sauce and topped with white sesame seeds. The addition of the black ones just makes it look less "blah".

The next time I make it, I will be sure to take a few "process" pictures (I actually took this picture on Christmas because my mom made it and I thought to myself "WHY haven't I posted this yet?") so you can see how it is made step-by-step, but you really shouldn't need them - it is just so easy to make!

Ingredients:

  • 1 pkg cream cheese
  • ¼ - ⅓ cup wasabi paste, prepared to a "peanut butter/spreadable" consistency (made from powder or buy it where you buy sushi and dilute it)
  • 3 T white sesame seeds
  • 3 T black sesame seeds
  • soy sauce (about ⅓ - ½ cup, depending on the size of your serving dish)
  • Ka-Me Wasabi Rice crackers (or Seaweed flavor or regular rice crackers if you can't find them)

Scroll down for the complete directions!

Wasabi Dip Recipe | Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer! | Moms Need To Know ™ (3)

Wasabi Dip Recipe | Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer! | Moms Need To Know ™ (4)

Wasabi Dip Recipe | Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer!

This wasabi dip is always a HUGE hit whenever I make it and couldn't be simpler. It has all the taste of a California Roll and can be assembled in about 5 minutes!

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Author: Mindi

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg cream cheese
  • ¼ – ⅓ cup wasabi paste prepared to a “peanut butter/spreadable” consistency (made from powder or buy it where you buy sushi and dilute it)
  • 3 T white sesame seeds
  • 3 T black sesame seeds
  • soy sauce about ⅓ – ½ cup, depending on the size of your serving dish
  • Ka-Me Wasabi Rice crackers or Seaweed flavor or regular rice crackers if you can’t find them

Instructions

  • Unwrap the cream cheese and cut it in half horizontally

  • Mix up your wasabi powder to a “peanut butter consistency” and spread the wasabi on top of ½ of the cream cheese

  • Place the other half of the cream cheese on top of the wasabi. Press down lightly to make your “sandwich” blend together.

  • Place your “wasabi sandwich” on a serving dish that has a lip and pour soy sauce over the cream cheese/wasabi, allowing it to puddle in the dish.

  • Top with sesame seeds and serve with Ka-Me Wasabi Rice Crackers

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lindsay Eidahl

    Looks yummy! Thanks for sharing on Show Me Saturday!

Wasabi Dip Recipe | Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer! | Moms Need To Know ™ (2024)

FAQs

What does wasabi go well with? ›

Learn how to use one of Japanese cuisine's most controversial condiments with these wasabi recipes. Although wasabi is most commonly used to add a hint of heat to sushi, it can also be used to add a real punch or a subtle accent to dips and sauces, pasta, chicken, tofu and more.

What are the ingredients in wasabi? ›

Since authentic wasabi is expensive, most wasabi found in grocery stores and with prepackaged sushi is made of powdered horseradish and artificial color. It may also contain mustard powder and thickening agents like flour or cornstarch. If you love that horseradish zip, try these horseradish recipes.

Can I make my own wasabi? ›

Other ways to make wasabi:

It can also be purchased in a dried powder form or as a ready-to-use paste packed in tubes. However, there are alternative ways to make wasabi paste using other ingredients. The most common method is to mix grated horseradish with mustard powder, cornstarch, and green food coloring.

What do you do with wasabi powder? ›

Wasabi powder is the dried form of Japanese horseradish that is commonly seen as a paste on the side of your sushi plate. In fact, you can add water to wasabi powder to form your own paste at home. We've used wasabi powder on fish, mostly tuna, but you can add it to mashed potatoes, eggs, or salad dressings.

How do you eat wasabi for beginners? ›

Start Small: If you're new to wasabi, start with a small amount and gradually increase the quantity as you become more accustomed to its heat and flavor. Respect the Flavor: Wasabi is known for its intense heat, so it's important to use it in moderation to avoid overpowering the delicate flavors of the sushi.

How is wasabi supposed to be eaten? ›

Wasabi is a popular accompaniment to sushi rolls or sashimi. It can be added to soy sauce for dipping or spread directly onto raw fish.

Is wasabi hotter than horseradish? ›

Firstly, real wasabi isn't as hot as horseradish. Its flavour is fresher, sweeter and more fragrant. Its colour is generally a more natural green, which makes sense as it's not added artificially. Moreover, the shade of green varies greatly depending on the specific cultivar.

Is wasabi an inflammatory food? ›

Wasabi Has Anti-inflammatory Properties

Its anti-inflammatory properties have many advantages for our overall health. For example, by reducing inflammation, the compounds in wasabi can help reduce pain, promote joint health, and may even lower the risk of chronic inflammatory conditions.

What's the difference between wasabi and horseradish? ›

In prepared form, horseradish is somewhat coarsely grated, while wasabi is ground to the finest possible paste. Some (but not all) cultivars of wasabi are green; for others, green coloring is often added during processing.

Why can't you mix wasabi and soy sauce? ›

Sushi chefs discourage the mixing as creating the concoction taints the soy sauce and ruins both the spiciness and aroma of wasabi. The proper way to enjoy sushi is to apply wasabi onto the fish element of sushi and dip pieces of sushi fish side down into soy sauce to not over-saturate the morsel.

Why can't you get wasabi in America? ›

And the reason it's scarce is because it only grows in a really specific climate. Even within Japan, wasabi's a finicky plant that won't grow in most places. It requires an environment with lots of moisture, it doesn't like hot temperatures, and it shuns sunlight.

What is the fake wasabi called? ›

"American wasabi", also known as "Western wasabi", is the fake wasabi mentioned in this article. It is made of European horseradish, and totally different to real Japanese wasabi.

Can you buy real wasabi in the United States? ›

In the United States, most wasabi served in sushi restaurants or sold in stores is actually a mixture of horseradish, mustard, and food coloring, rather than real wasabi. However, there are a few specialty retailers and online stores in the United States that offer real wasabi, either fresh or freeze-dried.

Does wasabi powder need to be refrigerated? ›

It can be stored at a room temperature before opening. Once opened, remove air in the container, close the cap firmly and keep it refrigerated. Put in an airtight container such as food storage container or bag with zipper, and store in cool dry place away from direct sunlight.

What do Japanese eat wasabi with? ›

Love it or hate it, wasabi is one of the more well-known condiments served with Japanese cooking, most commonly served with sushi. Mixed with soy sauce, or served directly on top of sushi, a little dash of wasabi gives a real spicy kick to raw fish but without leaving an aftertaste.

What Flavours go with wasabi? ›

Ginger and wasabi go well together, though the combined heat sensation of both might be a bit too punchy for most. Other Asian flavors like sesame and lemongrass would also be a good match. For ice cream, I'd go with coconut or lime as the main flavor to add the wasabi too.

What do you put wasabi sauce on? ›

Serve as a dipping sauce for sushi or sashimi. Wasabi Deviled Eggs: Mix together 1 tablespoon of wasabi paste, 6 hard-boiled egg yolks, 1/4 cup of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. Spoon the mixture into the egg white halves and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Does wasabi taste good with steak? ›

This pairing is so good, I have not yet had steak – any steak - without wasabi since my first bite. It's amazing and I'm not just saying that as a wasabi farmer. I've also tried it with albacore tuna steaks, pork loin and roast, turkey (both breast and deli slices, a la carte and in sandwiches), and roast beef.

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