Wasabi (also called Japanese horseradish) is a root that only grows in a few parts of the world in very specific conditions. (In most sushi bars and stores in America, imitation wasabi is available because real thing is so expensive. Imitation wasabi is usually made from horseradish, mustard, and green food coloring.)
Eating wasabi makes your nose and head feel much clearer. This is not a cure or medicine — but it might give you some relief. Delicious relief during cold or allergy season, I might add!
Unless your child has an extremely sophisticated, strong palate, this one’s just for the “grown-ups!” If your kids love peas, simply make the soup without the wasabi. It’s yummy that way, too.
Ingredients:
- Grape seed or olive oil
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped onion
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon wasabi paste
- 1 (1-pound) bag frozen green peas, thawed
- 2 cups vegetable stock or broth
- 1 1/4 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- Togarashi
Preparation:
Serves 4
Prep time: less than 5 minutes
Cooking time: less than 15 minutes
Coat a medium-sized sauce pan with the oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook over medium-low heat until the onion is soft, about 3 minutes. Add the wasabi paste and stir to blend. Then add the peas and cook until the mixture is very aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add the stock or broth, bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Puree the soup in a blender, or with a hand blender until the desired consistency. Season with the sugar and salt and fold in the yogurt. Stir to combine and for extra heat, sprinkle with a bit of Togarashi. Serve!
Some additional notes:
Grape seed oil is a wonderful choice. It’s very low in saturated fat, has a high burning point, and doesn’t interfere with the other flavors. It’s my first choice when I cook with Asian flavors.
Togarashi is the Japanese word for red chili peppers. You can find Togarashi in all Asian markets and sometimes in the Asian section or larger markets.
You can find wasabi paste in the Asian section of most major markets and the powder at Asian markets.
I like this soup somewhere between smooth and chunky.
