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

More Appetizers

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  • Sesame Baked Tofu Bites with Sriracha Mayo
  • Roasted Beet Hummus Recipe

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 are the ingredients for wasabi? ›

Tubes of already prepared wasabi paste contain the following ingredients: Horseradish, Sorbitol, Rice Bran Oil, Sugar, Modified Food Starch, Salt, Water, Cellulose, Wasabi, Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Turmeric, Xanthan Gum, Artificial Color (FD&C Blue#1).

How to create wasabi? ›

To make wasabi paste from powder, start by combining equal parts of wasabi powder and water in a bowl. Mix the two ingredients vigorously until you reach the desired consistency, which should be slightly dry and not too runny. Cover the bowl and let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes, to bring out its full flavor.

What to make with wasabi? ›

1,321 suggested recipes
  • Vegetable and Spicy Tuna MakiKitchenAid.
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  • Panko-crusted Fishwiches with Wasabi Tartar SauceIngridStevens.
  • Camp Cooking Sausage and RiceKitchenAid.
  • Bloodshot Eyeball Wasabi Deviled EggsSimply Gluten Free.

Are you supposed to mix wasabi with 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.

What's the difference between horseradish and wasabi? ›

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.

What are the two types of wasabi? ›

Broadly speaking, there are two types of wasabi, namely, hon-wasabi (Japanese wasabi), and seiyo-wasabi (“western” wasabi or horseradish).

Is wasabi made from horseradish? ›

Yes—but not the horseradish you're thinking of. Real wasabi is made of "Japanese horseradish", which is the plant known as Wasabia japonica or Eutrema japonicum. This is a totally different plant to European horseradish. Fake wasabi is made of European horseradish, often with green food coloring added.

How to make wasabi like the restaurant? ›

To make my fresh wasabi, I used a very fine grater to grate 1 tablespoon of horseradish and 1 teaspoon of turmeric. I mixed this with 1/2 teaspoon of powdered mustard. I added one drop of green food coloring to make it the requisite green color.

How to make imitation wasabi from horseradish? ›

Mix together 2 teaspoons of horseradish, 1 teaspoon of mustard, a few drops of soy sauce and 1 chopped anchovy. Use in place of the wasabi paste.

What meat goes with wasabi? ›

Rump Steak With Wasabi Sauce & Slow-Roast Leeks.

What happens to your body when you eat wasabi? ›

When eating either imitation wasabi or authentic wasabi, "anyone with acid reflux may find it to be an irritant," explains Bonci. Eating too much wasabi can also cause side effects like nausea, upset stomach or diarrhea - problems often exacerbated "in people with digestive issues," says Zumpano.

What the heck is wasabi? ›

It is grown for its rhizomes which are ground into a paste as a pungent condiment for sushi and other foods. It is similar in taste to hot mustard or horseradish rather than chilli peppers in that it stimulates the nose more than the tongue, but freshly grated wasabi has a subtly distinct flavour.

What happens if you mix wasabi and soy sauce? ›

While you may feel tempted to create a bold new flavor, you should NEVER mix wasabi and soy sauce together. Aside from this being considered improper behavior, it ruins the flavors of each one when they're mixed together.

What do you eat with wasabi sauce? ›

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. These recipes contain easy ideas for how to add to your cooking and make it one of the most essential items in your pantry.

What is the white stuff served with sushi? ›

You will often also see white strips on your plate. This is shredded daikon (radish). It is used as a garnish on sushi plates. Like many garnishes on American dishes, you can eat it or push it to the side.

Is wasabi good for your health? ›

Yes, wasabi is healthy! This powerful green root is packed with nutrients, including vitamin C, potassium, and calcium. It also contains antioxidants and compounds that can help protect your body against inflammation and chronic diseases.

What is the base of wasabi? ›

Wasabi paste is made from the finely grated rhizome (or underground stem) of the wasabi plant. And indeed, it can be spicy enough to singe your nose hairs—a particular type of heat that's different from other foods that are also known for their spice.

Why don't they use real wasabi? ›

In fact, you likely have never eaten real wasabi. Almost always, what's presented as wasabi in North America is actually a mixture based on wasabi's relative, horseradish. And for good reason: They're closely related — in Japanese, horseradish is called “western wasabi” — and real wasabi is usually very expensive.

Can you get real wasabi in the US? ›

At Real Wasabi, we're not just growers; we're connoisseurs. With every rhizome we cultivate, we uphold the legacy of genuine Wasabia japonica, ensuring you get nothing but the best real wasabi in the US.

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